The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-09-30
Why the Violets Were
Precious
Nv CECILIA FARWELL

1V I'll Il "A Il = Il q
We were wrapped loosely In SOFT
issue and laid in big white box.
It was damp and dark and cool IN
the box, like the nighttime when
we nestled down under our Dig
green leaves and went to sleep
Under the stars.
When the box was opened heard
a soft voice exclaim, "Oh! Violets
and we were gathered up, so gently
that not petal was crushed. ana
pressed against girls face.
Something damp fell on one OF
my petals -tears-thOugh / heard
soft, happy laugh. She laid us
down ever so carefully and picked
up little square of stiff paper, CIV
ing quick little gasp. "Oh| There
was new note in it. She SAT
down by the table and was very still
for a long time, only her hand touch
ing us lightly, lovingly. My tiny
violet heart thrilled at her caress,
though I did not understand.
Then slowly, hesitatingly, she
reached toward the telephone thar
stood on the table behind our box.
but drew it back quickly. 6 l won
dered She leaned over us and
felt her lips touch us gently; it was
as If she whispered into my ear,
why not?'' She took up the in
strument, but her voice trembled as
she called number.
We all kept very still, not even
rustic among us, but we sent out
our sweet perfume to her, for some
how, we knew that she needed us.
We could hear every word when a
mans voice answered.
Hello
s'Mr. Graham?" The soft voice did
not tremble now.
"Hello-what-w is Eliza
beth!' There was amaZement and
joy in the tone.
Eyes. II wanted TOTO thank
you for the violets. J"
''To thank Elizabeth don't
understand"
"They came-addressed to me,
and your card l wanted TOTO
thank you, that was ALL"
Then the man said very strange
/ thing. We heard him plainly, and
so did Elizabeth, but instead Of put
{! ting that instrument down in q
| hurry, so that she could not hear
another word, she just held part OF
It close against her shoulder, so that
| no sound could go into it, and
laughed. What the man said was
"Well, I'll be id y
Then he added quickly, and
| didn't like the tone Of 1t, for II
sounded jealous, and from what
Elizabeth had said I did not think
that he had any right to be jeal
GUS: "Say, Elizabeth. are you II
the habit Of getting flowers from
Lister's?"
mo. l have never had any from
there before"
"Oh-I thought maybe they hat
| put my card in the wrong box"
Then they were not for mef
Her voice sounded a little tired.
"No-yes-wait moment, Eliza
beth-don't hang up"
"Of course it was mistake
wouldn't have dared. But-listen
Elizabeth-of-I can't tell you b.
telephone-may come up and tel
you how it happened?'
His voice was eager, but Eliza
beth's sounded just like frost,
morning: 81 don't think that Is nee
essary. 1t was mistake, / under
| stand"
! After long time the door Opene'
and a young man came in-a tai
young man, with gray eyes tina
smile. He wasn't the least bi
handsome, just big his eye
made up for everything.
Elizabeth stood very still by tn
table. He came over and laid hi
hand on hers, which rested light
on us. He gathered some Of us u
in his hands, tenderly, and held u
out to her, but she shook her heat
and said. sadly: "They are nc
for me-"
He laid us back carefully. an
said slowly: cit is eight month
since l sent you violets, Elizabeth
but I have-wanted tO-every da!
gThis morning I stopped in 9
Campbell's. l had promised Margi
some roses. AS I waited for tn
man l remembered that / had a
ways sent you violets from CamI
BELLS and. somehow, didn't war
to- send-flowers to any one else
from there. So went Onto Lii
ter's. I was thinking of you. 20
see, and the violets.
II didn't intend to order violets-
but / did. / remembered, after
went out. The man had looked {
me sort of surprised when I said
him, You will send them right up
and he answered, They will be d
livered Immediately didn't kno
that I had written downtown a.
dress. My heart had written it fl
me. So, you see, dear, they are II
YOU"
He gathered some Of us into b
hands again and held them out
q her. This time she took them
both her hands.
4 And when he saw that there we
y tears in her eyes he took her IN
: his arms.
4 After a long moment she said
y sort of gasping whisper: bt
4 Margie?'
! He laughed happily. "Oh. Marc