Richmond Womans College - Puffs and Patches Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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The Message of the Violet ES, you are more beautiful than I,-I admit thatg but 'tis no reason you should laugh at me. You are double aml have had more care, while all my growing I've done alone. All the more eredit to me that, though you in your beauty are placed here upon her dressing-table, yet I find a place beside ytlll. Yes, I admit too, that you are higher, but my stem is short and I'm quite satis- fied with my little vase. Still you laugh? Ah! wait until you've heard my story. They seemed to have quarreled dreadfully. l'laeh was so calm and deter- mined that I wonder what must have been the result had not I come to them. 'llhreels a crowd? That's nonsense where oneis a Hilower of love , besides, you must not interrupt. Anyway 'twas my opportunity, so I took advantage of it. Perhaps you've heard the song, since it is original with our family, that is, with us of the woodlands. I never knew.you of the hot-house and half doubt that we are kin at all. I begin to feel weak now, so must hasten. 'A I brmg ll, breath of spring time From leoofllrlnlls ielzere I grew., , I sang it as loud as I could, but neither seemed to hear. Soon the man began to dig the dirt about me with her parasol, and several times struck the big green leaves that hid me from view. The girl was looking far oii' among the trees across the brook, and there must have been some terrible misunder- standing, judging from this long intent gaze, for not once had she looked toward the man since I had first commenced to watch them. Although her face was turned away from me, I knew she must be V0l'y beautiful. The clear-cut profile, the chin tilted in an imliH'erent, independent way, and the mass of black hair coiled low on the neck made, to me, a beautiful picture. And I wondered Why the man's face looked so stern. The firm, square jaw, the mouth set in strong, drawn lines, the brows knit in a frown above the handsome eyes. Then so furiously he dug the ground about me that he broke the leaves from around aml badly bruised my stem. I continued my song, hoping by some chance to save myself from the sad fate that seemed awaiting me. 7'l1ere's ll kiss upon eucll, pelul, My lips are sweet IPIIHIV rleze.

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Snatching up his hat, Phil, with a most serious face, turned to Dorothy, Miss Winn, I will have to ask you to allow Mr. lidwards to see you home. Jack, won't you escort Miss Winn home? Saying this, Phil rushed out of Church with a most solemn air. No sooner had he reached the Church porch, however, than his serious air left him. Sitting down on the steps he laughed until he was weak. Why, I've made quite a reputation for myself, as well as helping out Jack,'l said he, when he had regained his breath. I' Hello, Bill, is that you? he called, seeing a figure near him. You did your part line, and here's your pay, throwing him a fifty-cent piece. Phil slowly walked home. Going into his room, he threw himself into a big chair and thought, at times an amused look coming over his face. I have done my part, it all rests with Jackf' I-le finished his cigar. I hope Jack won't stay forever, I must hear the end of this to-night. The clock struck eleven, half-past, and then twelve, but .lack did not come. At last, when the clock showed almost one and Phil's patience was nearly gone, the door opened and in walked Jack. Have you come at last? How did you and Dorothy get along? Oh, fine, but why are you up so late? Just gotten hack from your patient?'l said Jack, trying to evade further questioning. Yes, just gotten back, said Phil' laughing. Jack looked at him curiously, and then a light broke on his lace. Say, was all that a put up job? Phil laughed, but said nothing. Old fellow,'l said Jack striding up to him and wringing his hand, won't you be the best man? IC. W. A Romance They were walking in the moonlight. Silence prevailed. He held her hand. There was a slight flutter ol' the leaves. The silence was broken- 'flVIuriel, do give me your promisefl She hesitated. No, not to-night-maybe to-morrow. The rest of the way they were speechless. When they reached the porch, hc kissed her good-night, aml went his way, in a very troubled stale of mind. The next day eight-year-old Muriel promised ten-year-old Harold that she would not tell 'fMother that she caught him smoking cigarette stumps behind the big oak tree. B.

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Whether he heard or saw me I know not. .Iust at this moment, however, he stooped and took hold of my stem, which quickly broke where he had so mercilessly bruised me. I was glad, too, that it left me very short, just to spite him. The frown now passed from his brow and a new light gleamed in the kind, dark eyes. I bring ll Iweutlz of spririg lime l ro'm. 'zeorullmul ll'lll'7'l' I yreun I-Ie sang in :1 deep, rieh voice. Why, he knew my song! 'l'hen looking toward the girl he went on, 'l'l1.ere's u kiss upon. l'lll5ll pelul M 11-- She seemed unable to look at those trees longer sinee she had heard of me. Slowly she turned her head toward us in a half-questioning, half-indifferent way, and, for the first time, I got a glimpse into the deep, long-lashed eyes, which struck me as greatly resembling my own. No sooner had this thought fiashed upon me than the mam said, Look, Violet, I never knew before how well the name suited you. 'l'here's not a shade of difference between this little tlower and your eyes. Look up at me. I had nearly erushed it there in its hiding plaee. What a brute I am-and had I nearly crushed you, too, little woman ? he asked, as he leaned toward her. Yes, she answered simply, but you would never have known it. And seeing the strong mouth I realized that too. But it was my duty now to take up my song where I left off. The one who sends this message W ould uilmfsper soft to you.. Somehow I must have bloomed for that man and girl, for upon every oe- easion he seemed to understand the message I tried to bring and anticipate my mission. Yes, I know it, because he 11ow joined me in his soft, rich tones, I lore you, low' you, lore you, .fl n.rl--- Here the girl, looking up into his face, completed the trio with her sweet eontralto, and we three sang happily, -My lufurfs lrue blue. I've heard before that three's a crowd as ou mentioned. But Men seemed 3 to be at the time I began to sing my song. Before you begin to laugh at me,