The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-09-13
My Lady Of
The Flowers
By F. A. Mitchell


3and, taking a musket, went into the
lfortiications. There l was wounded
5and sent to hospital
Most of the women had left the cap
ftal before the Germans arrived Some
Remained because they couldn't get
away and a few to assist in taking
care of the wounded soldiers. One
morning l was lying on my cot in
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 flowers.
Stopping at the first cot, she took from
he basket some of the flowers and
banded them to the occupant with
Few kind words. Then she passed to
he next and the next, doing the same
10 each.
1t was probably not FIVE minutes
from the time she entered the room he
fore l was madly in love with her.
She was beautiful, but 1t was not her
beauty alone that enthralled me.
There was about her certain serene
purity, a refinement and, above all.
gentle dignity that l had never seen
tombined in any woman. l must have
Forgotten to keep my admiration to my
self, for she lowered her eyes under
ny gaze and instead of speaking to me
hs she did the others simply handed
me the flowers and passed on.
From that moment my thoughts
we're all of her. At the same hour the
hext day ] looked for her to come
lgain, but she did not. Whether she
went the round of the hospitals, visit
ing each once, or visited only ours
lid not know. l only knew that was
disappointed that she did not come
hgain.
The Prussians came and went.
Their going left Paris in the hands of
he commune. l left the hospital dur
ing the period of the commune SUI
bremacy. l was young, in love and of
N artistic temperament. / longed to
|nd the lady of the flowers and pro-
|ect her from the misguided mob, who
we're spreading fire throughout the
pity, 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
hg to be murdered. / roamed the
|treets looking at the burning of some
public building, all the while dreaming
Il the lady of the flowers.
I was standing one day on the curb
lust outside the garden Of the Tuile-
Hes when, hearing shouts in the direc-
ion of the Place de la Ooncorde,
BOXED and saw a crowd Of commu-
lists coming. When they came near
be / perceived that their leader was
woman, and when she passed me 1
Tas filled with horror.
She was my lady Of the flowers!
What a change from that pitying
gure scattering flowers and kind
words among wounded soldiers to the
eader Of a mob! Her dress was now
hort, and on her head she wore red
ap. Her face was lighted with a zeal
|uch as Joan of Arcs might have
worn. For a moment 1 was too par
lyzed to move, and then as the throng
4 wretched creatures passed on l
Guided by their leader, some Of their
humber pushing cart smelling Of Pc
roleum, they marched rapidly toward
he palace of the Tuileries and, leav-
ng the street, Joined vast crowd of
houting madmen In the court. Car
ying their petroleum to where others
bad placed kindling in the building,
hnu hA nd
ID it,
l could not keep her whom 1 had
alled the flower lady, but now the
petroleum lady, in view for the jos
ling crowd. But presently when a
led flame burst forth l saw her stand
ng on barrel, her face lighted as l
an imagine Joan's may have been in
he moment Of victory. The crowd
urged forward and she was lost to
Eiew.
Then came the turn when the com
hume, after rolling like the crest Of
wave about to break, went down
With crash. There was fighting, men
and women, too-fring from behind
barricades, from windows, from the
Tops Of houses, at the soldiers In the
streets. 1t was the last gasp Of a mad
Effort for a Utopia. The barricades
we're taken, men on the roofs were
picked off, and the firing degenerated
nto random shots.
Night came on, and l walked down
I street where the last barricade had
5een defended. had been hunting my
lady Of the flowers. Vainly l had
bought her face among those bands
bat had held Paris for three days by
he throat. had not found her, and /
hought l should go mad If did not
ind her l wished to draw her away,
10 beg her TO abandon her road to ruin
and let me love her forever. l came
DO the deserted barricade, climbed It
and stumbled down on the other side.
There, lying on the pavement, lighted
by lamp I'm window was the