The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-20
A Posy of White Roses

LOry lawn. Inc 6IQeSl son ndQ CONG
home. a wanderer, after three long years
and the sunshine seemed more brilliant
and the opening flowers all the sweeteI
J for that kindly face, that happy presence
in the home world once more. Overhead
against the quaint house, the sparrows
built little cosy nests amid the ivy and
the bare sprays of Virginia creeper, and
from the little planting" down the fields
came the soft sound of the young rocks,
as they strove to elbow each other out
of the tiny home. And the garden was
bright with golden daffodils, and purple
crocuses and blue-eyed, dainty scillas that
bordered the heart-shaped bed by the
parlor windows.
And the wanderer, as he glanced round
on the happy scene, felt that it was in
deed good to return, with welcome so
sweet awaiting him, and the old home SO
fair and so beautiful
''And the violets are out in the wood, -
said Christabel, his youngest and fairest
sister. I'VE will go and gather the white
ones for you; you were always so fond
! of them, dear"
For moment the mans face grew very
tender and dreamy as he thought of the
one who had loved the scented blossoms
| even more dearly than himself-the one
| TO whom before he went away he had ven
! tured only TO breathe hint of his great
secret-the one of whom he was longing
to ask tidings. Then he submitted to be
led away from the adoring group under
the slowly budding willow with the sweet
faced sisters arm twining tenderly round
| his own, down the messy garden ways to-
ward the little wood.
And there was white world of Star OF
Bethlehem and delicate anemone shaking
| its fragile bells as if TO ring in the spring
time, and here and there late snowdro2s
and early angelica, all pure and oeauti-
full as the sweet day itself. And the
thrush sang over her nest in the sy-
ringa, and the blackbird watched her bon
ny blue eggs without a thought of fear
for all wild creatures were safe under the
shadow of that peaceful home.
But the man, listening to the merry
chatter of his bestowed sister, only wait
ed to ask the question that yearned to
come, and yet was SO long delayed. He
was nervous of the subject, among all
his hopes and plans. They had said moth
ing to him of her, and surely they might
have guessed-at any rate, Christable-
and latterly, even in their letters, they
had never mentioned her name, though
at first tidings had come occasionally Of
the doings that they had had together
for they were very true friends, his true
love and his people at home.
And he had even fancied sometimes that
she might have been there, among his
pretty sisters, and their still sweet and
graceful mother, ready to welcome the
sturdy son who had brought fame and
fortune from lands over the blue, blue
sea to lay at her feet.
So he had given one quick glance as he
no rnd fIo ,,,,T
old father by his side, round the fair gar
cen, with its golden sheaves of daffodils
and its pearly posies of narcissi, "alI come
out as if in time to welcome you home,''
as Christabel said to him in her happy |
voice, watching him the while with eyes
full Of love and contentment. But the !
beautiful face that he had longed so deeply |
TO see was absent, though the greetings |
rang true even without that one sweet |
voice. And of her they whispered no word |
at all.
Now he stood watching the girl as she |
gathered a posy of the fragrant white vio-
lets, kneeling on the green moss at his |
feet, with the sunlight striking through |
the lacing boughs on her pretty hair and |
rose-leaf face And suddenly. as he watch
ed her, the question came:
'Christabel," he said, quickly, what of
nothing about her yet to me-
The flowers dropped from the little hands
that had held them so tenderly, and the
girls eyes took very pitiful expression
as she strove to speak unconcernedly.
oh, she is well, very well, and happy,
dear!" she answered gently. She lives
further off, now, and we don't see quite !
so much of her as we used to. l thought
the others would tell you about her.
What about herr" the man questioned, |
feeling the vague doubts at his heart in
tensified doubly by her anxious face.
why, where they have removed to, and
all about 1t" the girl answered again,
gathering up her flowers and rising to her
feet. Come, it must be nearly tea-time,"
she went on, with a relieved change of
-one, drawing her arm through his again
with caressing, gentle movement, as if
% leave the subject behind
"Christabel, do tell me ALL" the man
pleaded, taking the violets in his cold
hands, but seeing nothing of their deli
ate beauty. Tell me the truth about
woman I loved
And with paling face and misty eyes the
,irl told her little pathetic story OF that ;
Dther who had loved and then forgotten. ,
n her inconsequent, unrefecting way. and ,
Who had preferred money and position to 5
he waiting for a true heart and brave ,
o claim her for his own one day, one
lay.
And when the little commonplace tale 7
vas done. and the gentle voice hushed it.
elf amid a shower of very tender tears, s
here was silence, while a heart beat out I
IS agony alone. 2
This was the homecoming 10 which he T
ad looked forward so long and so earn 3
silly; this was the welcome that he had G
o often pictured to himself-a few spring s
lowers 10 lay above the void in his heart,
nd the hush of soft voices as they pass :
d him by. d
But Christabers soft lips were pressed I
0 his aching brow, and her hands came
farmly into his cold embrace 7
Come and see mother again" she said. 9
emily. she has longed to see you. dear, h
nd you haven't half satisfied her yet"
And they went into the home world to-
ether. with a posy of white violets 10 n
lark the way that they had taken-frorn 8
be resting place of love. II
Augusta Hancock, in The Lady. il
HighIights. E