The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-07-25
What the White
Rose Saw

The world seemed very fair and
beautiful that summer morning when
I first awoke to consciousness of its
existence and of my own life and
fragrance, and thrust a tiny white
petal out from among the close green
leaves to take my first view of 1t.
was very happy in those early days.
The bees and humming-birds kissed
me as they floated lazily by and whis-
pered sweet messages of the garden
life. They fiattered me until 1 thought
garden until she came, and then lost
my heart.
A dream of loveliness she was as
she came down the path clothed all in
clinging pink, just the color Of the
moss roses that grow near me, with
hair like the sunlight that lies spark
ling on the soft grass, and eyes like
dark violets. They told me she was
a human.
One day she stopped by the bush
and told US she was very happy, but
would soon be much happier; then
she patted US and called us her bridal
roses, and declared no one should
touch us until she gathered us for her
wedding day.
The next thing remember was one
beautiful night when heard steps on
the gravel, and looking up saw my
loved one coming, and with her anoth-
er human, taller and not nearly so
at all, unless it were to remind one Of
the tulips. never did care much for
them. My love was all in white, and
looked like the tall lilies that grow
near the gate.
He was speaking to her in low tones.
could hear her voice plainly. She was
saying: Maurice, if there Is any truth
in this, tell mel cannot bear to think
you would deceive me-" Then l looked
up in his FACET looked very white in
the moonlight. Then he said
Ruth, you do not understand;
have only lived the life of the average
man." He paused then and came to-
ward mel felt myself tremble with
apprehension-yes, my fears were
realized, he plucked me, and l knew
my fate was sealed-that would new
er he one of her bridal roses. thought
she started when she saw what he had
done.
He handed me to Ruth. "Take this
little rose, dear, as a symbol of your
purity and nobleness and trust me-
cannot you do this?"
Her voice as she replied was cold
and hard-I scarcely recognized it as
the same that had talked so lovingly
to US. Maurice, am not to be trifled
with. l want to know the truth, and
you must let me be the judge as to its
significance in the weaving of our lives
hereafter"
We'll, then, Ruth, will tell you"
Here l lost their conversation, for at
his first words she dropped me on the
path and they walked on.
l lay a long while on the rough
gravel, feeling lonely and homesick for
my swaying bush, when I was aroused
by hearing Ruth say, in broken, tear
full tones: Leave me, Maurice, for the
sake of my love for you, leave me-"
! heard him plead with her-then he
turned suddenly and left her standing
quite near me. She stood motionless,
as though listening to catch the last
sound of his footsteps-the click Of
the gate sounded in the distance, and
then all was silent At last she gave
one sob and fell all in a heap on the
gravel near me.
How longed to comfort her-and
think she must have felt my sympa-
thy, for after while she put out her
hand and raised me to her lips and
kissed me so tenderly, that even now,
though am old and yellow and shriv-
eled, thrill at the recollection. After
q while she arose and carried me into
the house and up to her room-this
was a new world to me, and l won
dered what was coming next She
stood for long while looking out at
the moonlit garden, caressing me soft
ly. Finally, she nurmured: ut is
no use, 1 cannot face it." Carrying me
over to a closet she took out a tiny
bottle and slowly drank its contents.
had confused sense Of her fingers
tightening around me, and then she
staggered backward and fell to the
floor, and l was still in her hand. All
through the night lay there watching
her, wondering why she lay so still
and white. After a while faint glim-
mer of light came in at the window;
I heard the chirp of birds out in the
garden, and the old familiar morn
Ing sounds, seeming so faint and far
away. How longed to be down with
my companions breathing in the soft
sweetness of the summer morning.
Everything was gloomy and unfamil-
lar in the great room and Ruth lay
so still and white and did not speak
to me.
Suddenly there was a sound Of other
human voices calling Ruth's name
loudly; then crashing sound and two
humans came into the room and knelt
down beside her with strange cries.
Tenderly they raised her and laid her
on the white bed. Some one took me
out of her hand and tossed me on this
table, where have been ever since.
Then there were low sobs and heard
some one whianer souathin1 ahout