The Press., 1897-12-09
A DAY OF ROSES.

scent of roses II. de Aylmer think of something that Was over long ago and that he had almost forgotten The roses were everywhere m the drawing room he had just entered They stood in jars on the mantelplece Flat bowls held them on tables, and SingIy 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 It was Audrey birthday, and he had brought her roses They were in the hamper first in which they had been packed An, Audrey 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 overflowed 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 all He could see heF gather up 8 hand ful 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: "It 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 a chance scent re- called it and the idyl that had been an incident among incidents in a somewhat thoughtless life.
 But be 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 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 a business marriage was, and the fact of having been through it before did not ease mat ters at alll
 Complicated them, Aylmer suggested
 Complicated them, she agreed
 'I'm giving you lot of trouble, Pm 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 Aylmer's Keep had brought about the engagement Lady Aylmer had per haps a hand in the matter, when she asked the comedy 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 4L. the wood i'll question, Mrs Granton ob- 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 wave of his whip
 Lady AyImer 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 steeped them The horn hill would be an eyesore
 She heard a step on the gravel, and saw Aylmer approaching from the house
 1.-The Prettiest view in England, D she said
 He came and stood beside her, and the eyes of each were on the woods.
 ''I am told you are gong to spoil 1t. she said then
 For time ''
 "A A lifetime !"
 The lady's gaze ascended the hill to the top, where the trees stood up against the sky
 It seems pity. she sad. and said no more just then
 The gong sounded presently, and they went i'll You could see the shining hill from the windows of the dining room Midway through dinner, as the evening closed i'll, a servant went to draw the curtains Mrs (iranton faced the win. dow
 'Oh, she sad to Lady Aylmer, might he wait littler It IS all so beautiful from where l sit