The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-20
WHEN ROSES BLOOM
BY MILDRED WHITE.

! copyright. 1917. Western NcWspa per UniClD
! Many days had Leila sat, her pretty
/ face pressed close against the window
! pane. wistful blue eyes gazing far
down the street, but he, had not come.
! He had told her US they parted in
anger that long time ago, though not
vet eight weeks by the calendar-that
he never would come back, until" he
added scOrnfully, your roses are
blooming agan." That, ut the time
had seemed to him the most hopeless
emblem. About thea. IS they stood
in the drcary garden, leaves lay thick
upon the ground. the flower beds brown
and desoIatC. Perhaps nc had not
/ meant la go 50 far in his anger, but
i the girl Mad tried him aor,iy, Leila, too,
may not have been blamelcss in that
her smile worked havoc where it was
merely Intended to be friendly. To
Philip strong she owed her allegiance,
and her repentance and dismissal of
each now suityr heretofore had won his
speedy patdoA, but this-was "the last
time ne told her. III il happens
again" he had said, 'E will never
come back" and--it had happened
/ again.
! The splendid car belonging to the
/ attest young man from the city. with
vista of glorious autumn ride, had
been her temptation. Leila had taken
( that ride, aud because Of it, Philip was
never coming back, until her roses
doomed again. Dead against the
carly fallen snow lay the bushes. In
vain she had used former coaxing
UiIes, which had never failed to win,
/ lingering CurrlcSSly yet with eyes
! bright ana eager, to await the evening
train. Twice, Philip had passed her,
/ swinging along easily. with firm
pressed lips his hat just raised In
greeting. And now, the other man had
/ become so tiresOmcly unintcrcsting.
petlsliy Leila had crossed to the OPP
poSitc side Of the road to avoid the
1"tciul driver OF that same splendid
car; but now, greater fOrcboding
possessed the girl. Among the printed
names Of those accepted 30 answer
their country's call, she read that of
'i+t - A'lir iAAlI T. ~ y bS Ntit lldu
always known him TO be-and true.
Could hc 20 without Il reconciliation?
Could he cross the great seas, perhaps
10 his death, without one word of com
tort for her aching heart? Leila could
not believe it possible. Tears fell upon
he khaki colored sweater she was
knitting, in the hOpe-.iust in the hope
that he might Wear it.
But Philip remained silent, as far
away in the little town as though seas
divided. \ note might bring him to
her side, a word Of repentant love
might move his heart to forgiveness,
hut youth is proud, and Leila could
not force herself to write that word.
Aad how could one know? 1t is a chang
ing world; the heart Of Philip Strong
might have changed toward her,
Three days more" 50 the paper said-
and then the brave soldiers would be
of to camp. Desperately the girl
>uatchcd the little red hat he had adj
mircL breIthlcsSy, she walked
through the bare autumn woods, to the
hilltop, where they had so often
fingered together, on again, past the
stores Of the busy town. home discour-
aged and hcartsick at evening. And
then, because she wished to be alone,
Leila sat down at the old piano, to
play in the dusk.
Before her upon the wall hung q
quaint framed mirror, and as she
played, her eyes appraised, suddenly
back to her whltened checks came the
wild rose color. A moment her fingers
tre;nbled, thsn triumphantly pressed
the keys. For in the mirror the girl
had seen vision-a vision of mans
Soidier-clad figure, his face deep with
teGder yearning. Leila laughed hap
PLY Mt the stars. In the morning she
would go up to the top of the hill.
where in the sunshine, u little old
woman tended a dollhouse Of glass.
Here, upon festive occasions came the
women of the town to purchase bloom
ing plants.
1.-TWO days more" whispered the
girl, and again at dusk her fingers
touched the keys of the old piano.
The vision this time was long IN COM
ing but at last she saw 1t in the mir
ror, the somber reflected eyes beneath
a soldiers hat of felt. Then as Philip
Strong fingered for his long farewell
look Il light blaZed through the win
dow, and the girl stood gazing out at
him above blooming rose tree.
Wlstfully she bent to touch with her |
hands the fragrant flowers, then with |
4 bound the soldier assembled the steps.
Leila was at the door to meet him.
"Forglve, sweetheart that foolish
threat Of mine" he beAed. And Leila
smiled.
"AIy roses are blooming dear" She |