The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-02-05
Blush Roses.

MISS KcDcCca BTaCEctl wore steel
bowed glasses because she was near
sighted, and gold bowed ones would have
seemed an extravaganza; and did her hail
up i'll tight little knob because it couIC
be done 50 quickly So, and there was nc
one to tell her that it was unbecGuirg
And she walked very fast and straight
when she went on crrards. and nnbod '
stopped her for achat, because she looked
as it she would resent such an iutcrIup,
tion. To most people she was either
:orhidding or unintcrestirG. Put !Host
people had not seen i:rr in lie: garden.
Passing Miss Rebecca's story-;'.d-a-
halt house, spick and span III its coat OF
white paint, You never would have c1-
rectcd the presence OF that garden; for i'll
front was only narrow, grass-covcred
enhankmcnt with a small Towering
ounce on one side oi the front door, and
ON the other an aged syringabush. But
once behind the house, something from
the country seemed 90 have slipped into
this New England City. Apple trees and
shadows; graPe-vines clamhcred lovingly
over unsightly wall or shed, and line of
phlox marched beside the one garden
path. In corner where most o: the day
the sunlight fellfulland warm was clump
of rose buShcs-hush rose bushcs-that
had hloomed for forty years or more.
Miss Rcbccca's father and mother had
set them ont and tended them in their
lifetime, and now Miss Rebecca pruned
and watched over them. Each year they
filed the air with their fragrance, and in
due season were gathered By Miss Re-
becca and bore proudly TO her church
vestry to he used as decoration trr its
June festival. 1t was her one vanity-to
sit primiy by and feel that on the many
tables, with their spotless tablcclothes
flowers SO beautiful as hers.
To this end she wecdcd and watcred
and fought bugs and blight, and reckless
of twinges in her back, coaxed the bush
cs with bcguiling touch to do their mt.
most. And for one day, when the tender
pink of her flowers shown out from bowl
and vase, she bore an cxultant spirit, n
thrilling sense of public Importance.
1t was nearing the time now Of this
annual rose gathering delight, and Miss
Rcbecca At work in her front yard felt
her mind concerned with the number of
baskctSful she would have. The season
had been one most friendly t. roses
Never had there been more buds; never
had the bushes been more vigorous or
free from blemish. She paused Il moment
while she allowed anticipation to have
its way with her Into the pause there
came the sound of gate latch being
lifted. She turned toward the noise and
saw q scantily clad figure wedging
through the partly opened gate.
Now, Miss Rebecca was not used to
having small figures, scantiiv clad or
otherwise, open her gates unhiiden.
She had waged sharp but decisive war
against that very thing many years
before, and the fame of it had not wholly
died out. All newcomers on the street
were cautioned against letting their
children ask her for flowers or fruit.
The children who disrcgardcd warnings
climbed over tbs back fence III night, and
all the next DAY lived in terror OF Miss
RebcC2a'S avcnging presence.
Miss Rcbecca Strengthened up, scowled
over her glasses, and CROPPED round in her
mind for the old phrase she had been ac-
customed to find effective on such oc-
casi0nS. 1t was Il Kun away, little
boy uttered in su severe a tone that
sci om was anything else necessary. But
the phrase had laid unused for long
time, and it failed, in this instance, to
respond before the little boy had wholly
wriggled hinIs2lfin and was standing be-
side her He was quite dirty as to his
hands and face, and very untidv as to
his attire; but he smiled happily.
"You's got nice flowers" he said,
p:ln,rng to the ounce bash; Il likes nice
flowers
Miss Rebecca relaxed her frown i'll pure
nazcmcnt. Little boys mustn't come
into other peoples wards without being
asked" she heard herself say. "D,n't
you know that
The smile waycr,d unc, TtainIy on the
round face u likes nice flowers" There
was a pause; then the smile shown out
again more brilliantly. You give little
boy nice flower"
Hiss kebt cca tried TO summon Soma
other Arrangement Of words that should
express severity, but failed Here was
something that didn't fear her She
moved toward the syringabush,
well" she said, "i'll give vow or,
piece, and then YOU must go right away.
She broke of 4 large spray and held il
out to him. lie took it III one chubby
hand, but the other he reached up t,
| her
"Phank, YOU" he gurglcd Il like tc
kiss YOU
If the house had stood on end or tht
Syringa bush gone walking down til,