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Show The Message of the Violets Br CECELIA FARWELL (, Doublxlay, rut Oo.) WE WERE wrapped loosely In soft tissue and laid In a big white box. It was damp and dark nd cool In the box, like the night-time when we nestled down under our big green leaves and weut to sleep under the tars. When the box was opened I heard a soft voice exclaim, "Oh I Violets!" and we were gathered up, so gently that not a petal was crushed, and pressed against a girl's face. Something damp fell on one of my petals tears though I heard a soft, bappy laugh. She laid us down ever so carefully and picked up a little square of stiff paper, giving a quick Uttle gasp, "Oh I" There was new note In It. She sat down by the table and was very still for a long time, only her hand touching us lightly, lovingly. My Uny violet heart thrilled at her caress, ca-ress, though I did not understand. Then, slowly, hesitatingly, she reached toward the telephone that stood on the table behind our box, but drew It back quickly. I wondered. She leaned over us and I felt her lips touch me gently; it was as If she whispered Into my ear, "Why notr She took np the Instrument, but her voice trembled as she called a number. We all kept very still, not even a rustle among us, but we sent out oar sweet perfume to ber, for somehow, we knew that she needed us. We could hear every word when a man's voice answered. "Hello." "Mr. Graham?" The soft voice did not tremble new. -Hello what why It Is Elizabeth!" Eliza-beth!" There was amazement and Joy In the tones. "Tea. I I wanted to to thank yon for the violets." "To thank me Elizabeth I don't understand." "They came addressed to me, and your card. I wanted to to thank you, that was all." Then the man said a very strange thing. We beard hi in plainly, and so did Elizabeth, but Instead of putting that Instrument down In a 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 had 'said was: "Well, I'll be d d!" Then he added quickly, and I didn't like the tone of it, for It sounded Jealous, and from what Elizabeth bad said I did not think that he had any , right to be Jealous: "Say, Elizabeth, are you In the habit of getting flowers from Lister's V "No. I have never had any from there before." "Oh I thought maybe they had put my card In the wrong box." "Then they were not for met" Her voice sounded a little tired. "No yes wait a moment, Elizabeth Eliza-beth don't hang np. "Of course It was a mistake I wouldn't have dared. But listen, Elizabeth of I can't tell you by telephonemay tele-phonemay I come up and tell you how It happened?" His voice was eager, but Elizabeth's sounded Just like a frosty morning: "I don't think that Is necessary. It was a mistake, I understand." After a long time the door opened and a young man came In a tall yoang man, with gray eyes that smile. He wasn't the least handsome, Just big but his eyes made up for everything. Elizabeth stood very still by the table. He came over and laid his hand on hers, which rested lightly on us, but she slipped hers from under It He gathered some of as up In his hands, tenderly, and held us out to her, but she shook ber head, and said, sadly: "They are not for me." He laid us back carefully, and said slowly: "It Is eight months since 1 have sent yon violets, Elizabeth but I have wanted toevery day. "This morning I stopped In at Campbell's. Camp-bell's. I had promised Margie some roses. As I waited for the man I remembered re-membered that I had always sent yon violets from Campbell's and, somehow, I didn't want to send flowers to any one else from there. So I went on to Lister's. I was thinking of you, you see, and the violets. "I didn't Intend to order violets but I did. . I remembered, after I went out The man had looked at me sort of surprised when I said to him, "Ton will send them right npf and he answered. an-swered. They wIU be delivered Immediately.' Imme-diately.' I didn't know that I had written a downtown address. My heart had written It for me. So, you see, dear, they are for yon." He gathered some of us Into his hands again and held them out to her. This time she took them In both hands. And when he saw that there were tears In her eyes be took her Into bis arms. After a long moment she said In a sort of gasping whisper: "But Margie Mar-gie r He laughed happldly. "Oh, Margie will be all right. She doesn't really want uie she Just wanted the last new man I was It I Rhe'll probably break the engagement because I did not send those roses I" Then he gathered np a double-handful of violets and lifted them above her head, letting them fall In a shower over her brown hair. But she gathered gath-ered np every one, carefully, exclaiming: exclaim-ing: "Oh, my precious flowers my dear little violets that have brought me such happiness. I musf get some water for them I want them to live forever 1" ' |