Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-08-25
Rose
Chains
BY lola L. FORESTER
COPYRIGHT, i9ol, bp Ieold l.. Forester

1t was late when Rosemary arrived.
| The other guests were rising, and din
ner bad been announced. She had
| barely time to toss aside her furs and
exchange a few hurried words with
| Mrs Creighton.
There was one thing certain, she de-
| cided, after a glance at Helen and the
| rest. They had not heard yet, and she
| was glad of an hours respite. After
| the scene with Dean last night, follow
| ed by the solemn one in the morning
| with her mother, and finally the re-
proaches and condolences of four
| younger sisters, each with her indi-
| vidual opinion ON the fitness of the
| engagement, 1t was relief to breathe
| freely without fear of conversational
! dissection of her case.
who is TO take me inT' she asked
| at the foot of the stairs, but Helen was
| already bowling and smiling to another
! guest as she answered:
| You're always late, dear, aren't
! you? No excuse, though, please. Don't
| you see the senator looking helpless
| and alone over there? He's to take me
in and thinks I'm lost.
| But Rosemary stopped short
and went upstairs to the dressing room
| with little sudden heartache. For
| whole month one only had had the
| right and privilege of claiming her. and
| now she was free again. She hoped
| Helen would not give her TO any one
| brilliant and strenuous tonight, who
| would bother her by trying to make
| an impression. She didn't want TO be
| impressed. In measure she blamed
| impressionism for her engagement TO
| Dean. He was royal comrade, clever
| and responsive, but not too clever or
| too responsive. There was Il difference.
| Looking back on the joyous days of the
| month. she decided that it had been this
| element of chumship, of mindful atiini-
| ty, which had been responsible for the
whole thing.
! AS comrade Dean was splendid, but
| as lover in the role of prospective
| husband to be welded to for life she
| had suddenly discovered that he was
| eXacting-moSt eXacting
ANY man who was engaged to girl
and positively forbade any other man
| falling in love with her was cXacting.
Moreover, it was foolish, because, real
". it was in the abstract q compliment
| to his own good taste.
| She could not help Jack Stowell tell
ing her that he loved her. OF course
| he loved her He had told her so on an
average of twice a month for over
| year And he was a dear. dear boy.
| She smiled contcntedly at the mir
rored image Of herself in the dressing
room as she paused TO tuck in a few
| refractory hairpins. Who could help
| loving her? Even Dean had called
! her the dearest girl in the world. 1t
| was sweet to remember that. OF course
| he had behaved intolerably about Jack
but when a man is in love
She laughed softly and buried her
| lips caressingly in the heart Of a
single long stemmed La France rose
| that lay lightly on her breast.
The last trailing gown was vanish
| ing beyond the heavy velvet portieres
| of the dining room as she came down
stairs, Only one lone figure awaited
| her coming in the wide hall, and she
wondered who it could be Not Jack.
Mrs. Creighton did not approve of
| Jack. In fact, she had once called
him cub. Mild, but irritatlng-to
| Jack. The figure turned suddenly at
| the sound of her coming. 1t was Dean
| himself. Half unconsciously she hes
| itated. her head lifted trifle higher
| than usual. her lashes dropping OBJ
| stinately over telltale eyes.
He was terribly grave and dignihed
Il am to have the pleasure of TAX
| ing you in, Mrs. Creighton said. She
| evidently does not know"
II had no idea THAI you would be
here" She spoke Indignantly. 1t was
| almost impertinent of him, when only
| last night she had told him she never
wished to even look at him again.
Il could hardly help myself, after
| accepting the invitation a week ago
| We will probably meet in the same
places for some time, until the break
| ing Of the engagement IS announced.
At present people consider us indis-
| pensable to each others happiness"
His quiet, courteous sarcasm was
maddcning under the circumstances
\ She resolved not to even speak TO him
| again. Old Mr.. Rathburn sat at her
| other hand. and she devoted herself to
| him with earnest fervor, He was in
! terested In o plan for the irrigation of
! the great American desert by means of
| huge spinning hose MOBILES 20 be OPP
| Grated from balloons.
But you'll have TO get the water up
there before you can get ii down." OBJ
| tected Rosemary anXiously for the sew
| enth time She knew that Dean was
smiling amu~edly. Unless YOU attach
| It TO the clouds
J A- Ratth@rT wns SlDDt ara She
| felt withered by a sense of his dis
pleasure, and she hated the theory OF
irrigation by balloons or any other way.
Dean was talking across the table
| to Eleanor Lee, and she suddenly class
, al Eleanor with irrigation and other
| unpleasant topics, Next 10 Dean was
Mrs. Chadwick. Her gray cuEis were
Just visible beyond his brown ones.
L., N,4.,.