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Show l'lrcl')ou E>rumln111 ®l!l 'Blose an!l Sfll'er She lighted the tall candles that stood upon the mantel-shelf, straightened a rug, moved a chair, and gathered up a handful of fallen rose-petals on her way to the window. She was about to draw down the shade, but, instead, her hand dropped slowly to her side, her fingers unclasped, and the crushed crimson petals fluttered to the floor. Outside, the purple dusk of Winter twilight Jay soft upon the snow. Through an opening in the evergreens the far horiwn, grey as mother-of-pearl, bent down to touch the plain in a misty line that was definite yet not clear. At the left were the mountains, cold and calm, veiled by distances dim with frost. There was a step upon the stair, but the strong, straight figure in white lace did not turn away from the window, even when the door opened. The stillness was broken only by the cheerful crackle of the fire until a sweet voice asked: "Are you dreaming, Rose ? " Rose turned away from the window then, with a laugh. "Why, l must have been. Will you have this chair, Aunt Francesca ?" She turned a high-backed rocker toward the fire and Madame Bernard leaned back luxuriously, stretching her tiny feet to the blaze. She wore grey satin slippers with high French heels and silver buckles. A bit of :a ;JJ'a!Ung Star grey silk stocking was visible between the buckle and the hem of her grey gown. Rose smiled at her in affectionate appreciation. The little old lady seemed like a bit of Dresden china; she was so dainty and so frail. Her hair was lustreless, snowy white, and beautifully, though simply, dressed in a bygone fashion. Her blue eyes were so deep in colour as to seem almost purple in certain lights, and the years had been kind to her. leaving few lines. Her hands, resting on the arms of her chair, had not lost their youthful contour, but around her eyes and the corners of her mouth were the faint prints of many smiles. "Rose," said Madame Bernard, suddenly, "you are very lovely to-night." " I was thinking the same of you," responded the younger woman, flushing. "Shall we organise ourselves into a mutual admiration society?" "We might as well, I think. There seems to be nobody else." A shadow crossed Rose's face and her beauty took on an appealing wistfulness. She had been sheltered always and she hungered for Life as the sheltered often do. Madame Bernard, for the thousandth time, looked at her curiously. From the shapely foot that tapped restlessly on the rug beneath her white lace gown, to the crown of dusky hair with red-gold lights in it, Rose was made for love Mutual !UIIIIIra. Uon --------------------L--~ |
