Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-02-28

conquered She was done with itnow
She would be herself. If this was a
part Of that self it must have its
Growth and recognition "To deyel-
op to its highest ntthe best Of ev-
erything within us-to give each
wholesome trait its full scope thatin-
dividuality might be strengthened and
preserved" that was another Of Rob
erts theories. Ali but was this a
wholesome trait? Well. she had done
with it. She was tired Of thinking
of it. She rose from the little red.
velvet chair and crossed the room
Seating herself at the piano, she let
her fingers slip into a waltzof Ravens
that had always possessed an unusual
sweetness and plaintiyeuess for her.
Oh-but that was beautifuI-that lit
tie Bit railways broughtto her mind
a reach Of moonlight beach-tiny
waves shimmering in The silver light
and from over the water, some
where, that little strain
Only ftfully Pickering blaze was
left Of the fire that had lighted the
room. 1t covered down among the
| blackening coals-then started up
again to bring into relief the furnish
ings of the quaint, old-fashioned par
Tor. Its light played at hide and seek
in first this corner-then that Once
it played upon the corner containing
the table, and all its fashionable small
belongings and delftware and silver,
then spied out an ancient pier2ass
/ that held in its old heart images Of
many bellies and beauties, long time
dead. It joined the little scamp of a
blaze in its play and reflected the
slender, yellow-haired figure at the
piano, but at that the fire light
abashed. sank, sputtered and died and
the room was dark save for the feeble
! glimmering of the Goals, and the cleo
trio light from thestreet, that forcing
its way through the filmy lace of the
window curtains, fell above the great
piano. 1t was an oil painting, a scene
in the Alps-the work of a renowned
artist-and as the girls uplifted eyes
rested upon it, she likened the white
from the big globe outside to moon
light playing upon the snow-clad
heights, and green valley below. Her
gaze wandered and falling, rested
upon a vase of violets set upon thC
pianos lid. Their purple heads haC
dropped in the warmth Of the room
but the air was redolent with thei
fragrance.
Violetsl She thought she smelleC
violets. Strange she had not no.
ticed them before. She loved violets
She had come to welcome back eacl
winter more gladly for the sake Of
the tiny flowers than for any other
reason. she told herself. Her friend;
knew her penchant for them. 1t was
a well-known fact that the ''beauti-
full Miss Raymonde" would use no
other flower That American Beau.
ties never tempted her into appearing
with her arms full Of their gorgeous
rose-colored sweetness - that great
shaggy chrysanthemums had never
lured her into forgetting her best
love.
She had loved them since that day
Horton Bruce had told her ola tender
little verse he had run across, som,
little trife about a girl and violets
1t had made him think of her wher
brought in contact with the flower
in any way. cts suited toyou, sweet
heart-you're a violet girl'-he haC
said, and then had crossed the room
and taken her face between his hands
those warm hands-so big-yes, SC
uncouth, but ah-so tender!
She remembered one rainy Sunday
afternoon-Outside the skies were
leaden and the wind blew gustily. He
had sent great bunch Of violets. She
had never seen such royal ones-anc
the little card tucked away between
the green, glossy leaves said: "Fol
my little Ray of Sunshine" ellis
ray of sunshinep Yes, she had beer
that she knew, 1t would be sweet tc
always remember that little phrase
If it had been for only a yearl Hell
fingers still rested on the white keys
but the little waltz theme was for
Z gotten.
How old-how bent and careworn
he had looked this afternoon. She
had startled to see his stopped Shout