Old Rose and Silver

ion: Music

- gold gleams into the dusky softness of her hair and shadowed her profile upon the opposite wall. No answering flash of jewels met the

she sighed as she rose and moved restlessly about the room. 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

ns the far horizon, grey as mother-of- pearl, bent down to touch the plain in a misty line that was de

e did not turn away from the window, even when the door opened. The stillness

dreamin

with a laugh. "Why, I must have been. W

ching her tiny feet to the blaze. She wore grey satin slippers with high French heels and silver

eautifully, 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

nard, suddenly, "you ar

of you," responded the

rselves into a mutual

I think. There seem

red often do. Madame Bernard, for the thousandth time, looked at her curiously. From the shapely foot that tapped restlessly on the rug beneath her

th a whimsical sadness, "do you

her, serenely. "Everybody has bee

," Rose objected. "I

ed Madame lightly. "What do you want, dea

know what

hes, but few, and those few, good. Clothes are supposed to please and satisfy women. You have musical talent, a love of books and flowers, a fine appreciation of beauty, a host of friends, and that o

u, Aunt Francesca. I

ou'd had any deep longing for it, you'd have chosen some one from the horde th

it," she murmured. "I've never cared for anyb

g refuge in a platitude. "Is there any one of that

ered Rose,

little lady in grey, with seeming irrelevanc

trol. At twenty-five, Madame Bernard married a young French soldier, who had chosen to serve his adopted coun

her former self looked back at her, for her colour was gone, her hair was quickly turning grey, and the light had vanished fro

vely and I shall meet Life with as much courage as God will give me. But do not, oh, do n

rvice until the war was over. Then she ceased to labour with lint and bandages and betook herself to new surroundings. Her husband's brother offered her a home, but she wa

antiques tonight. 'Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief-' which will you have, Rose? If I remember rightly

mbezzlers, I think, but I live in nightly

ntented with you and me. She'll want other hats on the rack besid

answered Rose, with a st

and I understand another is coming. She has enough clothes to set up a

must find some callow youths to amuse her. A

with a sly glance at Rose. "Cheer up, my dear-I'm nearing

e, but I'll admit that

ou and Isabel, with your attendant swains, may enable me

cousin of Rose's, on the mother's side, and

"how pretty we are! Isabel, you'r

g hand and invited her to sit by the fire. Isabel's gown was turquoise blue and very becoming, as her hair and eyes were dark and her skin

ate, am I?

ncing at the clock. "It'

in a dream, when, as soon as you find something

ion to pack a suit-case myself last

shadows and came, yawning, toward the fire. He sat

rts away. "I don't

of gentle rebuke. "Mr. Boffin is not an ordinary cat. He is

ether he really knows everything, or only

ll give anyone a reputa

wn to stroke the yello

ted the caress, he did

way into the shadows,

this is," observed I

lied Madame. "I couldn'

pictures upon the grey-green walls. There was not a false note anywhere in the subtle harmony of line, colo

ued Isabel. "I suppose you've

have some beautiful old Frenc

r lips tightly and, leaning forward, vigorously poked the fire. A st

Aunt Francesca," cautioned R

opposite the head of the table and Isabel was placed at Madame's right. In a single glance, the

s, there is a clear distinction between ea

eve she would make a grand affair of her solitary dinner, and h

with pleasure. "I'd try to,"

arcel at her plate. She was untying it with eager fingers, while her colour came and went. A card fluttere

icent ruby set in a ri

and wondered, vaguely,

said Madame, as though she had read the tho

beautiful beyond words! H

. I'm so glad

seemed to speak with an effort. With a swift little stab

went on, quickly. "I'm willing to be

ied Isabel, in astonis

onal and tell me I don't look

have thought it,

ts heart to the candlelight that softly filled the room. "I've never had a ruby," she said,

of advancement that every woman will wear the clothes and jewels that suit her personality, and make her home a prop

ed Isabel. She was intereste

ying. "Yes," she admitted, "you could wear them bea

se could

if they were

faction. "A lovely big turquoise matrix s

ou want them. I think people usually ge

nard. "What stones do you w

lace, but it doesn't quite 'belong,' so I don't wea

an you

'please bring me my hat.' The one I ask for is always the right one. It i

aight to it, without loss of time. Utterly regardless of fashion, for its own sake, she always contrives to be in the

ting to me to observe strange people and plan for them their houses and clothes and belongings. You can pick out, from a crowd, the woman who would have a crayon portrait of herself upon an easel in her par

nexpectedly about the corners of her mouth. A faint pink tint, like a faded rose, bloomed upon her cheeks. Rose watched her wit

ffin, emanating the dignified satisfaction of a cat who has supped daintily upon

ed Madame, as she sipped her coffee from a Royal Canton cup

mbroidered doily and took it to the light, where she leaned over it, studying the design. Rose thought tha

said Madame Bernard, in

ning her head

ing the tray to its place; "i

smile. Rose followed, and drew the little

!" she said softly.

the hand that wore th

e said, "and be gl

cent of moon. The evergreens were huddled closely together as though they kept each other warm. Beyond, the mountai

r through infinite seas of space. It left a trail of fire across the heavens, fading at last int

g soul,"

reathed Ros

t!" laugh