The Grit-advocate., 1906-07-20
Love Among
The Ro-es
By HERBERT HOLT
Copyright. by Joseph B. BowlesJ

yellow roses climbing mp the house
and boldly peeping in at the latticed
windows: rich red clusters creeping
along the mossy garden wall. and
bush-roses more modest, hiding away
in nook and GRANNY.
In the garden | first saw her She
moved amongst the roses tall and fair,
the spirit of the flowers. She was
wearing a dress all white. which fell
in gracious folds about her. giving a
touch of dignity to the girlish figure.
One hand held basket, and with a
pair of scissors she was busily snip
ping off dead leaves and tending, al
most caressingly. the newly opened
buds of her favorite flowers.
You love roses" | said. inyolun-
tarily.
Yes. | love them. l could not live
without them" Her smile robbed the
remark Of eXtravagance.
You see,' she continued, raising
her eyes to my face. Il have lived in
the country all my life, and my flow
ers are almost my sole companions" ="
"1narticulate, and for that reason
desirable"
"Oh. no. she said. saily, the now
ers have language OF their own. al
though we gross morlals fail to un-
derstand it. Do you see that tall fel-
low bending down to exchange conf.
dences with his companion?"
"A clear representation" | answered.
graTely. "of Love among the roses "
puffed at my cigarette watching
her deft fingers moving amongst the
coo!. green leaves.
And yet" said |. presently. life
has compensations, even for the alb.
sence of flowers
She shook her head wisely.
THE things that men strive for
that life is full of disappointments,
but there are no disappointments in
Nature. | doubt the value of your
compensations, Mr.. Durnford."
Some things" returned. quietly,
do not disappoint. Friendship.
love"
Il hen I am thrice blessed" she
for companions. you for friend and
mother to love. There | have finished,
so We will not keep her waiting any
longer for tea"
Her mother was a sweetfaced WON.
an with low voice. and settled look
OF sorrow in her tired eyes. Life had
given her Of its best. but stern Death,
in taking the husband, dearly loved.
had broken for her the handspring OF
existence. Her daughter remained.
the only root that held her to the
earth.
Tea and quiet conversation followed
"a revelation to the homeless man.
weary OF the society of men and hun
cry for womanly ministrations and
the touch Of soft. s,ressing hands.
Then out into the rose garden again.
An elfin spirit possessed her She
must give me one Of her favorite flow
ers for my button-hole." She fitted
from tree to tree. smiling back at me
with innocent witchery.
This bud was much too large; that
one was far too small and beside. not
at all suitable for my complexion ="
Finally she selected one and pinned
1t to my coat. IL have it still.J In
doing so she saw my face.
How very solemn we look this even.
ing"
II am beginning to realize that hap.
piness has its price"
Does that account for your gloom.
Mr. Durnford?"
Il have been very happy here
Yes" The tone was questioning.
And now" | said quietly. my
work here is finished l must go back
to New York"
Her face twitched. and she turned
away for moment and bent over a
flower. When she looked at me again
she had regained her composure and
spoke gently.
Il am glad you have enjoyed your
visit" she said.
began impulsively:
"If." l said, if" and then |
stopped A vision OF two dingy rooms
in little street rose before my eyes.
Dare | say any tenderly- -nurturetl
woman to share with me the hopeless
struggle for existence in a great city?
l clenched my teeth and was silent
Shall | see you again before you
go?" she asked.
No, think not said. steadily.
In fact, | came round this afternoon
for the purpose of saying good-by."
could not look at her as spoke.
"Good-by,' she said monotonously.
as one repeating lesson.
| took her hand in mine; she seemed
turned to marble.
Some day you will perhaps under.
stand and in understanding. pity me"
| raised her hand to my lips.
Three years later, and a hot. stuffy
morning in midlune. | walked from
my rooms near the park. thinking
deeply of critical article | was writ
ing.
| started. and for an instant my
heart stopped beating. and then went
on at racing speed. She came to-
wards me along the sunlit path as it
were, out of the land of dreams. She
was grayer and more womanly than
of old, and walked slowly and witt
downcast eyes Two children were
with her. their shrill trebIes reaching
me while yet a long way off.
She looked up and saw me. A wave