The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-10-01
\ A DAY OF ROSES.
BY RICHARD PRYCR.
Observation-Disclosures

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
singly in slender vases they were to
be seen here and there amongst 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
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
fower-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 yell
low and green, over which, with caress-
ing touch, leaned Audrey, the sweetest
flower of all. He could see her gather
up a handful and bury her face amid
the petals that were scarcely more del
icate than herself. Then there was the
| eaalyiy, Dft ht tn bicb 10 hay
Every suitable vase and jar and pot
the cottage contained was filled and
there were still roses. He had been
reminded vaguely of the woman of the
sons of the prophets without calling
her all thatD 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 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 idyll that had been
an incident among incidents in a some
what 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 inexcusa BILE
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 young woman from An
toinstte'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
| IOTSS Ay tiAct ltl SpSnU his Soiti,
and the potential cutting of certain tim
Der at Ay liners Keep had brought about
the engagement. Lady Aylmer had per-
haps hand in the matter, when she
asked the comely 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, ard 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 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, ant
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 eyesore.
She heard a step on the gravel, ant
saw Aylmer approaching from tht
house.
1.-THE prettiest view in England" shs
said.
He came and stood beside her, ani
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"
: He nodded. The lady's gaze ascendet
the hill to the top, where the trees stoot
: up against the sky.
1T seems pity" she said.
The gong sounded presently, and the.
went in. You could see the shining hill
from the windows Of the dining-room
Midway through dinner, as the evening
closed in, servant went to draw tn
9 curtains. Mrs. Granton faced the win
: dow.
oh" she said, to Lady Ayfmer
might he wait little? 1t is so beau
tiful from where 1 SIT"
Lady AyImer turned and looked, an
Aylmer looked too. In truth, the seen
was too fair to shut out.
leave the curtains as they are
Charles"
very good. my lady"
So Mrs. Granton saw the woods {.
the disappearing point of dusk.
Later, when the moon rose, Aylme
and she found themselves upon the tel
race once more. The night was warm
Mrs. Granton's eyes were on the woods
Their changed aspect in the moonligh
was excuse in itself for any comment
"Must your" she asked, suddenly.
He looked for her meaning.
I'll" he said 81! 1t is not J."
who then?-Ah, yes. understand
They are mortgaged.
Foreclosure was a word she assoc
ated with poor plays. Such things har
pened then. She remembered the tw
men with the business-like air and tn
note books.