The Washington times., 1906-11-11
20 AUTHOR OF"TTE JUN GLE Is.

And the ssionate clasp OF the glowing sun
when the clouds are rent again.
They tell us the time FOR the song is short.
T1at the wings OF Joy fleet;
out the soul OF the rose has bid me sing
That on. s-hile Il lasts It's sweet
Afterward Helen stood for a moment
in silence: then a happy idea came 20
her mind. and she turned toward the
hedge OF roses once more and threw
back her head upon the wind and
took D deep breath and began singing
a very beautiful melody
AS IL swelled out. Helen's JOY IN
creased until her face was allght with
laughter and very wonderful To see;
she stood with the rose tossing in ore
Of her hands and with the other
pressed upon her bosom singing OF
summer IN full-throated ease one
might have been sure that the roses
knew what she was saving, and that
all about her loved her for her song.
Yet the girl had just heard that the
wings Of JOY are fleet and size was des-
tined 10 find even then that IL was true
For when she stopped she turned 10
her companion with "A happy smile and
said do Won know what that is that
she went on. 1T is some Wild rose
music that somebody made for me.
think. IL is in the same book as the
Water Lily that I played YOU" And
then in a Hash the fearful memory OF
that evening came over the girl and
made her start back; for a moment
she stood gazing at her friend. breath
ing very hard. and then she lowered
her eyes and whispered family 10 her
self. And IL was not 2 month ago
There was a long silence after that.
and when Helen looked up again The
JOY was gone out Of her face and she
was the same frightened soul as be-
fore Her lips were trembling little
as she said. "Alr Howard, 7 feel some
how that 7 have TO right - be quite
happy, for I have done nothing 10
make myself good. Then. thinking
Of her friend. she added. Il am spoil
ing your joy in the roses. Can you
forgive me for that2" As he answered
that ne could. Helen turned away and
said Let us go into the woods. be
cause ] do not like 10 see them any
more just now.
They passed through the deep shad-
ows Of the trees and Helen led MI
Howard 10 the spring, where she had
The seat and then thee was long
silence. the girl gazing steadfastly ia
front OF her. she was thinking OF the
last time she had been JE,fer and how
II vas likely that the pale. wan look
must stiH be upon Arthur's face Mr..
Howard perhaps OWNED her thought.
for ne watched her for 2 long time
without speaking a word. and then at
last ne said. gently. as If 20 divert her
attention. Miss Davis, / think that
vou are not the hrst one whom the
sight OF the wild rose has made IN
happy"
Helen turned and looked at him and
he gazed gravely into her eyes For
at least a minute he said nothing;
when he went on his voice was much
changed. and Helen knew not what 10
expect Miss Davis" ne said. God
has given TO the Wild rose a very Won
derful power OF beauty and JOY. and
perhaps the man who looks at II has
been dreaming all his life that some
where he, too. might find such precious
things and have them for his own
When he sees the flower there comes
10 him the fearful realization that with
all the effort of his soul he has never
won the glory which the wild rose
wears bv heavens free gift; and that
perhaps in his loneliness and weakness
he has even forgotten all about such
high perfection. So there rises within
him a vearning Of all his being 10 for
get his misery and his struggling, and
TO Law all his worship and all his care
before the flower that is so sweet. he
is afraid Of his own sin and his own
baseness. and now suddenly he finds
WAY OF escape-that he Will live no
LONGER for himself and his own happi-
ness. but that his Joy shall be the
roses joy. and all his life the roses
life. Do YOU think. my dear friend,
that that might please the flower?'
Yes" said Helen. wonderingly; 1T
would be beautiful. if one could do it
The other spoke more gently still as
he answered her. his voice trembling
slightly. And do you not know. Miss
Davis. that God has made you rose2'
The girl started visibly; she whisper
ed. You say that 10 Inc. Mr.. HOwarc2
Why do you say that TO me2''
And he fixed his dark eyes upon her,
his voice very low as he responded:
4 say Il to you-because I love you
And Helen shrank back and stared
at him; and then as she saw his look.
her own dropped lower and lower. and
the color mounted 10 her face. AIr.
Howard paused for a moment or TWO
and then very gently took one OF her
hands in his and went on:
Helen" he said-"you must let
me call you Helen-Iisten to me a
while. for / have something 10 tell
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