The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-04-12

Little Violet Grant. with her sbv trib.
ute OF iiowers. her patient waiting in the
httle dressing room and her eager nues-
mons about iIarold's welfare! 1t brought
harolGs thoughts to troubled nor.o
TOO whenever he was allowing himself .
uay dream about Miss Wade. He and
violet had been schoolmates, and he nj.
mlred her shy, sweet ways and had givpn
her many reasons to think she was da,r
to him, though he had never directly nro.
posed to her.
But oh. dear he would sigh. "sbe
Is just as | said, a violet, while NV Nrrso
Dlmple is full blown rose. wish She
wouldn't bring those COMPOUNDED Hovors ''
Miss Violet was in love in her own ,,.o =.
with Miss Wade, too, considering her tho
savior of the boy she loved so tenderIv.
the II years between them made the
nurse seem an impossible rival She
chatted with her quite freely one after.
noon, telling her how pleased she was
that Harold would be dressed and on tho
veranda in day or tive. 81 owe vor7 50
much' Miss Wade she finished. with n
pretty blush and eyes full of tears.
MISS Wade went up to her own room
with hot checks. And you planned to
rob her' she scolded at her reflection in
the glass. We'll, that's over, you mcr-
cenary wretch and with the same firm
expression she wore when controlling y
0ellriouS patient she went down stairs.
Harold was asleep when she came intc
the room, and he looked boyisb. even
with a six weeks growth of slky beard
on MS chm. What fool was to think
tn" boy could be happy with me. or
wouldn't hate me in a year" she thought
and laughed grimly.
The next day Harold was well enough
to be dressed and wheeled out on the
veranda. 1t was a June morning. and
Violet Grant came up the path with her
arms full of roses.
overheard you say you liked roses
better than violets. Harold" she said
simply, land, oh. | am so glad to see Won
getting we'll"
Harold took both her hands and
pressed them warmly, reddening suddenly
with something like shame.
Miss Wade came out lust then with a
magazine in her hand and declared She
would have to read them a story, else
they would talk too much for her pa
tents good. SO Violet produced bit of
embroidery and Harold learned back
luXuriously in his chair and quietly
studied the two before him.
Violet was small and very fair, with
family pink cheeks which blushed easily
and prettly, and big blue eyes that had
never lost their baby expression of depth
and innocence. Her hands were very small
and slender and handled her embroidery
floss as though meant for such work only.
She wore pale pink muslin that loated
about her softly, making it seem as
though she perched on her chair like a
butterfly. One tiny pointed toe tapped
the floor as she rocked back and forth.
The big blue eyes sought Harold's and
smiled frankly and happily, while the col
or deepened in her cheeks.
Harold answered the smile and turned
embarrassed toward the reader. In her
he saw face and figure we oftenest de-
scribe as comfortable and to such we
turn nstinctiyely in time of distress of
any kind, but at other times fail to add
mire.
How big she is side of Violet"
thought Harold. "and how much older
she seems out here in the sunlight than
she did when was sick Why, she must
be 80. What a fool was"
And he turned once more toward the
girl of Is with love glance that sent the
bushes racing over her sweet face
AT the close of the story Miss Wade
went in to make an eggnog, and Violet
rose to go.
81 shall be 81 next week" said Harold
"and then shall have something to tell
you, Violet, my Violet" he whispered as
she gave him her hand Il promised ia.
Their | wouldn't engage myself till was
p. but ! didn't promise not to love any
one. Do you love me, Violet"
IN tell you next week" she answered
with laugh and ran away blushing.