The Press., 1909-03-10
White
 VioletS
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
 Literary Press.


 Out of the darkness Margaret said, '~Then every one knows it?"
 "Every one but you, my dear. Over at the Country club 1t is common talk"
 'sBut, Aunt Clara" vehemently, '-they gossip so at the hotel"
 'HThis isn't gossip. I've known 1t for a long time, Margaret"
 "Oh"-the sigh was almost a sob ''he has always seemed such gentle man."
 sHe has the training of one," Mrs. Kent affirmed. His mother is charm ing"
 After a moments silence Margaret bEoke out, "But he saved my life. Aunt Clara"
 There was a rustic of skirts as Mrs. Kent moved impatiently in her chair ''Yes, and that's the worst of it."
 Mrs. Kent ended the longer silence that followed by ringing for lights.
 'No, mo-" Margaret protested. "I like it better with just the fire"
 "But I must go. dear. and dress for dinner, and you will be so dreary alone in the dark"
 As she rose and stood by the couch her caressing fingers touched Marga- ret's cheek and found tears on it.
 You'd better have the lights" she said, and there was a worried note in her voice. "I hate to leave you here alone"
 "Oh, ! shall be all right" Margaret said. "I'll lie here in the dark and pet Toodlekins.'
 Still protesting, Mrs. Kent found her way out, and after a time in the big room there came the sound of 8 stihed sob and another and another, and after that everything was very quiet. The flame of the fire died down. The green eyes of the little cat, snuggled close to her mistress, glowed in the blackness.
 The click of an electric button and the Aare-up of lights brought Marga- Pet's head out of the cushion where she had buried 1t. She shielded her face with her hand.
 "You are early, Uncle Dick"
 "T'm late. Whats the matter with the lights? Why didn't you get some body to look after them?"
 ''I like the dark"
 "Queer taste" He gave her a keen glance and sat down in the chair by the couch. Flows the foot?'
 ''It hurts a little. but it's going to be all right"
 "Everybody at the club is talking about your accident. They are making a regular hero of Ridgeway." He set tied himself back in the big chair and smiled at her genially. He must have had the strength of Hercules to hold those horses back"
 "He's awfully strong" Margaret in athletics Is fine"
 "He funked in some of his studies, though" MT. Kent leased.
 MaPgaFet's face famed, T know" She smoothed the little cat with nerv- ous fingers. "Is-is he very i'll, Uncle DickT'
 "Who-Ridgeway? Um-well. that depends. He's a mighty nice fellow, Peggy" He caught the eagerness of her eyes and pulled himself up That ls-oh, well, your Aunt Clara wouldn't exactly approve of him, and-and-I don't know that he's just the friend for you, Margaret"
 "OhY' came in futtering protest, and after that Margaret lay with her eyes closed, and nothing was said for sev eral minutes.
 Hired, little girlT' asked her uncle finally, and when she nodded he stood up.
 'I must go and dress for dinner" He hesitated by the couch, looking down at her until she opened her eyes and held out her hand and said, "Dear Uncle Dick" and then he patted her cheek and said little huskily. "Cheer up."
 This time there was no friendly darkness to hide the tears. so Marga ret dabbed at them with her handker- chief and stared until a ring of the front door bell brought her to an up right position.
 Its MT. Ridgeway." the maid an- nounced.
 'Pm afraid can't see him?' Marga- ret SalQ QorVOUSly.
 -"Please," boomed a big voice from the hall-'please don't turn me out like that"
 ''Oh, we'll" Margaret agreed, and the maids place between the curtains was uSurped by 8 young man as big as his voice, who came over and picked up the pussy cat and dropped a small square box in its place. of you'll let me pet Toodlekins I'll let you have some flowers" he said, and as he sat down the little cat curled into the hol- low of his arm and sang her song of cOntentmeht, sunruf1ed by the change.
 There were white viOlets in the box, and Ridgeway said, his big voice sof tened by some fine emotion, ''They al- ways make me think of you.''
 "Oh, don't, don't!" Margaret said with quick caught breath, and Ridge way stared at her in puzzled way.
 "Don't you like themr p he asked.
 "Yes."
 "well. it's a funny way to show it." There was so much of the boy in nm that Margaret smiled fin spite of her self.
 Its because like them so we'll that don't want you to bring them to me any more"
 "You don't''-
 "I mean it'' she said faintly. ''You mustn't bring me any more flowers"
 ''Why not?" sharply.
 Because ! can't tnke them ''
 "Why can't you take them?'
 "Because''-
 '"That isn't any reason" he flung out. Do you mean that you don't want me to comeY'
 She held out~ one slim hand to him. Don't" she said beseechingly-''don speak to me like that. We must al ways be good friends, but you mustn't come"
 He took her hand. 'Tt's to be just friends?"
 "Yes."
 "Never anything mOreT'