The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-11-11
ADAY OF ROSES.
BY RICHARD PRYCE.

4 SCENT of roses made Aylmer
n think of something that was over
long ago, and that he had almost for
gotten. The roses were everywhere in
the drawing-room he had just entered.
They stood in jars on the mantelpiece.
Flat bowls held them on tables, and
sngly in slender vases they were to
be seen here and there amongst the
china and the odds s.ld ends of silver
and enamel, and delft ami marble that
hlled the dainty room.
Audrey had loved roses. There was
beech trees, where Aylmer had spent
many an hour, that seemed of a sudden
passing happy now-one day, which he
and she had called the Day of Roses.
lie had only 10 shut his eyes-indecd,
had not to shut them-to see again the
hower-strewn room. 1t was Audrey's
birthday, and he had brought her roses.
They were i'll the hamper first, in which
hey had been packed. All, Audrey's
little cry of delight as she raised the
nd and saw them lying soft amongst
their damp leaves. Then they were on
trays, two big trays that yet would not
mold them, and they overfowed on to
the table, where, with their foliage,
they lay, little of crimson and yell
low and green, over which, with caress-
ihs touch, leaned Audrey, the sweetest
mower OF all. He could see her gather
up handful and bury her face amid
tue petals that were scarcely more del
ieate than herself. Then there was the
seeking Of things in which to put them.
Every suitable vase and jar and pot
tne cottage contained was filled and
there were still roses. He had been
ieHinaed vaguely of the woman of the
sons of the prophets (without calling
hef all that.) and the miraculous pot
VI OIL. For, as with her, 1T came to
PASS when the vessels were full that
que SAID. Bring me yet a yes
sei' And there was no vessel found.
foar roses remained over. One of them
nc must wear. He chose the smallest,
an opening bud. The other three. Au-
uies, kissing them first, put into the
grdle at her waist,
ihat was the Day of Roses, and Avl-
ner, back from his two years travels.
Asa forgotten it till chance scent re-
eaiiea 1t and the idyll that had been
~ incident among incidents in a some
"aat thoughtless life.
but he was dreaming, and here was
Dlaha' She came in with an apology
sna rustic of silk. She was greved to
.a a'e Kept him waiting. She put up her
.aee 10 be kissed. The first time of his
Hins with her, ana not to be there to
.eeeiSe him. But it was inexcusa BILE
eAeusaole. She had had an afternoon
aeiays-just that; delays every
Aefe. First the tiresome lawyer peo-
r'e, and then the trustees, and at the
s' moment young woman from An
soinettes about her trousseau. What
BUSINESS marriage was! And the fact
naSing been through it before did
lot ease matters at all.
oeonpileated them, Aylmer suggested.
aomplieated them, she agreed.
! m giving you lot of trouble, I'm
1.aio, she said. smiling.
1nefe was to be no sentiment in this
.aarriage. Diana had gold and green
ss aes,s' Aylmer had spent his gold,
au 'ne potential cutting of certain tim
- 81 :, ayimer's Keep had brought about
1s sagement. Lady Aylmer had per.
ps hand in the matter, when she
sa.ea The eomely widow of Fonten.
.lA eranton, of Broad street to the
sep to meet her SON,