Cecilia of the Pink Roses
its wings were silver. In one spot a marble wall with a Greek relief stood out in blazing white against the distant water.... Jeremiah saw all the loveliness, but he could not feel it. 

 "That wall cost me——" he muttered, and then stopped, hearing footsteps. 

 Cecilia stepped from the same path from which Johnny had made his entrance. Her hat was a broad one, hiding her face provokingly, her dress one of those "simple" affairs, so dangerous to hearts and purses. 

 "Dearest!" she called rather breathlessly, "I did so want to see you! I've been hunting for you everywhere!"  Jeremiah put his arms around her and forgot his worry about a certain son, and even forgot the cost of things. 

 "Well?" he questioned gently. 

 "Well," she repeated after him, "I just wanted to see you."  She fidgetted as she had at seven, when the request for a new skillet or pan had been necessary. Jeremiah understood, and looked down at the simple affair, talking of it, to give her time.  "That dress now," he said, "ain't it kind of plain? Don't you like 'em fancied up with ruffles and lace and stuff?" 

 Cecilia said that perhaps it was plain, but that she rather liked it. However, she would get one all-over ruffles for Jeremiah's dear gaze. After that they were silent, Cecilia staring absently out over the deep, blue Sound. 

 "Papa, dear," she said at last, with a gulp. "There's a man coming out to see me,—I mean us,—for Sunday. I hope you'll like him. He—he's really nice. I hope you'll like him."  She stopped for a moment and then again said: "I do hope you'll like him." 

 "Do you want me to like him?" asked Jeremiah. 

 "Oh, yes," said Cecilia, "I do!"  She was again looking toward the Sound. Her small, white teeth were set on her lower lip.  "He's very dear," she said at last; then she plaited a pink-edged handkerchief. Jeremiah frowned. "There ain't a man fit fer yuh!" he said crossly, "not a one!" 

 "Yes, there is," answered Cecilia. 

 "There ain't!" contradicted Jeremiah. "Does he play tennis?" he questioned, "and set around in white pants?"  Jeremiah's voice had grown absolutely fierce. Cecilia laughed.  "I suppose he does," she admitted, "but he works, really hard. He told me that life had only meant work for him, until——" 


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