Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1902-01-27
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April IN vea5e r Ieallan sky
smiled losva ol tae rI1el5as waters Of
lie lagoon. bat Marian Dane WIS blind
% is tovel.aess as size leaned back
anguiGly II her gondola- These months
Of travelling had failed to make her
forget.
1t was al tie fault CT the pink roses,
she tod herself Why could they not
keep TOE their own proper season OF
June: But in these lands of summer.
n Italy aud southern France. even dur
ng January, their fragrance. like
breath OF poison. had deadened her in
terest in new scenes and experiences.
And yet pink roses had once meant
happiness To Marian. They had first
come into her childish life in pleasant
dreams. When she grew into a slender
slip OF a girl and graduated from the
Young Ladies' seminary. it was only
the frantic clasp of her fingers on
bunch of roses that kept her voice from
faltering over the prize essay. Jack
Dawson's card was tied To the long
stems. and Jack and she We're boy aud
girl lovers. Ii had come about natu-
rally, for they lived side by side. with
no envious wall to bar their twilight
confidences-onlya low hedge. They
were in that delicious stage when
secrecy seemed to add a new tie of
love-a tie that shut out the rest of the
world. So she wore the ring on rib
bon round Eer neck and stole down to
meet her lover by the big pink rose
bush.
All. how long ago that seemed. Aft
erward had come a dreadful day, the
day of the quarrel Being their first,
they took it far too seriously. 1t was
in the old garden, whose charm for
once was broken. Jack was impetu-
Gus. she cool and reproachful- Before
either of them knew whHt had hap
pened she had slipped the nto his
hand. and he was out of sig ross
the hedge.
She had sat there at first too stunned
to think, but pride came to her aid
Her checks famed as righteous indig-
nation grew. She planned it all out
Jack was too impetuous and must
have lesson. and she was quite firm
enough TO administer it. 1t was
very proud little figure that started
for the house. defiantly pulling bunch
of pink roses out of her belt and fling
ing them into the grass But the next
minute she was down on her knees.
gathering them up carefully as she
whispered. 1T was not your fault.
poor dearS!
Slowly the days passed by. II Jack
were having a lesson. he was learning
il In silence, for no overtureS came
from beyond tie hedge. Her anger
was dead, and in its place was the
growing fear thai he would never
called up all her pride and tried to
follow his example. 1t was too hard
a task when he was so near
She grew restless. She would go
abroad and leave even his memory far
behind. Mr.. Dane did not suspect what
was the matter with his motherleSS
girl. but if she wanted trip to Eu-
rope she should have it. Jack must
have known about the plan. but he
made no sign. They sailed from New
York. Among the gifts sent to the
steamer were no pink roses and no
card from Jack.
Now the splash of oars could not
rouse her from her bitter reverie. but
as they turned corner a breath of
the old fragrance brought a stab of
pain to her heart. They floated close
to tiny garden set Ike an emerald
between the dark buildings. and over
its low wall hung blooming snray.