The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-02-15
THOMSON'S ROMANCE.
ubv He Gave a Rose Dinner
Every Year.

Thomson was one VI tuooc HCA,
reither old nor young, who have had
.ho same two or three rooms, the same
.vo or three friends, the same two or
three fads, for some indefinite period
like wears and years" Nobody
seemed to remember the time when he
had not chambers in Jermyn street,
when he did not give his well-composed
little dinners, or when he failed to
| ride hard his hobby Of amateur photog-
raphy.
We rather prided ourselves on know
ing our Thomson by heart. He was
one Of those rare and comfortable be-
inps who have early ceased to dabble
In the unexpected. To us who bobbed
up and down on the see-saw OF ambi-
ton the very thought of Thomson
brought repose. No stretch of imagi-
nation compassed the idea of his being
promoted, or becoming distinguished,
Or getting married, or doing anything
rash and disturbing. Nevertheless,
there came time when Thomson be-
gan to cause us uneasiness. Two years
in succession, on June 4--and yet
Thomson was OF an Etonian-he in
yited us to dinner, and we found his
room transformed into bower of
roses There were flowers every
where, in amazing profusion-not rare
Or costly blooms, but evidently the
very cream of an English garden. In
response to our cries of wonder, he
merely remarked that he had received
hamper from the country-Thomson,
who had no near relatives, no friends
but ourselves!-and offered no further
explanation. The third year, and the
fourth, history repeated itself, and we
tacitly concluded that this date
marked some romantic milestone in
Thomson's unromantic life.
We smiled at the incongruity, but
In our hearts we rather resented 1t.
We chaffed Thomson the following
June about the flowers, and we thought
he looked grave. We let the subject
drop. twas l who, couple of years
later, Inadvertently revealed the fact
that we had interpreted the recurrent
episode dramatically.
When saw his change Of expression
l found myself trying to convey that
we would stand by him in spite of
everything, and that 1, personally,
hoped for the best.
u don't know why haven't told
you about it," he said. II suppose be-
cause 1t was such trife. But, mott
wasn't trihe to that woman"
1T never is" I remarked, pro-
Foundly.
well, it wasn't a trifie to me. It
Feems just as If it had happened yes
[eraay' and the very thought of 1t
|nakes me-makes me- He broke off
tna turned away. Oh, yes, he had
Peen very hard hit. I had never seen
thomson like this before. / sighed
|ympathetically as he went on:
IT was just six years ago that took
|uy nrst walking tour with my kodak
oare say you remember. had passed
|nrough Finley one glorious June morn
|ug' and on the outskirts l came across
|ue OF the prettiest cottages I ever
rw in my life. Gables, you know,
|us porch framed In honeysuckle;
|uu' running up the hill behind the
|ardenT'
les yes, thought. it has always be-
Jun In garden.
little boy was swinging on the
|aN Thomson went on, pretty little
Zap about six, / should think. he
as lashing the gate with O great
|uncn OF whitethorn, and chirruping
ms steed as he swung back and
r'n. He looked across the road at
III, and laughed. If you'll keep quite
~ while l count six, III give you q
sn' new shilling said. he eyed