The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-18
THE SENTIMENT
OF FLOWERS.
Hy Jas 2. Tesriek.

/
II was beautiful summer time. in
the lovely month Of June. when an ma.
ture.w was at its best, that Virgil Vance,
and Ethel Vance tonee Ethel Dance
went out searching the mills and daIes,
procuring the best specimens of the
different kinds Of wild.fowers, whose
fragrance scented the cool, balmy air,
that WAS moving so gently among the
trees. that It's presence was only de.
tected by It's coolness upon the brow,
and its slight effect on the leaves.
Their acquaintance commenced at
childhood. when Virgil was six years
Of age: and Ethel, only three. She
was his adopted sister, whom. his faith.
er had adopted to be company to his
son, ard only chill. He had always
accepted her as sister, but there
was a desire developing In hfs nature
to become more to her. but up to this
time he had never let his thoughts be.
tray him; neither by words or acts.
The once small Ethel of three years
of age, had grown into the tall, well
developed form of Ethel Vance of
eighteen. whose bright. blue eyes,
sparkling with fun, never had looked
upon what she thought to be a lover;
though, there would have been many
of them. il they had encouraged. even,
their most slight attentions.
i
Nowt up to this stroll In the will
wood, Ethel Vance looked on Virgil
Vance, as brother whose strong arm
would protect her az' such; though she
was soon to ind out that lie regarded
himself as being more TO her than a
brother.
Now. as to the wildwood; It was
lovely. The whole Of 1t seemed to be
% great mass of flowers of many
kinds and colors. mingled together IN
beautiful clusters. as placed there by
natures own hand. the combination
being as perfect, as II done by an ex.
pert VINO had made it study.
"Ah, said Ethel. "how lovely! What
can be more beautiful than this para.
disc of flowers; blending their varf.
Gus colors in such perfect harmony
with our nature? All, Virgil. IL they
only could talk to tell us more: don't
You wish they could?"
"They can talk, Ethel. Did you not
ever strdy the language of flowers?'
YES" said Ethel. smilIngly. "hut
did not mean the kind of language
that is attributed to flowers; but real
spoken language OF words, the same
as we are now using"
"Ah, that is the way, Ethel; well
1t would be nice II THEY could speak
real words, hut as they can't, we will
have to consult them as mutes, that
can not talk in an audible manner"
"How 1t that, vlrgr. will you en-
plaIn?"
Eve will consult them. as it has
been learned from their looks and
acts, Ethel; that is all
Wei. Virgil, believe That they dc
really speak in that way. don't you?
at seems that they do, dearest
Ethel" said Virgil in slow. hesitat
; ing strain Of voice, as If he was about
TO think of something else" or tbs
} Orieuts would not have learned to reat
}. and understand what nature intended
them to teach"
Were the people or the orienta
world the first to learn to read tht
language, or sentiment of howers?"
"Yes," said Virgil. us he was busll;
engaged. making bouquet out of !;
number of red roses that he had pro
cured from as mall bush at the sid.
Of the path. "ft is to be presumed
they We're, e we have been correct
~ informed; but Europeans and Anne.
leans have also learned to read thei
} sentiment; but not exactly in tn,
: same way. Now. Ethel. shall we hav,
them 10 give out some OF the sent
} ment II u.s."
Yes, II we can read them,' sh,
said, aa she was watching his Mt work
All. what lovely bunch of red rose
you've got there? 1t is to be pre-
4 sumed that they are for me, are the
Y not?"
Yes, you are the ono; whom I lr
tended them for, bull" He hes
8 tated for moment as one vino feel
the embarrassment OF uttering tn
!, words; the answer to which. he e,
poets TO change his whole. being. H
J. finally said: We'll. dear Ethel, no,