The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-10-13
III

lFdlneu Dfaln refused 10 compose
beautiful stories; II preferred to take
vivid interest In every movement OF
the man in the garden.
The garden thrived and blossomed
into a veritable fairyland OF color. The
man seemed to take particular care
of the roses; to Delioia's longing eyes
1t looked as II the pink ones grew
defiantly larger and more desirable
than the others.
AS June wore toward its close the
girl found herself consciously jealous
of the pink roses; especially was she
jealous OF the tender care which was
given to one bush. The man spent
hours tending the glorious bud that
was slowly opening its heart TO the
garden. He pruned and petted and
watched it with the eyes of lover.
Delicia's desire for cluster Of
those roses became a passion. When
the man in the garden buried his head
in their pink depths to inhale their
sweetness she felt that she must rush
down and clutch some of them TO her
own heart.
Upon the night Of the big dance in
the town hall Delicia stood before her
mirror and gazed at the pink cloud re-
fected there.
Il need that one ose," she said TO
herself. my costume is incomplete
without it. l simply must have 1t for
my hair"
She slipped quietly out and glided
through the moonlight into the garden
next door. Once in the garden, Deli
cia forgot everything save the glor-
ious moment She wandered about
the rose paths inhaling draught after
draught Of their sweetness and look
ing always for the one pink beauty,
The moonlight turned them all about
until they looked like little pale souls
playing about in the garden.
You beauty" she cried aloud when
her fingers found the one they sought.
"Oh-h, but you have thorns!" she
murmured as she tried to break the
stem.
Perhaps I can cut it for you"
voice, musical and rich. came out
from the moonlight.
"Oh-h" Delicia slipped quietly
down among the roses.
Great Scott I didn't mean to
startle you, child" He picked the
pink cloud up in his arms and gazed
down at her face. you beauty" he
muttered under his breath
Martin Duane picked a great rose
bud hastily and drew 1t gently across
the girls brow. 1t was cool and De-
licia's eyes opened slowly
"Thank goodness" cried the man as
his eyes looked deep into the great
gray ones. So fascinated was he that
he forgot for the moment that he was
holding her close in his arms.
Il am better now" she said.
He released her and said quickly,
Il am a brute to have startled you,
so especially when l have waited so
long for you to come down from your
sky"
Dellcia cast startled glance at
him. you have known
Il saw you slip through your gate
and into this house almost the first
day" Martin Duane spoke with a
wonderful tenderness. You had on
something p.nk-like this" He touch
ed the scarf that hung from her shoul-
der. THAT is why l put in so many
pink flowers" he said simply.
And | would have taken your very
finest rose" she said.
Yours" he corrected her. 'I had
made up my mind that if l hadn't
managed to meet you before that rose
came into full bloom that I would
send it up to you with plea for
your"
1T is in full bloom" said Delicia
softly.
The man stopped over the bush and
cut the rose. He very carefully re-
moved all the thorns and put it into
| her hand.
A moment later he said: Il have
bought this place"
Delicia was silent for a moment,
but in that moment something. subtle
and intangible though it was, told her
that she need never give up the pink
| den.