The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-09-25

me? Not last night-nor the day we
planted the ramblers. (Do you know,
when your little muddy boot went
trampling down the earth about their
roots, l wanted to stoop down and
kiss It? So dear everything about
you wasD Not that evening at Rose
wood, with the arbor fragrance about
us. Il think shall always picture You
with roses all about YOU Red roses
the color of your lipsD No. 1t was not
then that II began-nor that dreadful
hour when you fought with me to save
my life-nor the morning you sat your
horse In the box-rows In that yew-
green habit that made your hair look
like molten copper. No. 1t began the
first afternoon, when I sat in my mo-
tor with your rose In my hand! 1t
has never left me since, by day or by
night And yet there are people in
this age Of airships and honking high
ways and typewriters who think love-
at-frst-sight is as out-of-date as our
little grandmothers' hoops rusting In
the garnet. All, sweetheart. I. for one.
know better!
Suppose l had not come to Vir-
ginia-and known you! My heart
jumps when l think of 1t. 1t makes
one believe in fate. Here at the Court
l found an old leaf-calendar-it sits
| at my elbow now, just as l came on 1t.
| The date it shows is May 14th, and
| its motto is: Every man carries his
fate upon a riband about his neck.
like that.
THAT first Sunday at st. Andrews,
I thought Of a day-may it be soon!-
when you and l might stand before
that altar, with your people (my
people, too, now around US, and
shall hear you say: T., Shirley, take
thee, john And to think 1t Is really
to come true! Do you remember the
text the minister preached from? 1t was
But all men perceive that they have
riches, and that their faces shine as
the faces Of angels I think shall
go about henceforth with my face
shining, so that all men will see that
I have riches-your love for me, dear.
II am so happy can hardly see the
words-or perhaps 1t is that the sun
has set am sending this over by
Uncle Jefferson. Send me back just
a word by him. sweetheart. to say
may come to you tonight. And add
the three short words I am 80 thirsty
to hear over and Overcome verb be-
tween two pronouns-so that / can
kiss them all at once!"
| He raised his head, little flushed
and with eyes brilliant. lighted a
candle, sealed the letter with the ring
he wore and dispatched it.
Thereafter he sat looking into the
growing dusk, watching the pale
lamps Of the consultations deepen to
green gilt against the lapis-lazuli OF
the sky, and listening to the insect
noises dulling into the woven chorus
Of evening. Uncle Jefferson was long
In returning, and he grew impatient
finally and began to prowl through the
dusty corridors like a leopard, then
to the front porch and finally to the
driveway, listening at every turn fol
the familiar slouching step.
| When at length the old negro ap
peared, Valiant took the note he
brought, his heart beating rapidly
and carried it hastily in to the candle
light. He did not open it at once, but
sat for a full minute pressing it be
tween his palms as though to extract
from the delicate paper the beloved
thrill Of her touch. His hand shool
slightly as he drew the folded leaves
from the envelope. How would It be
gin? my knight Of the Crimson
Rose?" or Dear Gardener" (She hat
called him Gardener the day they hat
set out the roses) or perhaps ever
Sweetheart" 1t would not be long
only a mere Yes or Come to me,
perhaps; yet even the shortest missivt
had its beginning and its ending.
He opened and read.
For an instant he stared unbeliev
ingly. Then the paper cracked to
ball in his clutched hand, and he made
a hoarse sound which was half cry
then sat perfectly still, his whole face
shuddering. What he crushed in hi.
hand was no note of tender love
phrases; 1t was an abrupt dismissal
The staggering contretemps strucl
the color from his face and left every
nerve raw and quivering. To be moth
ing to her. as she could be nothing tc
him?" He felt a CHASTITY inclination te
laugh. Nothing to her!
Presently, his brows frowning heav
lily, he spread out the crumpled paper
and reread 1t with bitter slowness
weighing each phrase, Something
which she had learned since she last
saw him, which lay between them"
She had not known 1t, then, last night,
when they had kissed beside the sun.
dial! She had loved him then! What
could there be that thrust them irrev.
ocably apart?
Without stopping to think of the
darkness or that the friendly doors of
the edifice would be closed, he caught
up his hat and went swiftly down the
drive to the road, along which he
plunged breathlessly. The blue star.
spangled sky was now streaked with