The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1921-03-31

In the theater, crowded with peope
enjoying their halfholiday. LSytis'
4 watched and laughed and forgot MS
business worries.
/ That's a pretty thing" be muir
| INJURED as q quartette OF nower-laden
/ girls tripped onto the stage.
.Tbey can sing" he thought IS thAr
sweet young voices sang the old-tiDe
melodies, while the quaint hoopskirts
fsstoonsd with flowers swayed back
and forth In sedate minuets and grace
fui waltzss.
At the hearty encore they smilinuy
returned, bringing large hOwsr-niIsd
baskets on their arms, tossing roses On
the stage as they sang q tender little
love song
The roses viii tell that you love hsr
dearly.
The violets that you love sincerely,
The lily speaks OF devotion
With love as deep a. the OCEAN
Zach little no~sr will tell that you love
over and over, as the quartette GID
ed away, came the chorus, nrst Loudly
and then softly and hauntingly:
Say II with flowers. the fAirsst that
grow
They'u bear a message from you.
gay II with nowerH-
Tulips, carnations and violsts, toe-
~ It with nowera-
The lights and people faded away |
and suddenly Lewis saw again the
square hall OF the big. old church In
the little town Of his boyhood, on q
drowsy Sunday morning. He saw him !
self standing at the foot Of the stairs
waiting for Bella She came down
slowly. her fair hair shining In the
noontIme sun, her blue eyes sweetiy |
serious as she listened to the white
haired lady al her side.
When they reached Lewis the little
old lady shook a playful finger at him
as she twInkled at him: 'Did you
hear that sermon, young mani Don't
wait until people are dead to bring
them flowers. Your sweetheart VIII
need them all her life; flowers Of ten
derness and kindness as well as roses
that match her cheeks and forget-me-
nots 10 match her eyes" Then she
chuckled at the young girls bushes
as she walked away.
''Say II with fiowers.' How long had
Il been since he had brought Bella
any OF her beloved carnations3 How
long since he had heard her delighted
cries as she buried her face In heart
refreshing roses?
Lewis sighed and came back to the
present. He had lost his taste for the
show and glanced idly around him. He
saw women In furs with big punches
OF yiolets, girls In silk with arbutus
tucked In their coats, women with
white hands and flashing jewels, girls
with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks.
BELLA is as pretty as any Of them
he thought with pride. "ln spite OF
her hard work she has kept her hands
white and her hair lovely, and when
she's dressed up she looks good enough
10 20 anywhere" /;
"Say IL with flowers" Lewis stirred
restlessly as he thought OF his deser-
ton that afternoon, the many nights
that business had kept him working :
late and tie Sundays he had been :
called away, leaving lonely hours for
his wife and the children.
"Say II with flowers"
''Yes, | wili." he said half aloud a.
he rose and left the building. Straight
to his former favorite florist he hur- :
ried, his quick, decided step ringing on
the pavement as II he was going to
meet his sweetheart. He picked out q
dozen carnations, pure white and rose
pink, her old fayorites as he remem-
bered tenderly Then he hurried home.
He rnn up the steps, whistling +:
cheerily. and let himself in, calling his
wlfeis name boyishly.
"oh, you're home nice and early" :
cried Bella in pleased surprise rs she :
hurried to greet him. :
Lewis waited until she was almost
IN front OF him. and then brought the :
flowers into view.
Lewis, dear I" Bella exclaimed with
shining eyes and radiant face. What
u treat haven't seen anything so
lovely for years"
The tears came to her eyes as she 6
threw her arm around her husbands
neck, and he began to realize how
starved for the little ways Of love she
had been.
They are coming home with me ev-
cry week after this, DEAR" he said
gently. "T've been 3 selfish old grind
and haven't half showed you how I've
appreciated your work and sacrifices.
We're going out together, too; things.
don't have the right flavor When I 90
alone. Wen take the Riddles on for :
good times every little while and have
some parties at home and be q regular :
family from now on" 8
'Oh, Lewisr' cried Bella half-laugh-
ing and half-crylng as she buried her S
face In the cool sweet blossoms, I'm 8
the most fortunate woman TO have s
youl
"Humph - said Lewis as he swung
the children up TO his shoulders where
they shrieked and giggled with Elee, :
ann nor 80 sur,s about that hut know &