The Whitefish pilot., 1912-11-28
My Lady Of
The Flowers
By F. A. Mitchell

lWCW uON pdiCtNC AuA ~ OohCS
and. taking a musket. went into the
Notifications. There l was wounded
and sent to a hospital.
Most of the women had left the cap
ltal before the Germans arrived Some |
because they couldn't get |
away and few to assist in taking |
care of the wounded soldiers. One |
was lying on my cot in a |
ward where the beds lined the walls. |
leaving an aisle in the center. The
door was opened by nurse. and lady
entered carrying a basket Of aowers.
Stopping ut the frst cot. she took from
the basket some Of the flowers and
handed them to the occupant with q
few kind words. Then she passed to
the next and the next, doing the same
to each.
1t was probably not Ave minutes
fore l was madly in love with her.
She was beautiful. but it was not her
beauty alone that enthralled ine.
There was about her u certain serene
purity, refinement and. above all. a
gentle dignity that l had never seen
combined in any woman. l must have
forgotten to keep my admiration to my
self, for she lowered her eyes under
my gaze and instead of speaking to me
as she did the others simply handed
me the flowers and passed ON.
From that moment my thoughts
were all of her. At the same hour the
next day looked for her to come
again. but she did not Whether she
went the round Of the hospitals. visit
did not know. only knew that was
disappointed that she did not come
again.
The Prussians came and went.
Their going left Paris in the hands Of
the commune. l left the hospital dur
ing the period Of the commune su-
premacy. l was young. in love and Of
an artistic temperament. l longed to
find the lady Of the flowers and pro-
tect her from the misguided mob. who
We're spreading fire throughout the
city. who were killing and being
killed.
But I did not dream Of seeing her.
Doubtless she was shut up in her
home covering in garret or cellar fear
ing to be murdered. l roaLied the
streets looking ut the burning of some
public building. all the while dreaming
of the lady Of the flowers.
was standing one day on the curb
just outside the garden Of the Tui!e-
ries when. hearing shouts In the direc-
ton Of the Place de la Concorde. 4
looked and saw crowd of comrau-
nists coming. When they came near
me I perceived that their leader was
woman. and when she passed me /
was filled with horror.
| She was my lady Of the flowers.
What a change from that pityin.
figure scattering flowers and kind
words among wounded soldiers to the
leader Of mob: Her dress was now
short. and on her head she wore rel
cap. Her face was lighted with a yea
such rs Joan Of Arcs might have
worn. For moment I was too par
alyzed to move. and then as the throns
Of wretched creatures passed on
turned and hurried after them.
Guided by their leader. some Of theil
number pushing Il cart smelling of pc
troleum. they marched rapidly towar(
the palace Of the Tuileries and. leav
ing the street. joined vast crowd O
shouting madmen in the court Car
rying their petroleum to where other
| h01 v,lonn6 l. ir1 IN, IN h,,i1 M
they poured it on the wood and igni,
ed it.
could not keep her whom ha
called the flower lady. but now TIL
petroleum lady. in view for the jos
tling crowd. But presently when
red flame burst forth saw her stand
ing Oh a barrel. her face lighted as
can imagine Joan's may have been i
the moment of victory. The crow
surged forward and she was lost t
view.
Then came the turn when the con
mune, after rolling like the crest {
a wave about to break. went dow
with IL crash. There was fighting. me
and women, too-tiring from benin
barricades. from windows. from T.!
tops Of houses. at the soldiers in II
streets. 1t was the last gasp Of ma
effort for Il Utopia. The barricad.
were taken. men on the roofs wei
picked off. and the firing degenerate
into random shots.
Night came on. and l walked dow
street where the last barricade ha
been defended. had been hunting II
lady Of the flowers. Vainly hi
sought her face among those ban.
that had held Paris for three days
the throat. had not found her. and
thought should go mad if | did II
find her. I wished to draw her ava;
to beg her to abandon her road to ru
and let me love her forever. can
to the deserted barricade, climbed
and stumbled down on the other sid
There. lying on the pavement. light'
by lamp in window. was Il
white face Of my lady OF the flower
With cry l stopped and caught h