The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1911-06-10
White Roses
By CELIA MYRovER ROBINSON
(cepyIish.. 1871. By A..esi...d Li.er..y Pl....)

glow OF an open fire and redolent Of
the spicy breath OF roses. On little
spindle-legged table the blossoms
were glowing In 4 mass Of deepest
crimson. Their heavy fragrance made
Marsaret's head throb and she pressed
her hands to her eyes. YEARLY.
In her ears the applause was still
ringing. From pit to gallery the
storm had swept and again and again
she had been recalled When she
had. with difficulty. eluded the black
coated thronE about the stage en-.
trance. she had sunk back in the cush.
Toned depths Of the barouche. too
weary to do more than smile family
In appreciation Of her managers ex.
travagant praises.
From the little church on the corner
came to her the hymninE Of the choris.
ters, practicing the Sunday music.
their fresh glad voices rising exult.
antly.
Presently she rose and stood regard.
Ing herself In . long glass. Her cloak
had fallen to the floor and she stood
revealed In all the magnificancs Of
her stage gown. slittering with jew
eied trimmings and billowy with cost.
~ lace. Tho coils Of her hair were
thrust through and through With lev.
eled pins and about her throat was
necklace OF diamonds. She turned
her head this way and that. watching
the gems fash and sparkle. Then she
drew from the bosom OF her gown q
note and read the words again that
she had read and reread many times.
q smile Of scorn curving her lips.
He had sent her the note with the
diamonds and the roses this morning.
and tonight she had promised him an
answer. 1t was much that he offered
her-wealth. position and an old. II
furnished. name-and his love!
She drew the crimson roses from
the bowl and then thrust them back
with = gesture OF loathing. They
were too heavy. too sweet. too
gorgeous They reminded her too
forcibly OF him. They suggested too
strongly the dollars and cents ex.
pended on them. She sank into q
carved chair. and. taking photo
graph from Alyes- holder on the desk
looked critically at the cynical. world.
worn face. A. she pushed the picture
back into the holder . pile of letters
met her eye; she remembered that
her maid had reminded her Of her
mail. on her return from the theater.
but In the crowding thoughts which
had submerged her. she had forgot.
ten II. She pushed aside the letters
contcmptuously. She was used to.
and weary of the eRusions.
But as she pushed them from her n
little oblonE box met her eye. and be.
side It. addressed In the same hand.
writing. lay a letter. With a smoth.
cred exclamation she bent nearer.
and her face showed oddly white in.
der the rouge.
With trembling fingers she tore
open the letter and read:
MY Little Love:
You will doubtless be surprised 10
hear from me. In Pour new and gor.
Eeous surroundings the old life must
seem to you like . dream: the old
friends. like people OF . dream. But
to me you are ever the same Narsarst
my little love.
Even 10 this sleepy village rumors
OF your great fame come to U.s. I hear
you have the world at your feet But
II has not spoiled you. I know. For
with your beautiful voice and your
beautiful face. God gave you Q beau.
tiful soul. You will grow weary Of
your Gaudy. empty life some day, for
love must conquer In the end.
u passed our old trysting place To-
day. The roses were IN bloom all
about It. A rush Of old msnoriss
came TO me and plucksd some Of
the half-opened buds 70 send to you.
Goodbye. my dear. my dear.
with faith and love.
r.
She tore the cover from the boz and
drew out = cluster Of white roses.
From the flowers II her hand she
looked At tho crimson blooms In the
bowl. and again at the blossoms IN
her hand: little blossoms they we're,
looking insignincaat and meagrs b.
side their regal sisters. but che
pesssed them 70 her lips. . rush of
tears binding her. Thsn she bowed
her head upoa Ase hands-aot sob
bins-cniy remembering.
The lumbering Of some heavy 70.
hicis reused be-. VITA sudden In.
petuous movement she uaciaspsd the
diamond necklace from aoout her
throat and hsapeA II II . siittsrins
pile upon the desk. and tossed The
photograph upoe The glowing Goals.
Then she rose. white aad trsmbiiaG: