Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-11
VIOLETS.
BY HELEN WOOD.

tioiA WedTcT, sieHucT girl WITH deep
blue eyes and pretty, pensive way of
carrying her head. Mrs. Murray greeted
her niece affectionstely. They were
strikingly alike-the same eyes. lips and
wavy hair and the same quick, nervous
way of speaking.
"How beautiful your violets are -
"Oh. yes" replied the girl carelessly.
Jimmie always sends me lovely flow
ers, but I'm getting SO tired of violets
don't see why he didn't get American
Beauties instead today. "
She tossed her coat carelessly ON the
couch, crumpling and crushing the vio-
lets. Her aunt looked up quickly and
then drew the girl to the stool at her
side.
Edith, your words remind me of
story. May tell it: 2"
The girl nodded her head delightedly.
ut was in the spring of 1861. Iwas
a gay. spoiled girl, like you, and Lang
don Murray. to whom / had been en-
gagged for several months, was nv help.
less slave. While our social pleasures
differed slightly from those of the pres.
ent day we. too. loved pretty gowns and
flowers. so when Langdon promised to
send me, for certain dance, the pref.
tiest flowers he could find naturally
expected something quite handsome in
the way of a bouquet. Instead of the
roses l had hoped for there came only a
bunch of violets, not violets de Parma,
like yours. but the simplest of fragrant
blossoms. was in fine temper. tossed
them aside and went to the dance una.
dorned with any flowers. If Langdon
felt hurt, he showed no sign, and his
very self restraint annoyed me the more.
was disgracefully pettish all evening
and Oh the way home had little to say
to my long suffering escort.
1.-The next evening he called as usual,
and in the meantime mother had res
cued the discarded violets and placed
and touched the half faded flowers
whimsically. Then he turned to me
with unusual gravity and tenderness.
$50 you didn't like my violets. Mar
cy. dear?'
''Childishly shook my head
81 thought, dearest. they were the
reflection of your eyes That's why
chose them. Perhaps. as you don't care
for them, l may take few
Take them, of COURSE said non
chalantly.
"'No: want you to give them to
me-
"Wonderingly selected small bunch
and handed them to him. Then laugh.
ed nervously.
dear me, Langdon, you look as se-
rious as if you were going to funeral.
"'To something worse than that,
Marcy, dear; to-war. And these will
remind me of the sweetest girl in the
world. my slender, blue eyed violet,
who is going to be brave till l come
back
"A chill crept over me. saw my
pettish folly. my one sided quarrel, in
their true light. What penitent girl
I was, and how complete was our re-
Cancellation, how tender orr parting
Then. when he had kissed me goodby
for the last time. took what was left
of the violets and pressed them in this
book"
Mrs. Murray opened an old fashioned
collection of verses and showed Edith a
small bouquet of withered flowers tied
with white ribbon.
lyon of today cannot realize the hor.
rors of the civil war. Mother and
sewed necessarily for the soldiers. 1t
was all we could do. This labor of love,
with frequent letters from Langdon,
who was with the western army. kept
me alive. Separation had taught me
how deep was my love for him.
after the battle of Stony Ridge
came word that Langdon had been ter
ribly wounded and left on the field un.
til aid could be sent to him, but when
hospital corps arrived he was not to be
found, and the messmate who wrote the
letter had been able to learn nothing of
his fate, nor could the inquiries insti-
tuted by my father solve the mystery.
rallied at fate. prayed TO die. If only
could visit his grave, know where he
WAS sleeping with my violets over his
heart, as he had said they should Away
lie.
1.-THE weeks dragged into months, and
then suddenly came news from Nash.
vile that he lay there i'll the govern
ment hospital; with other Federal pris-
oners he had been recently exchanged
and if wished to see him alive must
come at once OF the horrors of that
trip and the days among the suffering
and dying you can never know, but /
nursed Langdon back TO life, and when
we reached our northern home il was
more sensible, thoughtful woman that
he led to the altar. and. my dear, in the
first few years of our married life when
ever the old thoughtless words rose to
my lips recalled the violets which he
had worn over his heart through the