The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-03
A BUNCH OF ROSES.

3, Paul Hartford What IS he 10 me- any
how? Just a friend I may have beer
foolish enough TO imagine that l loved
him-but it wasn't love; IL couldn't have
been Just the most trivial sort Of impet-
Gous infatuatiOn. that was all.
Katherine Westlake threw herself Ian
guidly down upon the cushlon-weighted
couch With just the merest pretense of a
sigh She nestled her head with conslc-
cradle snugneSs in an artistic heap OF
feathers and embroidered silk. and with
q weary gesture CT her hand closed her
eyes Paul Hartford had just left her
he had quit the house in rage because
he had found Katherine caressing mag
nihcent bouquet Of roses-radiant Ameri-
can beauties-when he entered the parlor
after having been Unexpectedly admitted
by a servant
Hartford was a jealous sort of an indi-
vidual with eyes for but one girl-Kath-
crime Westlaz>a. He was IN love, so much
III love. IN fact, that he was as blind and
as Incapable Of reasoning as lover
could possibly be. When he walked IN
upon the beautiful. bewirching and mar
velously clever girl whose image had
taken such deep root in his heart and
! found her eyes beaming and her soul
going out TO the pretty flowers that
stood in vase on the parlor table. he
was beside himself with envy. With the
manner of q master directing the move
70 know from whom the flowers came
His answer was an aggravated smile.
conveying the one idea of independence,
and the unsatisfactory staten ent from
the lips of katherine Westlake: a
present; aren't they beautiful"
This was too much for the overwrought
temper Of Paul Hartford. Showing both
hands wrist deep into the side pockets Of
his coat. he contemplated Katherine for
an instant. while cynical and threate
ing smile played about his lips. The
next minute the storm broke, and il was
furious storm. indeed. The result Of Il
was that Paul Hartford turned on his
heel and, with the eyes OF Katherine
1 Westlake following him in a somewhat
amused fashion, flew out of the room in
l jealous rage. At the door he paused. and.
( facing about said with threatening
gesture:
When you are ready to tell me who
sent you those roses you can let me
know. Until then / viii not bother you"
/ In another second he was gone, and as
the door closed with u bang, katherine
/ Westlake looked again at the roses and
| smiled If Paul Hartford could have
seen that smile, even he would have re-
Tented and pleaded on his knees for for
| giveness. But at that minute he was
digging his heels into the stone sidewalk
I and saying TO himself that he was fool
TO allow any girl to ruffle his temper.
The complacent katherine. who had so
completely upset Paul Hartford. contin-
ued her muse among the cushions on
the couch.
| Men are such horribly unreasonable
creatures" she thought. Paul. sup
pose, I should call him Mr.. Hartford now
is dreadfully so. To think that he should
/ fly into such rage over one little bou-
/ quet of roses Besides, they were given
10 me without solicitation by my own
dear brother and if = girl cant accept
flowers from her brother, just because
he may happen TO make some man jeal-
Gus, then it is about time for us to sur
render all our rights If he hadn't been
SC unrea sonable, and had given me time,
l would have told him. But it's too late
now. Imagine me sending for him after
what he said TO me. He was really hor
rid. l might have cared for HIM before
this afternoon. but now our little affair
l., at an end I guess / shant mind so
much, either. It's frightfully trouble
scme to imagine you're in love. anyway
I'm glad Paul Hartford is nothing TO
me any more. l suppose he'll find an
other girl soon. No doubt he viii. Men
usually do. They get out of these little
love affairs so easily. We girls Go all the
worrying And it isn't right, either. I'll
bet he takes up with that snippy Drake
girl. Probably he was looking for an ex-
cuse 10 quarrel with me. anyway. /
never knew him to be so unreasonable |
before
Katherine westlake buried her face
among the pillows and the faintest sors |
OF a little sob slightly shook her grace
full body. This was followed by an /
other. and another, and before the un- !
happy girl could fathom her own emo !
tons she was weeping
Meanwhile. Paul Hartford had been /
questioning himself. and the more he /
thought the less satisfied he became with |
himself and his despicable conduct /
short while before in the presence Of 1
Katherine Westlake.
Perhaps [ was in the wrong" he said /
to himself, as he swung on to a grip car
and took a seat far up in front Maybe
Katherine bought the roses herself. Any
how, I should have given her a chance to
explain. I was a cad to act So | wonder
il she ever win forgive me. II she
doesn' {, / know l shall be absolutely mis-
cradle
In this unhappy frame of mind Paul
Hartford went home 10 dinner. He could
not eat He could do nothing but think,
think. always of Katherine Westiake.
I'D go back and ask Der TO forgive me
Il I hadn't made such fool Of myself,
he thought But I'm sure she'd only
laugh at me- I know what III do. III
write her note. That's the only way
can find relief
BY dinner time Katherine Westlake had
cried her eyes red. and. pleading Illness.
she avoided other members Of the family
and locked herself IN her room.
How could Paul be so cruel to me.
she sobhed hundred times. He should
have known. But perhaps / was AZ fault.
Indeed I am sure I didn't do right
should have told him who gave me the
roses. I can't stand X another minute.
must write and tell lin m sorry
Chances are he won't read the letter,
but III 90 my part, anyway
? Next morning. when Katherine West
lake went down 70 the breakfast table
after q sleepless night the maid handed
her plain white envelope. She looked
at the handwriting and almost shouted
From Paul
Dearest Katherfne;-7m sorry. know
I didn't do right 1t was all my fault
and l know I am a Jealous. unreasonable
fellow WIN you forgive me? Please I
Go just this once. Yours, hopefully.
Paul Hartford also spent a horrifying
nsxht and when he arose EARLIER than vas
his custom he discovered the corner 81 I
b DAINTY blue envelope sticSing under his
door. re grabbed for x. and one look
was enough --Kafherfnes writing, lie
cried This = what Il read
Ny Darling Fani,-BrotheE Jack gave
ne the roses il vas mean OF me not q I.
.eli sou. Please forgive ne n 20 sorry
ana want u sze YOU Cali as soon as ycl !
get this. DC this. FOR ycur own
KATHERINE
Leonard Lorraine. in Chicago Fri
5une.
N.siff y Came tc This7 "a