Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-12-02
THE
POTOF
POSIES
20 by d. J. waish.l


o'clock whistle was blowing.
She was tired, depressed and unex-
pectant. Lights were on and the
street, banked with new snow, was
singularly attractive. But Mira was
In a hurry to get home. 1t was the
night her sister Lucy went to the
movies" with her husband, and Mira
was supposed to appear at the very
instant the biscuits were ready to be
taken from the oven. When she
reached the other side Mira found
herself facing the window of the
towns one florist shop. 1t was radl-
ant with potted hyaclnths in full
bloom. She paused lnvoluntarily.
Spring beckoned from the window
and Mira, the weary, paused for
clearer look. She loved hyacinths 80
deeply that she would not have hest
tated to have sold both loaves OF
bread as a great philosopher advised
to buy jar Of that fragrant beauty.
Hyacinths meant more to her than
the mere fact that they were lovely
flowers; they embodied memory, a
romance. wistful association. Long
ago she had stood beside a row OF
hyacInths in her mothers tiny flower
plot and said good-by to the one man
she had ever cared about. He had
promised to come back-but he never
had, and she had ceased to look for
him. Her mother had died and she
and Lucy had gone to big town to
earn their living. Lucy had married
and Mira lived with her.
She could not resist the hyaclnths,
so she went In and bought a pot Of
the palest pink ones. A high wind
met her as she returned to the street.
Hugglng her parcel, she tucked her
cold chin into her fur collar and
forged along. AS she turned her own
familiar corner she collided with a
man. The shock of the impact Jared
the pot from her arm and 1t fell with
a crash.
"Pm very sorry" the man ex-
claimed, and STOPPING down he gath
cred up the wreck.
IL WIS my
taking the parcel from him. From 1t
arose the fragrance of perlshIug
beauty.
At that instant the wind caught
the mans hat from his head. He
sprang after It and Mira sped on,
anxious to save her own hat from
similar fate.
"You are ten minutes late" Lucy
said as her sister entered. Lucy was
stout and rosy apd practical, a direct
contrast to the slim, pretty and shad-
owy-eyed Mira.
II stopped to buy a posy, but here
is all that there is left of It," Mira
said, opening the parcel. II had an
accident with It,"
She took off her things and sat
down to supper. She was not hungry.
The pink hyacinth bloom rescued by
Lucy leaned from a tiny vase in the
center Of the table and reproached
her with Its ruined loneliness. It was
only little thing that had happened
but added to great deal else, It
imposed upon Mira an unsupportable
weight. She thought Of VIII Kelly as
she had not thought of him in
months. She thought Of herself get
ting old--and getting nowhere. Even
Lucy, welded to the dull and unat-
tractlve Fred, was happier than she.
But then Lucy had never had a ro-
nance before she met the man she
married.
81 kept you waiting, Lucy: I'll do
the Dishes" Mira said.
Lucy hurried to change her dress,
for the first show began at Z. They
were gone by the time Mira had the
dishwater in the pan.
The telephone bell rang and Mira
went to answer 1t. A familiar voice
doomed in her ear, the voice of Hor-
ace Lasher who had that day bought
another piece of property Of Todd &
Son. Horace already owned a string
Of tenements but his purchase con-
sisted Of large house with porte
cochere and garden. He had said
something to her that made her think
he had her In mind as a possible mis-
tress for the big house. His wife had
been dead year and 1t was said he
was looking for another.
"Pd like to come up and see you
this evening, Mira" he said.
Mira hesitated though imperceptl-
bly,. II she let Horace come he would
understand naturally that she was
willing to accept his attentions. And
she wasn't willing, especially tonight
with this memory Of VIII trailing her
with peculiar inslstance.
"Pm sorry Mr.. Lasher," she began,
"but--"
"Td like to come, Mira"
She tried to think Of an excuse.
She had none, save that Invarlable
one that she did not want him. He
sensed the meaning Of her family ut
tered objection.
"All right, II you don't want me-"
He laughed coolly. "Fll go over and
see Mrs. Peters, guess" He hung
up.
Mira stood very still, her face
burning Mrs. Peters was the lively
widow whose house Todd & Son had
Just sold She had gone to board
with friend. II was the end Of
Horace Lasher as far as she was
concerned. He would never be able
to get away from Mrs. Peters. She
wondered II she we're fool. Lucy
would call her so. No need longer
to toll in that dlngy Office, wearing
out what was left Of her youth. And