Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 209, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1912 — What the White Rose Saw [ARTICLE]

What the White Rose Saw

The world seemed very fair and beautiful that summer morning when I first awoke to a consciousness of its existenoe and of my own life and fragrance, and thrust a 'tiny white petal out from among the close green leaves to take my first view of it I was very happy in those early days. The bees and humming-birds kissed me as they floated lazily by and whispered sweet messages of the garden life. They flattered me until I thought I was the most beautiful thing in the garden until she came, and then. I lost my heart. A dream of loveliness she was as she came down the path clothed all in clinging pink, just the color of the moss roses that grow near me, with hair like the sunlight that lies sparkling on the soft grass, and eyes like dark violets. They told me she was a human. One day she stopped by the bush and told us she was very happy, but would soon be much happier; then she patted us and called us her bridal roses, and declared no one should touch us until she gathered us for her wedding day. The next thing J remember was one beautiful night when I heard steps on the gravel, and looking up saw my loved one coming, and with her anoth-' er human, taller and not nearly so pretty; he did not look like a flower at all, unless it were to remind one of the tulips. I never did care much for them. My love was all In' white, and looked like the tall lilies that grow near the gate. He was speaking to her in low tones. I could not hear what he said, but I could hear her voice plainly. She was saying: “Maurice, if there is any truth in this, tell me—l cannot bear to think you would deceive me.’’ Then I looked up in his faoe^—it looked very white In the moonlight. Then he said: “Ruth, you do not understand; I have only lived the life of the average man.” He paused then and came toward me—l felt myself tremble with apprehension—yes, miy fears were realised, he plucked me, and I knew my fate was sealed —that I would never be one of her bridal roses. I thought she started when she saw What he had done. He handed me to Ruth. “Take this little rose, dear, as a symbol of your purity and nobleness and trust me*— cannot you do this?” Her voice as she replied was cold and hard —I scarcely recognized it as the same that had talked so lovingly to us. "Maurice, lam not to be trifled with. I want to know the truth, and you must let me be the judge as to its significance in the weaving of our lives hereafter." ' “Well, then, Ruth, I will tell you— ’’ Here I lost their conversation, for at his first words she dropped me on the path and they walked on. I lay a long while on the rough gravel, feeling lonely and homesick for my swaying bush, when I was aroused by hearing Ruth say, in broken, tearful tones: “Leave me,. Maurioe, for the sake of my love for you, leave me.” I heard him plead with her —then he turned suddenly and left her standing quite near me. She stood motionless, as though listening to catch the last sound of his footsteps—the click of the gate sounded in the distance, and then all whs silent. At last she gave one sob and fell all in a heap on the gravel near me. How I longed to comfort her —and I think she must have felt my sympathy, for after a while she put out her hand and raised me to her lips and kissed me so tenderly, that even now, though I am old and yellow and shriveled, I thrill at the recollection. After a while she arose and carried me into the house and up to her room—this was a new world to me, and I wondered what was coming next. She stood for a long while looking out at the moonlit garden, caressing me softly. Finally, she murmured: “It is no use, I cannot face it.” Carrying me over to a closet she took out a tiny bottle and slowly drank its contents. I had a confused sense of her fingers tightening around me, and then she staggered backward and fell to the floor, and I was Still in her hand. All through the night I lay there watching her, wondering why she lay so still and white. After a while a faint glimmer of light came in at the window; I heard the chirp of birds out in the garden, and the old familiar morning sounds, seeming so faint and far away. How I longed- to be down with my companions breathing In the soft sweetness of the summer morning. Everything was gloomy and unfamiliar in the great room and Ruth lay so still and white and did not speak to me. Suddenly there was a sound of other human voices calling Ruth’s name loudly; then a crashing sound and two humans came into the room and knelt down beside her with strange cries. Tenderly they raised her and laid her on the white bed. Some one took me out of her hand and tossed me on this table, Where I have been ever since. Then there were low sobs and I heard some one whisper something abou’ keeping it quiet—sudden death —anc then I realized what had happened. I had seen'flowers die—but oh, how differently! We did not know they were gone until the last soft petal dropped from the stem. I had never seen a human die—and she was so sweet and beautifaL—Buffalo Express