The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-09
TIE EVENING STORY
The Light of the Lilies.
(By Belle Maniates.)

He was an artist, ordained by his
Maker and Endorsed by the Royal
academy, but because one to whom
he had made a plea had broken
faith. he had drawn a brush of fresh
paint across his last picture and lock-
ed his studio door.
Then he had gone down to a little
place in the valley. Here he planted
fields of lilies, toiling from morning
mist until the lowing cattle at twi-
light. Then he went into the tiny,
tumble-down cottage and sought his
sea of dreams He worked steadily in
his flewer fields watching and wait
ing for the fulfillment-
One morning he looked out upon a
sea of lilies, white, purple and pink
tinted. 1.-The only true pictures
ever made he thought.
Many persons rode down the little
cross-road to see the wondrous field,
and many a car honked brazenly at
his door that imperiouS, dust-coated
women might demand purchase OF
lilies.
81 love flowers too well to sell
them,'' he always replied to such as
these; but to the humble wayfarer, to
the wistful-eyed children. he was a
generous giver.
one day a phaeton stopped in the
! roadway, and the occupant, slender
girl, came down the path. She did
not ask the stereotyped question.
''You have so many lilies" she said
| half-timidly. will you spare me a
| few"
| He didn't answer for a moment. He
was comparing the faint tints under
meath her exquisite pallor with the
shades of his lilies.
"Are they for some one who is IL? '
FOR one who has been ill.," she
! made answer.
He understood. do you want the
mo; the pink, please. if may
He cut ruthIessly of his fair
! est lilies.
you" she said. as they came back to
! the doorway eff there is anything
I can do for you inside" glancing
/ within.
i Il keep it clean" he answered
amused.
land how do you know" he asked
''that I haven't woman about 10
tidy for me?'
famed. I live ten miles from here
but have heard of you as living here
| alone, and that you refuse lilies 70
people who asked for them"
i "And yet you ventured
| them. I knew that one who worked
i among such beautiful flowers must
love them, and one who loved them
I would not refuse me ana ne knew
| 'I would not have refused II you
| had asked me to give them to you Tor
| yourself" he replied quickly
| "I must CO." she said presently
as it far toto the place where
you are taking the lilies?"
give miles from here. Half way
Any time that you come he said
earnestly, IT shall cut the lilies for
you"
| terry and searched jealousy for a
| grave decked with his lilies His
| heart gave a bound when he found
that 1t was a tiny mound. On the
| lilies and walked again to the Gem
| etery, covering the little grave with
| the pink-white lilies. Two days later
he saw her phaeton stopping before
ooh, it was you!" she cried breath
Iessly. you took fresh lilies"
i YES. it was l." he replied, II shall
be glad to take them again"
said simply
! Light brings no happiness And
| after a moment, he asked, will you
not come in and see my little house 2?
She gave a little cry of pleasure at
the simplicity and the few skillful
/ touches of his artist hand.
i ''It is beautiful she said, but do
you never get lonely?"
/ L nave the lilies, AO AOAAAAAiNSA AASA
Have You, too" she asked softly,
/ "lost some one?"
'FYes. but not in the best way-not
! mourn for one who is dead-only
He looked into her startled eyes.
and felt a sudden shock of knowledge.
Of the one he mourned, or
only the loss of something she
had taken from him? He was con-
| scious of a sense of relief as II some
thing had been lifted from him;
ct am going to parade my culinary
skill and offer you some light refresh
ment. May I, Miss"
my name" she said. smiling, and
| adapting herself to his change OF
mood, ''is Glare WINTHROP"
She looked at him expectantly.
my name" he said slowly is
Sherman"
| day, Mr.. Sherman" she asked naively
/ after their luncheon of brown bread,
cream and fruit.
| ''I will come tomorrow" he replied.
The following day ne drove to her
| home, his cart filled with lilies. She
\ lived in rambling brown house with
an oak park in front and an old
| fashioned garden at the back. Her
I mother was an invalid
The following days were passed in
| pflgrimages to the little grave, in
Visits to her home and drives in her
| phaeton. One day he read of a new
kind of lily and he went to the near
| est city to buy the bulbs and learn
how to nurture them. The florist
was away The artist waited a week
| for him. When he returned to his lit
tie cottage he found note under the
door signed Glare" The doctor had
| ordered an ocean voyage for her
mother and they had gone abroad for
six months.
| He found no light in his lilies now.
| The next week some Workmen came
and put skyIights in the roof of his