River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-11-26
By MADELINE BRIDGES
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A LISTEN WARDE was suffering
~ from a very recent heart wound al
me hands of his beautiful betrothed
Katherine Eldridge, who had broken
their engagement as ruthlessly as one
breaks and throws aside a nut with a
worthless kernel-not knowing she had
least away pearl worth all her tribe. .
Austen, being young, and proud, and
very firm of will, had taken the blow
with unflinching courage, and, immedi-
ately thereafter, the train across the
continent to San Francisco. There he
put up at the Hotel Cavendish and wan
dered lonely about the strange streets
looking at his future with unseeing eyes.
With these same eyes he glanced at
Marguerite Darlington when she first
passed him, in the hotel corridor. The
second time they met, he saw that she
was very pretty. Her brunette beauty,
with it's glowing color of cheeks and lips
reminded him of a dark red rose. He
called her so to himself, as she went
by. The third time he discovered that
she was modest and gracious. On this
occasion her eyes had met his own, with
a shy, momentary glance of exceeding
sweetness. Katherines brilliant eyes
of changeless blue had never given him
a look so womanly in it's unconscious
Kindness. That night Austen whistled
$ he moved about his Toom-softly and
pensiveIy, it is true-but he had not
Whistled since the day he came down
the steps of certain stately residence
with an engagement ring in his vest
pocket.
After this it was easy to locate Miss
Darlington in the dining-room, in spe-
cially quiet corner, where she sat with
her married sister there was no mis-
taking the resemblance between the
two) and a pretty boy of ten. Austen
chose a table within range of their
gaze He was progressing to the point
of feeling that he would like to know
their names, when most unIooked-for
episode shocked him to a standstill.
As he came in from his street wan
dering, one early twilight, he saw the
slender figure that now so often fitted
ly, but with set purpose, down the long,
wide hallway CneVer had he encountered
the dark red rose in this part of the ho-
tel beforeD and turning into the little
passage way that led to his own apart
ments. He hesitated, bewildered-then
stood motionless, in amazement. Look
ing down the passage way, he plainly
~ 1T
a great red rose, with long, green-leafed
stem on the handle of his bell! Having
received this indelible impression on
his inmOst consciousness, he retreated
with speed that suggested wild escape
from threatening danger, and took
refuge in cloakroom near by, where he
waited, breathless, to hear her pass
Then he sped to his room, to find the
rose, berathing fragrance at him, fas-
tened TO his door with a knot of thin,
white ribbon. He unfastened it, frown-
ing perplexedly, and took it into his
roOm-and there discovered that the
ribbon was passed through small white
card on which he read Miss Darling
tom in regulation script. In the corner
was a pencil scribble Groom 61." He
sat down to face his thoughts.
They were very disappointed
thoughts, almost contemptuous, when
the shock of the surprise was over, and
he could contemplate the act in it's real
ity. Why had she done this thing?
How was it possible for woman whose
whole bearing suggested gentle digity
and maidenly reserve to take up the
brazen methods of a reckless, audacious
flirt? None but a girl of coarse fiber and
most deplorably deficient training
could be guilty of such a bold maneuver
He had noticed, as he watched from the
cloakroom door, that she walked rapid
Iy, with half-mischievous smile on
her charming face. ga dark red
rose" Pshaw! Haunting peony!
Were these the manners of
western girls?-or was she, indeed, one
for whom other women must blush and
be sorry? And why should he feel this
sense of personal aggrievement because
a stranger had fallen below his ideal
standard! Dark hair, damask
cheek long, dark eyelashes, a
friendly glance or two, was
there anything more to prize, or remem-
Der? He had never even heard the
sound of her voice! Why should he sit.
glaring angrily at the fresh, innocent
go-between, in its dewey blooming,
gnawing his mustache. and longing to
vent hts scorn in singing words? At
last he spoke aloud, and the quotation
relieved his mind, though his own ears
alone were listening.
whats Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba.
That he should weep for herr"
He smiled determinedly, as one who
makes an end of veXatious thought, and
rang the bell that summoned the hall
porter. Their conference concluded
with reiteration of explicit directions.
in this form:
Every we'll, be sure to leave it at the
right door-tie it on the handle, mind.
and manage it so no one will see you.
Do you understand? And then come
back to me. l am going away to-mor-
row morning."