The Detroit times., 1913-11-26
CHAPTER xL.
(Co0tinued.l

1 shall Tell you wnen II began
with me- Not last nlght--nor the
n day we planted the ramblers. (Do
you know when your little muddy
boot went tramping TOWN the earth
about their roots, | wanted 10 stool
down and kiss IL? SO dear every
thing about you wae.t Not CHAT even
Ing ut Rosewood. With the arbor ira
a Grznce about us. Il think | shall al
ways picture yoa with roses all about
/ you. Red roses the color of your
lips,) No, IL was not then that II
4hegnn--nor that dreadful hour when
you fought with me TO save my IRE
4 NOR the morning you sat your horse
u in the box-rows I'm that yew-green
Z habit that made your hair look like
molten copper No, IL began the first
4 afternoon. when | sat in my motor
\ with your rose In my hand 1t has
never left me since. by day or by
night. And yet there are people In
J THE age OF airships and honking high
\ ways and typewriters who think love
J at-nrst-sight is as out-of-date as our
little grandmothers' hoops rusting in
1 the garret. All, sweetheart, |. for one.
know better!
Suppose had not come to Vir-
gin1a--and known you. My heart
Jumps when l think of IL. II makes
one believe In fate. Here at the Court
~ found an old leaf-calendar-it sits
ut my elbow now. just as | came on
tn. The date It shows Is May 18th.
and It's motto Is: Every man carries
h1s fate upon q rtband about his neck.
II like that.
THAT nrst Sunday at st. Andrew 8,
III thought q . dAy--may 1t be soon!
when you and I might stand before
! that altar. with your people Tiny peo-
PIE too, now around us. and l shall
hear you say: Z. Shirley, take thee,
John And to think II is really TO
come true! Do you remember the
text the minister preached from? 1t
was: But all men perceive that they
ghavo riches, and that their faces
sAiuo % the faces Of angels. think
II shah 90 about henceforth with my
5 fAoe shining, 20 that all men will see
\ that I have riches--your love for me,
dear.
II am 20 happy can hardly see the
words-or perhaps It Is that the sun
has set I am sending this over by
Uncle Jefferson. Send me back just
II word by him, sweetheart, to say
that may come to you tonight And
Hdd the three short words am SO
4hirsty to hear over and Overcome
&erb between two pronouns--so that
NJ can kiss them all ct once!"
II He raised his head. a little flushed
Ind with eyes brilliant, lighted q can
HE, sealed the letter with the ring
De wore and despatched It.
II Thereafter he sat looking into the
|kx0wing dusk, watching the pale
|Damps Of the consultations deepen to
tgreen gilt against the lapis-lazuli OF
HE sky. and listening to the insect
|hl0lses dulling into the woven chorus
|bf evening. Uncle Jefferson was long
In returning, and he grew impatient
Inal1y and began to prowl through
the rusty corridors like a leopard,
then To the front porch and finally
W. the driveway, listening at every
kurp for the familiar sloucning step.
Il when at length the old Negro ap-
Deared. Valiant took the note he
brought, his heart beating rapidly. and
barTied 1t hastily In to the candle
JiGht. He did not open It at once, but
- for full minute pressing II be-
tween his palms as though to extract
Jrcm the delicate paper the beloved
thrill Of her touch. His hand shook
|bti8Atly as he drew the folded leaves
Sfom the envelope. How would 1t be-
lin? MY knight Of the Crimson
aoUeT or Dear Gardener" tShe
bad called him Gardener the day they
|Aa1 set out the roses) or perhaps |
|1ven "0weetheart?' II would not be
|DonG, only mere YES" or Come to !
no." perhaps: yet even the shortest
|ln1seive had it, beginning and its end !
|(ng.
n He opened and read.
Sc For IN instnat he stared unbeliev-
|moly. Then the paper cracked to a |
ball IN HE clutched hand, and he |
mAde hoarse sound which was half
H cry, then sat perfectly still. his
whole face shuddering. What he
n.