The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-03-06

Mn CM/A blowing down the
N} "GIy-#A walk
~ NOMB Here they are
\ MSEj)W again, Samuel"
WV I she cried every
'/// spring, and tn e
hard-faced old gardener would go on
with his hoeing and reply: "Py'ren-
malls, Miss Sweeta when they come
they stay"
There was a vague spot somewhere
IN her memory of day when it first
occurred to her TINT she, too, was
something of ''py'rennial." She
know no more than these golden play
fellows how she came into the Adj
miral's garden, and, like them, spring
after spring found her sunny head
among the returning flowers. But it
was not until she was head and shout
ders taller than the tallest white
Easter lily that she inquired further.
What is a py'rennial, Samuel? What
makes it py'rennial?"
"a py'rennial," said Samuel, CON
vincingly, "has characte: enough to
go right along and keep going right
ahead; it's got no call to be sown, or
transplanted, nor slipped--it blooms
till it dies, and next year it gets up
and blooms again"
The Admirals garden, all rose petals
and butterfly wings, was a glowing
background for the girl-hower breath.
ing her youth fragrance out with
theirs on the summer air. Beyond
lay some terraces, shaded by lofty
elms, and wide-buit house, we'll
back from the road and three or four
miles from the "shire" town of the
rather lonely county.
One stormy day when the Admiral
was smoking his pipe and raising his
eyebrows occasionally at the fire-as
if exchanging amusing memories
Sereta followed his glance until it
rested upon e photograph that always
stood IN the same place on the high
colonial mantel-an ocean liner, nose
down, under full speed 49, and she
spoke before her natural shyness
checked her impulse. 1T must be
like bird TO cross the sea like that
like a bird crossing the open skv
on n bright August day" The Adj
mlral smiled down at her, but his face
had saddened rs he touched the shore
of reality after his voyage on that sea
of fancy where each must sail alone
1T is better TO sit in a big chair and
think about it, little friend, he re-
piled. "These birds find darker skies
than your meadow larks, md run
heavier risks. Then the look of
WEAKNESS camo back that Sereta
dreaded, because she did not under
stand it,, or how TO drive IL awov.
After that day she never prompted
his conversation or asked the thou
sand and ono eager irrelevant cues.
tons that ignorance naturally Graves
OF maturity; she learned by intuition
TINT questions arc cruel. besides she
was afraid Of bringing the look that
meant something she could not un-
derstand - something TO be kent
asleep If possible
But sometimes after her lessons
were done-or when his after dinner
coffee had warmed his memories.
the Admiral would talk 10 her min.
terruptcdly for hours about that great
unknown place he called life. until
little thrills and shivers Of excitement
crept over her and she could not sleep
oil night for remembrance and con
lecture.
When Sereta was seventeen, an odd
little rose jar Of humanity all sileucos
and dusby perfume, her world sudden
Iy underwent crisis. There came
guest 10 the hall.
This revolutionary visitor was
man without wife, and therefore
presumably harmless and inonensive.
Sercta liked him almost os we'll Ms
samuel after n morning spent togeth-
On while the Admiral was busy and
depending on her To- do the honors for
his guest They were out-of.d doors.
which makes al things possible 10
begin with, and the man on her hands
was old enough 10 appreciate her
charm and lure her simplicity by his
variod knowledge Of complexer wo-
manhood SO sho chalted and OK.
planned oil down tho garden, through
tho py'rennials; laughed with him
over tho clumsy colts in the Paddock.
showed him tho view from tho pas
turo bib, brought him home by The
woods end was Staging 10 him IL the