The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-09-23
A SECRET.
A DAY OF ROSES.

A DAY OF ROSES.
A scent of roses made Aylmer think
Of something that was over long ago
and that he had almost forgotten. 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 singly in slen-
der vases they were to be seen here and
there among the china and the odds and
ends of silver and enamel, and delft
and marble that filled the dainty room.
Audrey had loved roses There was
one day in the little cottage under the
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. He
had only to shut his eyes-indeed, had
not to shut them-to see again the
flower strewn room. 1t was Audrey s
birthday, and he had brought her roses
They were in the hamper first in which
they had been packed. All, Audrey s
little cry of delight as she raised the lid
and saw them lying softly among their
damp leavss Then they were on trays,
two big trays that yet would not hold
them, and they overflowed on to tho
table, where, with their foliage, they
lay, litter of crimson and yellow and
green, over which, with caressing touch,
leaned Audrey, the sweetest flower Of
all He could see her gather up hand
full and bury her face amid the petals
that were scarcely more delicate than
herself. Then there was the seeking of
things in which to put them. Every
suitable vase and jar and pot the cot
tage contained was requisitioned, and
there were still roses. He had been re-
minded vaguely Of the woman of the
sons of the prophets-without calling
her all that-and the miraculous pot of
oil, for, as with her: ut came to pass
when the vessels were full that she said
Bring me yet a vessel. And
there was no vessel found. Four roses
remained over. One of them he must
wear. He chose the smallest, an open
ing bud. The other three Audrey, kiss
ing them first, put into the girdle at
her waist.
That was the day of roses, and Ayl-
mer, back from his two years travel,
had forgotten it till chance scent re-
called it and the idyl that had been an
incident among incidents in somewhat
thoughtless life.
But he was dreaming, and here was
Diana. She came in with an apology
and rustic of silk. She was grieved to
have kept him waiting. She put up her
face to be kissed; the first time Of his
dining with her, and not to be there to
receive him! But it was inexcusable-
inexcusable. She had had an afternoon
of delays-just that; delays everywhere.
First the tiresome lawyer people, and
then the trustees, and at the last mo-
ment young woman from Antoinette' s
about her trousseau. What business
marriage was, and the fact of having
been through it before did not ease mat
tiers at all
Complicated them, Aylmer suggested.
Complicated them, she agreed.
"I'm giving you lot OF trouble. I'm
afraid" he said smiling
There was to be no sentiment in this
marriage. Diana had "gold and green
forests Aylmer had spent his gold,
land the potential cutting of certain tim
her at Aylmer's Keep had brought about
the engagement. Lady Aylmer had per-
haps hand in the matter, when she
asked the comely widow of Fontenbrink
~Granton of Broad street to the Keep to
meet her son.
''All that will have to CO." she said
4one day to Mrs. Granton, and waved
her hand toward wood on the hill.
Mrs. Granton raised her eyebrows.
A day or two later, driving through
the wood in question, Mrs. Granton OBJ
served a couple of men with notebooks
and pencils who saluted the Aylmer
carriage as it passed, and she observed
Aylmer's face, too, as he returned their
salute with wave Of his whip.
Lady Aylmer caught-perhaps sought
her eye and sighed.
That evening Mrs. Granton was the
first to come down from dressing, and
she strolled out on to the terrace. The
sun, setting behind her, shone upon the
doomed woods. Gold stepped them. The
81. orn hill would be an eyesore.
She heard a step on the gravel, and
saw Aylmer approaching from the
house.
''The prettiest view in England. " she
said.
He came and stood beside her, and
the eyes of each were on the woods.
81 am told you are going to spoil it, :"
ashe said then.
"For time"
"a lifetime. !"
The lady's gaze assembled the hill to
the top, where the trees stood up against
the sky.
1t seems pity" she said, and said
mo more just then.
The gong sounded presently, and they
went in. You could see the shining hill
from the windows of the dining room.
Midway through dinner, as the evening
sclosed in, servant went to draw the
scurtains Mrs. Granton faced the win
dow.
"Oh," she said to Lady Aylmer,
Knight he wait little? II is all SO
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