The national forum., 1910-08-27
When the Petals Mingled
BY Philip Kean
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary Press

The tears welled up in Elvira's
eyes. "Oh, David, she murmured. 1T
does not seem right for, us to play
such q game"
But David took her in his arms and
consoled her. "'All's fair in love and
war;" he quoted
1t was interesting after that to
see the part that the elders played
in the little comedy, David's father
| ckuckled over his sons progress in
his love.making- because his son
was happy, but because the outcome
would make his enemy unhappy. e.
yira's mother smiled when she saw
her daughter start for the trysting
place. She knew how bitter the
thought OF the marriage of these two
would be to the man across the
/ way Ard 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.
Revenge was the sword with which
each hoped to pierce the heart of his
opponent
On the morning of the wedding
day Elviras mother helped the girl
to dress. There was no veil, no white
satin; but Elvira in her filmy null,
with her fair hair in golden coronet
around h'r head and with bunch of
white roses from the garden, was
thing Of beauty.
The mother was in futter Of ex-
citement over the supposed runaway
you 60 on and meet David" she
said, land ] will come after you to
the church 1t won't do to let Davia's
father suspect"
On the other side of the fence the
old man was giving similar advice.
you go and meet your girl" he ad-
vised, "and III go down to the church
after you 1t won't do to let her
mother know" Then he brought out
bunch of red roses. Shed better
have brides bouquet, even if it is a
runaway match"
Into the dim country church an
hour later came the young couple,
The bride was fresh and sweet in her
snowy f1nery; and in her arms she
carried great punches of roses--red
and white and fragrant. The BRIDE
groom, with his head up, looked as
If he defied the world to take her
from him, The minister brought with
him couple of servants to act as
witnesses and the footsteps of the
five persons echoed through the still
ness. Then, as the young pair stood
before the man Of God, the silence
was broken by careful tiptoeing in
the aisle to the right and careful
tip-toeing in the aisle to the left. The
red famed into David's face, but Ell
vira was white. The minister began
the service, and back Of that happy
trio two old persons, caught in the
net of their own evil passions, Slared
at each other across the empty pews.
But as the service went on the
flashing glances softened-none could
hear the beautiful words that Joined
youth and beauty with youth and
strength and remain hardened. Into
the eyes of Elvira's mother came
tears. She leaned her head on the
back OF the pew in front of her and
wept.
David's father cleared his throat.
What God hath joined together,
said the mirtgter, "'let not mar put
asunder,'"
The service over, Elvira almost ran
down the aisle. But it was the aisle
to the left, and it was to Davids
father that she ran,
Forgive US; oh, please forgive us,
she said.
In the aisle to the right David held
; little weeping woman to her arms
little woman with the hatred all
gone out Of her heart. And presently
the couple in the left aisle went tc
meet the couple IN the right aisle, and
the Oh woman was saying: My son,
while the old man muttered; my
daughter.
!, Then they all went out of the
church together, and as they went
their way was marked by the falling
petals Of the roses-red and white
and white and red intermingiing now
in perfect harmony,