The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-01-06
A DAY OF ROSES.

roses were everywhere III the uCIWluS
room he had just entered. They stood
in jars on the mantelpiece. Flat bowls
1t ID them OF tables, and singly in slen-
der vases they We're to he seen here and
there among the china and the odds and
ends of silver and enamel, and delft
ana marble that filled the dainty room.
Audrey had loved roses. There was
one day in the little cottage under the
beech trees where Avlmer had spent
many an hour that seemed of a sudden
passing happy - day which he
and she had called the day Of roses. He
had only TO shut his eyes-indeed. had
not 70 shut them-to see again the
flower strewn room. 1t was Audrey's
birthday. and he had brought her roses.
They Were III 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 leaves. Then they were on trays,
two big trays that yet would not hold
them, and they overtlowed on to the
table, where. with their foliage, they
lay, a litter of crimson and yellow and
ElttlI. oNt1 NIlitu, Win CtlSSSlllS tOuCl,
leaned Audrey. the sweetest flower of
all. He could see her gather up a hand
full 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
thlra 1xpra s.,i Vn-os 10 nod Lo,,, . -
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: 1T came to pass
when the vessels We're full that she said
= = Bring me yet Il 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 gi-dle 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
thoughtieSs life.
But ne was dreaming, and here was
Diana. She came Iii 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, ana
then the trustees, and at the last mo-
Ment q young woman from Antoinette's
about her trousseau. What a business
mallla-e was, and the fact Of having
been through it before did not ease mat
tiers at all!
Complicated them, Aylmer suggested.
Complicated them, she agreed.
I'm giving you a lot of trouble, I'm
afraid, he said smiling.
There was TO be no sentiment IL this
marriage. Diana had gold and green
forests" Aylmer had spent his gold,
and the potential cutting of certain tim.
Der at .Avlmer's Keep had brought abou,
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 tc
meet her son.
All that will have to CO." she said
che day to Mrs. Granton, and waved
her hand toward a wood on the hill.
Mrs. GrantOn raised her eyebrows.
y day or two later, driving through
the wood III question, Mrs. Granton OBJ
served Il couple Of men with notebooks
ana pencils who saluted the Aylmel
carIla@e a. It passed. and she observed
Aylnsr'> face, tCo, as he returned their
salute with Il wave of his whip.
Lady Aylmer caught-perhaps sough,
her eye and sighed.
That evening Mrs. Granton was the
first to come Gown from dressing, anl
she strolled u Oh to the terrace. This
SUD, setting behind her, shoue upon the
dcclnsG woods. Gold STEPPED them. The
s.oln hill would be all eyesOre.
one heard "a sep on the gravel, and
saw Aylmer APPROACHING from the
house.
The pryttiest view ia England" she
said.
He came and atocd beside her, anG
the eyes Of each were On the woods.
Il am told you are going to spoil it.. ,
she said then.
: For a time"
"A lifetime.
The laay'- gaze assembled the hill t.
the top, whore the trees stood up agains,
the SKY.