The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-17
Bv TEMPLE RsulFy

Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press
Miss Persis Monroe walked in her
garden
Winters coming, Peter she said
TO the big yellow cat who followed
her.
Peter scurried down the path after
the VISITING. romping leaves. lie rath-
er liked the GOODNESS of the northwest
wind, 1t made him feel young again
and frisky.
But the wind made Miss Pers.s
shiver. In summer, with her roses
about her in her soft white dresses.
with a rare lace scarf picked UP by
her father on one Of his voyages
.draped about her head. she felt young
and looked young. But in the winter
her growing poverty compelled eher
to buy serviceable gowns. So she
usually wore black. Only in summer
could she set off her beauty by dainti-
ness, AND then the price was an ex-
penditure OF time and strength, for
she did her owns washing,
In the days OF her girlhood Miss
Persis had never roughened her
hands by labor A prosperous sea
captain can keep his family in a GER
tain luxury But with the death of
nant Of the family fortunes disappear
ed After that Miss Persisl and an
invalid sister supplemented a most
neager income by the summer sale Of
roses.
The guests from the summer MOTEL
bought them. There was usually Il
thriving trade-~and even az she spoke
of the. winters nearness Miss Persts
had a comfortable sense of the little
nest egg in the bank which would
keep them from cold and hunger.
Bat It's very small, PETER, sais
Miss Persls and | don't dare 20 get
new dress
Miss l,ersis had dreamed Of new
dress She had never spoken of her
ambition to her sister, for LaNlniA
would have seen a certain unworthy
vanity in the desire for prettiness'
hut Miss Persis crave1 a gown OF SUD
clued gray-her ambition had even
compassed d touch Of pink AT the
throat.
Miss persis aS she bent down To
smell the last pink rose left in the
garden And | haven't mad be
coming gown in winter since was
a girl | wish / could have just one
Miss Persis did not believe in fair
les. but as she thought of 1t after
ward she wondered II some gohiln
grandmother had not waved her "aha
at that moment TO make her wish
come true
But there was 10 evidence Of magic
in the personality of the man who
spoke TO Miss Persis from the other
side of the fence
Il understand. madam, that you
sell roses.
Miss Persis looked mp. An erect
and military looking gentleman was
waiting for her answer
Earlier in the season. said Miss
persis. we had many roses, but now
that the winter is coming We have
only one--I'm sorry
AS she stood there. tall and grace
ful, beside the bush with Its one
faint pink blossom. 1he man oassade
felt his heart singing. and the WORDS
formed themselves. thus.
IT'S the last rose Of summer
Left blooming alone"
II should like to buy that one he
said. there's a child i'll at the hotel.
/ want to take her flower"
Then you shall not buy it," said
Miss Persis eagerly. Let ME give It
to you-for the child"
He felt that to insist would he to
hurt her He took the flower from
her. and as he thanked her, gazed
with pleasure on her eager, upturned
face. with it's delicate flush against
clear Wilderness Of IA skin that showed
no wrinkle.
TN the winter what do you do,
he asked. without your garden ~
Il dread winter" said Miss Persis.
Il feel shut in---but l plant flowers
in the window boxes, and by Christ
mas I have hyacinths, and after that
violets, and they keep me busy.
And you sell your flowers r
There isn't much sale for them.
said Miss Persis. "The guests are
gone from the hotel, But ] have the
pleasure of giving them to the village
people Te) the girls when they
graduate. and the brides when they
marry, and to the sick. and now and
then---to the dead
He was a man Of the world, but
in the soft voice thrilled
him Women did not talk that way
In the city, but they had talked that
way in his dreams.
'Could you"--he spoke with hest