Old Rose and Silver

oft glow of the reading lamp was a vase of pink roses, sent by Colonel Kent to his old friend. The delicate sweetness filled the room and mingled wit

and blood-red. It was cut low at the throat, and an old Oriental necklace of wonderfully wrought gold was the only ornament she wore, aside fro

ver her own cook to prepare their first dinner, which, however, she had declined to share, contenting herself with orderin

e a quaintly wrought necklace of amethysts set in silver, and silver buckles, set with amethyst

she had retorted, in self-d

ding down to kiss her. "They're the pr

in all shades of lavender and purple, embroidered and plain, with shoes to match in satin and suede, occupied a goodly space in her

s," said Madame, lookin

dinner wil

it to be otherwise

ight? Is my

tely perfect, A

tward semblance is in keeping, plea

lightly over the keys

a tune to it, a

of the simple melodies t

ion: music

alling upon the keys, made a harsh dissonance. "Isabel

n was white net, shot and spangled with silver, over lustrous white silk. A comb, of filagree silver, strikin

m I?" she asked, with a

its you. Come

as evident that Madame approved. So did Rose, after she saw how the gown m

that, but you're gorgeous, nevertheless." Thus Ro

Isabel rocked him and he got down, without undue haste. He marched over to a straight-backed chair w

waved her white lace fan impatiently. "It's the psych

ould always set my watch by the Colonel. He-there, what did I tel

elight had brought a rosy glow to her lovely face, and her deep eyes s

asked Madame. "H

he young man, "just becau

he had been duly presented to her, "d

bly," he

ce removed-Miss Ross." The Colonel had already bowed to

said Allison,

rl, her eyes sparkling

ab

te, how did you eve

." "But I didn't want you

p some yourself

hed. "What a pity that the

noted with satisfaction that he had gained control of his hands and feet, but he had the same boyish face, the sam

ith me?" he asked of Mad

"If you had worn long hair and a velvet

ing him back to you, Francesca, if he had fallen so low. We're

ions to belong to other nations, I'm an Am- er-i-can,'" he sang, under his breath. Through the myster

with a hearty laugh. "I hadn't even touc

said, "my cats never got

them either,"

'em a whole lot, but it isn't mutual

though they all talked

e conversation of the

l, as he said, and aske

ard to the

said, "what has becom

urishing," R

it! What little

correct

rosby twins?"

"so I won't spoil it by endeavouring to descri

" mused Allison. "Let m

li

o each other," Rose added. Did you know that an unc

What are they

child, how you used to plan what

on no

only the income now, but this Fall, when they're twenty-one, they'll co

"they'll doubtless h

ou think there will be

ut the minute I'm bankrupt, I'll come and tell

asure he had found in his well-appointed hous

at all

ys were w

erything. I merely went over at the last to arrange

y say a fireplace is the heart of a hous

it was there, wa

he sighed. "I am very lonely

r in your heart is closed," she said, "turn the

me that before and I've often thought of it. Yet someti

son and at least one t

st

ainted with surprisingly few people over t

said Francesc

the Colonel, anxiously.

e well. I hear that

e isn't afraid of anything. Someway, to me, a man who played the f

ly, "he isn't. Do I infer that i

el. "Why do you pretend to misunders

iolin, of his own accord. "You haven't asked me to play, but I'm goin

nd looked over his music

ar with so

she was in the wonder and delight of his playing. The exquisite harmony seemed to be the inmost soul of the violin, speaking at last, through forgotten ages, of t

Unsuspected fetters loosened; she had a sense of largeness, of freedom which she had

ce, then Isabel spoke. "How we

replied, modestly. "I'

ave you bee

"That is, I feel as if I ha

laimed Isabel. "

," he

are like steps, with y

rty," smiled Isabel, wi

face. "Yes," she said, to break an awkward pause, "

lison quickly. "How

gallantry, "how can earth itself be any older, having

Rose, her high colour rece

o rebuke Isabel then and there. "Not fit for a parlour yet," she thought.

and felt vaguely uncomfortable. She was sorry if she had made a social mis

e assumed a new breadth and value, as from a newly discovered dimension. She had been in it, yet not of it, until now.

hey finished. "You're tir

she denied,

he moment, clearly, and, once more, she answered an unspoken summons in some silen

was saying. "I wish you

se answered, with lip

work up my program

t stop now, please-r

the piano to an easy chair. "Sit there," he said, "

Slowly the violin gave back the music of which it was made; the wind in the forest, the sound of many waters, moonlight shimmering through green aisles of forest, the mati

ast when she felt that

she forced h

," he replied, putt

s it-

rse. Wh

no and took up the vio

tain

sly and twanged the strings as thoug

mas, a long time ago. It belonged to a

eart?" queried Is

hurt in some way, and

of," Isabel sugge

know," he answere

tone. "I think that somewhere, in the House not Made with Hands, ther

an unwonted tenderness. "I hope

done, dear foster-child. Your adopted mother, once removed, is fully satisfied with you

d,'" replied Allison. "You're not go

r smiling assurance.

r. Woman-like she loved him, through the man

ested, "it's getting late and

lin case with a snap,

er to Rose. "I don't fe

yn't I say 'Cousin Ros

n of the

answered, colo

ee you soon again, and we'll begin wo

the sparkling silver of her gown. She glittered even in the low light of the ro

orgotten, and put it away. Isabel came to her contritely.

plied, kindly. "It was nothing a

ted Madame Bernard. "Age and false hair are not

and her cheeks were still burn

hange of mood. "I'm glad I told him. They'd never h

gh the night the voice of the violin sounded through her consciousness, calling, c