The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-06-07
FLOWER OF ROMANCE
by MARY L. BRAY.

The twins we're just past twenty,
lonely, as Just past twenty should
not be. Day after day from their
windows on the top floor Of small
apartment building. they saw young
people passing by. on their way to
play golf or tennis In the park. In
the evening they watched many
! carriage drew up to neighboring doors
and go Gathering away with fair
and frivolous burden
| The aunt and uncle who had rear
ed them from infancy had come In
middle life to the great western city,
where they neither had nor made ef-
fort to form friendly ties. The girls
had been torn from school friendships
at an age when these could not be
supplanted. The one or two neigh.
bors In the building who had been
kind enough to call were not inter-
esting socially.
They knew better than to make
themselves unhappy by envy or COM
planning to unsympathetic ears; but
as the uneventful days dragged by.
over and over they sighed to each
other: II do wish we knew some
body"
The tenant across the hall let two
furnished rooms. whose large win
dows opened upon the air-court Della
and Bella had for their personal use
the two opposite communicating
rooms in their apartment. opening
upon the same court. diamond-shaped
aperture, not more than ten feet
across its widest dimensions.
One evening as Della leaned out for
farewell glimpse Of the stars, pre-
paratory to drawing the curtains for
the night, she almost touched head
projecting from the opposite window,
and started back violently. 1t was a
man!
81 beg your pardon!" deep voice
exclaimed, as the head was instantly
withdrawn.
Bella, who had half heard the
words in hurried curiosity looked out
of her window, and at the same mo-
ment a fourth person appeared oppo-
site her, again a man. II was her
turn to disappear In confusion, as a
second masculine voice craved par
don.
1t was clear that there were new
occupants across the way, equally
clear that they were college boys. The
twins exchanged these observations
with excited embarrassment. Mean
while, the two young men were spec
ulating animatedly upon the pleasing
possibilities Of their discovery.
Matters progressed rapidly, and
naturally, and in the due course OF
time there was to be dance given
by one of the college societies, q
dance at which each member was ex
pected to bring his particular best
girl Delaney O'Gorman and Ned
Clark, the aforesaid college boys
were both resolved to escort the
twins, or not to go at all. Every
art of persuasion they brought into
play, and after days of tinlid refusal
Bella and Della finally gave reck
less consent.
Bellas room had door opening
into the outer hall. The girls plan
ned to retire ostensibiy as eaIly al
usual on the fateful night, dress fol
the dance, and at $3.50, when tneii
aunt and uncle would be sleeping
steal from the apartment. Mornint
would find them peaceful and unsus
pected In their beds. At the appoint
ed hour the twins. their hearts beat
ing like a pair of trip-hammers. mad,
successful escape.
Perhaps in the triumphant moment
the carriage door was slammed with
unusual violence. At any rate, Aun
Louisa stirred In her sleep. With me
chanical vigilance she called: Della
Bella!" There was no answer. What
possessed her to remain awake she
never knew. After an interval of rest
lessness she arose for a drink of wa
ter stopped on the way to glance into
Della's room, saw the bed empty
rushed into Bella's room, aud col
lapsed upon the second unoccupied
bed.
A hundred terrifying thoughts seiz
Gu HtTs HuHuTtu stll-dCCuedtlOUs
and reproofs for undue sternnep3 she
poured out upon her aslon.shed hus
band After the first outburst OF an
ger and Indignation against hei
nieces, she could only repeat ovel
and over: They have eloped, We
drove them TO 1t! Why didn't we re
alize?"
Hours later, when the aunt and
uncle were trying to formulate a
! course of action, they were startled
by soft rustling sounds in the hall
Aunt Louisa clutched her husbands
arm. Then she sped to the door and
flung 1t open before two frightened
girls.
"Where've you been?" she cried
where are those two young men
oh, Bella! Della"
The girls flung themselves be.
seechingly upon their aunt, and kiss
ed away the tears.
Don't be angry with us. Aunt