The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-19

| wanted to be their friend. Beyond
that her imagination did not go. Years
| age she had given up all thoughts Of
marriage. She had found no one In
that seaport town with whom she could
have mated.
Captain Sanderson went away that
day, witt an invitation to come again.
An unexpected call to ;. ashington
| interviewed before he saw the sisters
| again, but he sent a box of roses which
made Miss Persis gasp. ITO think of
sucn roses in winter. Peter" she said 70
] the yellow cat. and it was Peter who
/ saw her bend and kiss them.
A week before Christmas, Captain
Sanderson stated that he would come
for the hyacinths. Everybody is
anxious to see Them" he wrote. I'm
going to give flowers to all my friends %
The day he was expected was a cold
one, but Miss Persis put on a white
dress. never heard OF anything so
your time of life. You'll catch your
death of cold.''
The phrase your time of life'' made
Miss Persis feel old and worn. She
went to her room and changed her
dress, and when Phillip Sanderson ar
rived from the city, he faced, not the
ll.tle lady with the rose-hushed cheeks,
whom he had seen last, blooming In her
garden put a wan, thin person.
But the sight. instead of bringing
What have you done to yourself?'
ne demanded, when Miss Persis led him
to her hyacinths. 1T isn't the flowers
that I want to look at, it's you"
m not worth looking at" said Miss
Persis, family.
&c plain pumped up the cushions of the
DIG rocker in The window alcove. "Sit
down here, want to talk to YOU"
Miss Lavinia knitting steadily at the
otner END Of the nving-room could
not see the pair, but she caught the
steady murmur OF voices.
fnen suddenly she heard a sound
tnat made her sit up and stare.
II 1 olon,t know it was impossible
Peter" she said to the cat who lay
az her rect IF didn't know it was
impossible, should say that some one
had been kissedl''
MISS Persis came out of the corner
looking 20 years younger Amid the
folds of her black gown was pinned a
spray of pink hyacinth, Capt. Sander
your cheeks, Persis." ne had said. for
all tho bushes of youth had come
back to the transformed little lady. /,
was then he he'd bent and kissed her.
and Miss Persis had started guiItily,
and had said Flush"
But Capt. Sanderson was not aehan,.
go to own the truth, so he came
straight to Miss Lavinia.
am going to marry Persis." he
said "and you mustn't think 1 shall
separate you, because you are going
20 i've with us, and so is Peter" and
ne caught hold of the yellow cat, try
ing by this subterfuge to hide his |
emotion.
At her wedding Miss Persis wore |
Ter old white gown. She would not /
accept penny of the captains mon |
~ to supplement her poor little troug- |
'eau. But when she came back from /
ne honeymoon she displayed to La
'inia's astonished eyes an array of 4
wonderful creations. which were the
expression of the captains admiration
or his pretty wife.
He made me get these soft pinks
md whites and green's said Miss
'ersls I sold was too old for cofors.
Tut he says they make him think of
ny garden; and do you know they /
Gem to make me, younger"
But she did not tell all that the
aptain had said when he saw her first /
n a rose-colored gown. How did n
yer happen that you were left to
loom so long in your garden? Fate /
las surely been good to me, to let me L
re the first to pluck your sweetness"
Copyright, 1872 by Associated Idt. L
rary PreSS.) |