The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-11-27
A Dark
Red Rose
By MADELINE BRIDGES

ne hands OF his beautiful betrothed.
Katherine EldridGe, who had broken
their engagement az ruthlessly as one
Breaks and throws aside a nut with a
worthless kernel-not knowing she had
cast away a pearl worth all her tribe.
Austen. being young. and proud. and
very firm Of viii. had taken the blow
With unflinching courage. and. immedi-
ately thereafter the train across the
sentiment to San Francisco. There be
put up at the Hotel Cavendish and wan
iered lonely about the strange streets.
booking al his future with unseeing eyes.
With these same eyes he glanced al
Marguerite Darlington when she first
passed him. in the hotel corridor The
second time they met. he saw that she
vas very pretty. Her brunette beauty.
With its glowing color OF cheeks and lips.
reminded him Of dark red rose. lie
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
q shy, mGmentary glance of exceeding
u ohangeless blue had never given him
4 look so womanly In Its unconscious
Kindness That night Austen whistled
8 he moved about his room-softly and
pensiyely. IL is true-but he had not
shisiled since the day he came down
With an engagement ring in his vest
3pcket
after this. IL was easy TO locate Miss
Darlington in the dining-reom. in a spe-
,ially quiet corner. where she sat with
Ter married sister There was no mis-
mixing the resemblance between the
-woj and pretty boy Of ten. Austen
shose 4 table within range Of their
gaze. He was progressing to the point
Of feeling that he would like TO know
sheir names. when a most unlooked-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
before his mental vision. moving light
". but with set purpose. down the long.
wide hallway tnever had he encountered
the dark red rose in this part of the ho-
eel beforeD and turning into the little
passage way that led To his own apart
ments. He hesitated. bewildered-then
stood motionless. in amazement Look
ting down the passage way. he plainly
saw her, standing at his door and tying
a great red rose. with long. green-leafed
IN nf tie hal
received this indelible impression on
his Utmost 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 knot of thin
white ribbon. He unfastened il, frown-
ing perplexedly, and took II into his
roDm-and there discovered that the
ribbon was passed through small white
card on which he read Miss Darling
ton in regulation script. In the corner
ras pencil seribble. Room Gil" He
sat down TO face his thoughts
They were very disappointed
thoughts. almost contemptuous, when
the shock of the surprise was over. and
he angi@ contemplate the act in its real
lily Why had she done this thing?
How was it possible for woman whose
whole bearing suggested gentle dlgity
and maidenly reserve TO take up the
hrazen methods Of reckless. audacious
dirt? None but girl of coarse fiber and
most deplorably deficient training
eelad be guilty Of such bold maneuyer.
He had noticed, as he watched from the
eloakroom door. thai she walked rapid
y. with a alf-mischievous smile on
her charming face "A dark red
rose" Pshaw A Haunting peony,
Were these the manners of
western girls?-or was she. indeed, one
fer whom other women must blush and
De sorry? And why should he feel this
sense OF personal aggr!eyement because
4 stranger had fallen below his ideal
Standard Dark hair, a damask
cheek. long. dark eyelashes, a
friendly glance or two was
there anything more TO prize. or remem-
ser? He had never even heard the
sound of her voice, Why should he sit.
glaring angrily at the fresh. innocent
so-between, in its dewey blooming.
xnawing his mustache. and longing to
rent his scorn in singing words? At
ast he spoke aloud. and the quotation
believed his mind. though his own ears
alone were listening.
WHATS Hecuha to him. or he 10 Hecuba
THAT he should weep for herr
He smiled determ.nedly. as one who
slakes an end of yexatious thought. and
gang the bell that summoned the hall
porter. Their conference concluded
With reiteration Of explicit directions.
u this form:
Very well. be sure to leave 1t al the
night door-tie it on the handle. mind
and manage ii so no one will see YOU
TO you understand? And then come
back to me. ! am going away to-mor-
now morning"
He passed over the rose. with its wish
II white ribbon and dangling card To
4. A. l.