Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-04
\ A DAY OF ROSES.
BY RICHARD PRYCE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

the drawing-room he had just entered
They stood in jars on the mantelpiece'
Flat bowls held them on tables, and
singIy in slender vases they were to
be seen here and there amongst the
shina and the odds and ends of silver
and enamel, and delft and marble that
filed the dainty room.
Audrey had loved roses. There was
beech trees, where Aylmer had spent
many an hour, that seemed of 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
dower-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 soft amongst
their damp leaves. Then they were on
trays, two big trays that yet would not
hold them, and they overfowed on to
the table, where, with their foliage.
they lay. little Of crimson and yel-
low and green, over which, with caress-
Ing touch, leaned Audrey, the sweetest
flower of all. He could see her gather
up O. handful and bury her face amid
the petals that were scarcely more del
icate than herself. Then there was the
seeking of things in which to put them.
Every suitable vase and jar and pot
the cottage contained was filed and
there were still roses. He had been
reminded vaguely of the woman of the
sons of the prophets without calling
her all thati) and the miraculous pot
of oil. For, as with her, at came to
pass when the vessels were full that
she said. =. Bring me yet u YES
sell" And there was no vessel found.
Four roses remained over. One of them
he must wear. He chose the smallest.
an opening bud. The other three, Au-
drey, kissing them first, put into the
girdle at her waist.
That was the Day of Roses, and Ayl-
mer, back from his two years travels,
had forgotten it till chance scent re-
called it and the idyn that had been
an incident among incidents in some
what thoughtless life.
But he was dreaming, and here was
Diana She came in with IA 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 himi But it was ineXcusable-
inexcusable. She had had an afternoon
of delays-just that; delays every
where. First the tiresome lawyer peo-
pie, and then the trustees, and at the
last moment a young woman from An
toinette's about her trousseau. What
business marriage was! And the fact
Of having been through it before did
not ease matters at all!
Complicated them, Aylmer suggested.
Complicated them, she agreed.
"I'm giving you lot of trouble, I'm
afraid" she said, smiling.
There was to be no sentiment in this
marriage. Diana had gold and green
forests" Aylmer had spent his gold,
and the potential cutting of certain tim
Der at Aylmer's Keep had brought about
the engagement. Lady Aylmer had per
haps hand in the matter, when she
asked the comedy widow of Fonten-
brink Granton, of Broad street to the
Keep to meet her son.
"All that will have to co. she said
one day to Mrs. Granton, and waved her
hand towards 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 Ayimer
carriage as it passed; and she observed
! Aylmer's face, too, as he returned their
salute with q wave of his whip.
Lady Aylmer caught (perhaps sought)
her eye, and sighed.
That evening Mrs. Granton was the
frst to come down from dressing, and
she strolled out on the terrace. The sun
setting behind her, shone upon the
doomed woods. Gold stepped them
The shorn hill would be an eye-sore.
She heard 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 hewoods.
81 am told you are going to spoil it,
she said then.
"For time"
"a lifetime"
He nodded. The lady's gaze ascended
the hill to the top, where the trees stooc
up against the sky.
at seems q pity" she said.
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
closed in, a servant went to draw the
curtains. Mrs. Granton faced the win
dow.
"oh," she said. to Lady Aylmer
Knight he wait little? 1t is so beau
tiful from where sit.''
Lady AyImer turned and looked, an6
Aylmer looked too. In truth, the scene
was too fair to smut out.
'Leave the curtains as they are
Charles"
every good, my lady"
So Mrs. Granton saw the woods tt
the disappearing point of dusk.
Later, when the moon rose, Aylmel
and she found themselves upon the ter
race once more. The night was warm
Mrs. Granton's eyes were OF the woods
Their changed aspect in the mooniigh
was excuse in itself for any comment
'Must you?" she asked, suddenly.
He looked for her meaning.
al" he said. "I! 1t is not l."
'Who then?-Ah, yes. understand
! They are mortgpged.