The Progress., 1894-03-10
Miss Lucille Rutland.

Miss Lucille Rutland is one Of the
gifted young journalists of New Or
leans. She is a member of the staff Of
the Louisiana Review, and. in addition
70 regular editorial writing, she con-
tributes some charming romantic arti-
res to the columns of the paper.
We reproduce from the Review the
following graceful and tender sketch,
which reveals Miss Rutland's exquisite
delicacy Of style and fancy:
LILIES OF THE VALLEY.
They were at the Florists on Canal
near Carondelet street. a young girl
uttered in, like rose leaf, out OF the
rain which had broidered her dark
Gown with irldescent traceries, say
ipr, half under her breath, Il really
cannot afford it, but then tnores
distinctly sr
How do you sell your lilies Of the
Valley
lone dollar a dozen. Miss" She
turned away to the door. then went
back quickly and said: .....
Give me just three sprays, please"
She took them unwrapped, bent her
face over them and went out into the
rain.
Then began the stories. -,..
A man was entering a saloon on
Carondelet street, and as she passed he
caught the perfume of the flowers,
turned and looked at her, and the blue
Of her eyes was like that of his
mother's-who was buried month ago
with lilies OF the valley upon her breast
He did not enter the saloon, but turned
away and went back to his work.
Then with the flowers still held to
her face, the young girl went on to an
Office on Camp street. There were
several men in the Office and she spoke
to one of them about some matter of
commonplace business. While She
talked he looked at the flowers and
thought only of a lovely woman who,
the night before, stood with lily of
the valley in her hair aud gave her
life away to him to bless or blight.
The rain splashing against the window
turned to moonlight bird out in an
olive tree sang love song for a sere-
nade,-and trembling, white hand
pinned crushed lily of the valley on
his coat. All, but love is sweet.
The young girl was turning away with
her flowers, Wait" he said, II die
not quite undertand; II was thinking
Of something else. Come, let us talk
business"
Then soon after she entered car
and two women sitting opposite he1
looked straight at the flowers. One wa;
from the frayed edges of humanity
worn with i'll use, unfit for mending
utterly ruined. AS she breathed the
perfume of those flowers she saw Ii
village church-yard namelesS infant
grave, where lilies of the valley once
bloomed in mocking purity and taugh
despair to heart that had Learned
over we'll the meaning of love. ., t.
be there in earth's green silence. be
meath those flowers that blossomet
above the dust of the baby that one
was hers-and his. But there was he
street, she had almost passed 1t by.
The other woman was dressed II
black, and.weepiug- as women must
Those were her wedding flowers, Lille
Of the valley were everywhere; at tn
church. ag,the house, and in her hair
those he had kept all these years, TO
She found them last week when ST
looked for the will.
When the young girl left the car
was still raining, but she went swift
- along three blocks and, pausing at
great stone house. bent her face owe
the flowers. ana smiled while she wait
I'd. Then to the woman who opene
the door she said;
You have lodger here who is yer
ilsa
Yes, Miss. but he is better to-day.
so, is he? Give him these flower;
please; he luves things sweet and pure
they are like his mother.
And that was her story,
HI
Two Popular Washington Women,
Mrs. Henry Thurbers the wife