The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-21
THE EVENING STORY
when the petals Mingled.
(By Philip Kean.)

L LO666
in the garden on the right and white
roses in the garden on the left. 1t
seemed as If the owner of the white
rose garden might exchange bios
SONS with the owner of the red rose
garden. But there were no exchanges.
Bitterness and strife existed where
there should have been harmony. and
the man who owned the red rose gar
den never spoke to the woman in
whose beds the white flowers bloomed.
1t was feud of such long standing,
however, that the enemies had grown
gray while fighting 1t out and their
children had waxed strong and tall,
and had reached the age of loving
even while their elders hated
Because of that hatred the boy and
girl We're forced into secrecy. They
hid their good friendship, and when
they walked in the red rose or the
white rose garden only their eyes
strayed across the fence. These
glances and the trysts they kept in
the little grove half mile away on
the hill were the sole outlets for the
emotions that were beginning to pos
sess them deeply. In fact, they were
in love.
ITS no use trying to hide it from
anybody. David said when he had
kissed Elvira for the first time.
Elvira flushed. But they will never
let us marry. David" she said.
The boy clinched his fists. But we
Elvira shook her head. Mother
loves me too much for that"
II know" The defiance left Dayidss
voice. Father loves me. too, but he
hates your mother"
They talked over the feud after that,
OF the quarrel about the strip of land
that had made the first trouble Ell
vfra's father and David's mother had
died, still clinging to the old differ
ences and the other two had lived to
fn ha
'They will never let us marry FL
vira said again, $50 we might as we'll
give it UP right now. David"
Il never will give anything up" the
boy said doggedly. "I will find a wav
Elvira''
The next day they met in the same
place, and David had plan. Elvira
listened with clouded eyes. but when
ttney ind 1t out" she said, they will
be furious
I'VE shall be married then" David
stated triumphantly.
That night when he went home the
boy told his father OF his love for
Elvira. As he had expected. there was
a storm OF protest. In the first Iull
David nurmured. But of course. 1
her mother"
The old man pricked up his ears.
would it hurt her mother?" he ques-
toned
1T would kill her." David said sober
~.
In the next house Elvira was telling
her mother of her love for David. but
I never can marry him." she said. ut
would kill his father
Elvira's mother gazed out of the win
dow. II suppose he would hate it," she
agreed.
The next day when David met Ell
vira in the grove his face was radiant
What do you think father said to me
this morning." he asked.
Elvira shook her head. She was not
radiant. Her face was white and there
were Shadows under her eyes.
WELL David reiateds The said at
breakfast that he thought a man ought
to be allowed to marry the woman he
cared for. 1 believe he will give his
consent if he thinks it will hurt your
mother. Elvira."
The tears welled UP in Elvira's eyes,
ooh David" she murmured, cit does
not seem right for us to play such a
game
But David took her in his arms and
war;" he quoted.
1t was interesting after that to see
the part that the elders played in the
little comedy. David's father chuckled
over his sons progress in his love max
lng-not because his son was happy,
but because the outcome would make
his enemy unhappy. Elviras mother
s niled when she saw her daughter start
for the TRUSTING place. She knew how
bitter the thought of the marriage of
these two would be to the man across
the way. And so the summer waned
and the fall came. and in October the |
two were to marry-David with his
fathers consent. Elvira with her
mothers, and yet neither parent knew |
Of the willingness Of the other. Re
Venge was the sword with which each |
hoped to pierce the heart of his OPP
ponent.
~, +t,a ,,,or1f1o ~ +I,o 1,,o5as-~- So,
Elvira's mother helped the girl to dress. |
There was no veil no white satin; but |
Elvira in her f1lmy null, with her fair /
1air in a golden coronet around her /
head and with bunch of white roses |
rom the garden. was thing of beauty.
The mother was in a f1utter of ex- 1
,itment over the supposed runaway.
You go on and meet David" she said,
and I will come after you to the |
church. 1t won't do to let David's faith
r suspect"
On the other side of the fence the
I'D man was giving similar advice.
You go and meet your GIRL he adj
Used, land I'll get down to the church
r know" Then he brought out a
lunch of red roses. Shed better have
brides bouquet, even if it is a run
way match"
ater came the young couple. The bride
vas fresh and sweet in her snowy
nery, and in her arms she carried
reat punches of roses-red and white
nd fragrant. The bridegroom with
is head up looked as If he defied the
World to take her from him. The min
ster brought with him a couple of SER
ants to act as witnesses and the foot
teps of the five persons echoed through |
he stiffness. Then, as the young pair |
TODD before the man of God, the
Hence was broken by a careful tip
oeing in the aisle to the right and a |
arefuI tip-toeing in the aisle to the ,
sft The red famed into David's face
ut Elvira was white. The minister
egan the service. and back of that ,
Apply trio two old persons. caught in :