The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-09-16
A DAY OF ROSES.

roses were everywhere III 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 aud
ends of silver and enamel, and delft
and marble that filed 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 sudden
passing happy now-one day which be
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 5
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 leavesl Then they were on trays,
two big trays that yet would not hold
them, and they overlooked on to the
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
NIL He could see her gather up hand
full and bury her face amid the petals
that We're 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 requisltioned, 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 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 1t till a chance scent re.
called II and the idyl that had been all
incident among incidents III somewhat
thoughtless life
But he was dreaming. and here was
Diana She came i'll with an apology
and a 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 himl But it was inexcusahle-
inexcusable She had had an afternoon
of delays-Just that; delays everywhere
First the tiresome lawyer people, ana
then the trustees, and at the last mo-
ment young woman from Antoinette' 5
about her rousseau What a business
marriage was, and the fact of having
been through it before did not ease mat
tiers at ALI
Complicated them, Aylmer suggested
Complicated them, she agreed
Pm 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,
and the potential cutting of certain tim
Der at Aylner's Keep had brought about
the engagement. Lady Aylmer had per
haps a 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 go, =" she said
one day to Mrs Granton, and waved
her hand toward a wood on the hill
Mrs. Granton raised her eyebrows
A day or two later driving through
the wood III question, Mrs. Granton oh
served 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 a wave of his whip.
Lady Aylmer oaught-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
SD orn hill would be an eyesore.
She heard step on the gravel, and
saw Aylmer approaching from the
house.
1.-The prettiest view in England, " she
said
He came and stood beside her, and
the eyes of each were on the woods.
II am told you are going to spoil it, &"
she said then.
For a time "
"A lifetime
The lady's gaze assembled the hill to
the top where the trees stood up against
the sky
lit seems pity, she said. and said
no 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
closed III, servant went to draw the
curtains Mrs Granton faced the win
dow
"Oh," she said to Lady Aylmer.
might he walt little? 1t is all so
beautiful from where | sit -
Lazy Aylmef turned ana looked, ana
Aylmer looked too. In truth, the scene
was too fair to shut out
Leave the curtains as they are,
Charles y
Very good, my lady.
SO Mrs. Granton saw the woods to
the disappearing point of dusk,
But later the moon rose Aylmer and
she found themselves upon the terrace
once more The night was warm. Mrs
Granton s eyes were Oh the woods Their