Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1919 — Pride and Roses [ARTICLE]

Pride and Roses

By JACK LAWTON

(Oepyrlckt. IMS. Wwtm UatoaJ Mary Louise was going to marry the gardener; and being unacquainted with the family of Mary Louise, it would be Impossible for you to conceive the consternation this news occasioned, In their eyes thd queen had abdicated her throne, the proud old southern name for the first time was being unequally yoked with that of a commoner. \ ✓ And with all her new and startling views Mary Louise seemed to retain but one characteristic of the old Lindley's—their immovable stubbornness. “I will marry my Harry,” she said, “though every one of you turn against me.” Harry has been engaged as gardener by the father of Mary Louise, while that gentleman played golf near the club house. The young man, whistling cheerily, had been busying himself with a trowel among the rare plants bordering the club house veranda when Lindley senior approached. Being in urgent need of a gardener, he besought the busy one for information and perhaps assistance. “Did he know where a capable and experienced man could be found?” The club house gardener, after a few 1 abrupt questions, most surprisingly offered his o\Wi services. Mr. Lindley, realizing the ravage neglect was making among his costly, uncared for plants, was only too glad to agree, “but," he added uneasily, “what, will th»y say to me here for taking away their help?" Henry had laughed away his compunction, “I was going to leave in a few days anyway,” he said, “more work here than I bargained for.” The garden had been a fancied fairy land to Mary Louise, and in later years she found many of her dreams still lingering there. Very unprmcely he had looked when Mary Louise, pausing before a wonderful folded rose, noticed him for the first time kneeling in the dirt almost at her feet

“You are a new gardener, are you not?” asjeed Mary Louise. “What is your name?” He had glanced up at the sound of her voice, «s though realizing for the first time her presence, then the gardener smiled. “Henry,” he answered her, and rising with a bow, presented the wonderful rose. So tliat was the coming of the prince! Mary Louise did not know at the time, she only knew that the gaze of his dark eyes, had a strangely sweet power to stir her heart. But later, Mary Louisb learned the truth, as she.came again and again to the garden, lingering unnecessarily, while Henry talked in his musical votce.

At first, the blood of the Lindleys within her rebelled at the interest her father’s servant had awakened. Then love’s magic joyfully brushed aside the barrier* It was a soft scented mponlit night when confessed his love for Mary Louise. She stood by the white sun dial, and the old light of dreams shone in her eyes. “You will marry me, sweet?” asked the voice of her prince, and unhesitatingly she had given her promise. In the impressive old library, with these frowning faces about her, that promise seemed to be a more serious thing; but firmly Mary Louise repeated : “I wjll marry Harry, though you all turn against me.’’ Then all at once her father buried his old face in his arms. “Oh, Mary Louise,” he moaned, “is it not enough that I must lose this beloved old place of our family, without also losing you? Long have I endeavored to keep up family customs. That is now no longer possible. Our money is gone—poor speculation or untvise expenditure —how, I do not know —but our money is gone. “If you would but follow the women Of your kind in suitable marriage, and surely you have about you eager cavaliers —the pride of the old name might still be saved, if not the financial standing.”

“The pride of the name !*’ cried Mary Louise, “why! father among all the men you know there is not one as clever —or noble or fine, as my HarHer lover, appearing just then in the doorway, gazed back adoringly over the heads of the family council. “It will make no difference with Mary Louise,” said Harry |pi<oudly, “but it may alter conditions with yourself, Mr. Lindley, to learn that I have been employing your fertile garden as a means of furthering certain floral experiments which I have for some time been carrying toward successful completion. “It was a club house friend who first suggested my trial there. New discoveries in growth and color is my hobby; than that, my life purpose. Tomorrow, with your permission, I will show to yon the Mary-, Ldhise rose, for which I have an offer of —” Harry paused, “well—a great deal of money; and it is a satisfaction to know that all my study and research have not been wasted.” With a little laugh Mary Louise ran into her lover’s arms. “You never told me,” she triumphed. “You just kept plodding along out there, with your funny trowels. But, oh I I knew all the time that you were clever as well as I knew —that you—were you.” - <