The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-06


expectation is-However, don't see
how you can hesitate
Laura" said Honoria. bending
across the table towrds the other. and
still caressing the rose. a color almost
as vivid on her own cheek, II don't
know If l am the one that is hesitat-
ing"
How perfectly absurd! When he was
simply daft about you three weeks ago.
and was SO stiff and absent minded last
night at dinner that it was very plain
he was matchmaking Rose Sturter-
WITS stupidity in putting the length OF
the table between you. Didn't he say
anything at all when you had that mo-
ment together just before papa insisted
on going?"
Il don't know If you would call 1t any
thing. We had had discussion. a dis
pute, about some roses, the day he left
Bar Harbor. and he referred to it-there
was only a moment, you know-and he
said that since he could not make good
his claim of showing me better rose.
for he had found there was none better
that's because l gave him one an
pliment-- he should do himself the hon
or of sending me some roses tomorrow.
that's today. that at any rate would let
me see on what good reason he had
founded his contention, or something
of the sort. You see everybody could
hear. And he said quickly in a low tone.
that he should have the answer he
wanted IL l wore one today. And here
are the roses, dozen American Beau
ties-One, two, three, yes. a dozen Of
those. and as many more of the Ulrich
Brunners. If l wore one--which one,
a beauty or brunner? And here Is his
letter. And If you can make out what
he means, 1t Is more than can, Laura!"
The boat was moving along on a
slight swell. and II seemed to Honoria
that a dozen women, pretty and per-
picked. with a stain of crushed carmine
ON the cheek. looked with shining eyes
from the looking-glas panels. on doz-
en- other women as pretty and perplex-
ed holding a sheet of paper with the
Beltanley crest
Does he intend declaration" asked
Laura. Does he say he Is your lover
say that he is u lover Of the brunner
roSes?'
II am sure l don't know"
81 was looking through the glass an
hour ago and saw him on the Pendragon
she has drifted Off a little. He was in
white:. but without any flower In his
buttonhole. He is awaiting for your an
swer to put an American Beauty there.
So at any rate, make haste. and pin In
those brunners and come on deck!
why"
"'To give him the answer he wants"
81 don't know If want to give him
the answer he wants
"Honoria, you are "a perfectly forsak-
en- tlirt."
what answer does he want. Laura"
"Oh!" cried Laura, taking the letter
and reading it again. "Why will an ele-
phant try to play"
AS they bent above the letter once
more, neither of the two women could
tell--Can you?-whether Sir Brooke
Bcltanley had proposed himself, or his
roses when he wrote:
"Will you take my roses-remember-
ing our short dispute-and let me hope,
although it be ungenerously. that | win
you to my side? And as for the roses
themselves. wear them and look in your
mirror. and you will confess that the
rose | love Is brighter, of the more per
feet form. the more erect--and while 1t
is possible for u rose. as the American
Beauty shows, to have thOrns, sharp,
and tn some ppisouOlIS the rose | love