Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-09-06
Rose
Chains
BY lz0LA L. FORESTER
Copyright. 1861, by Izola L. Fnrrrster

! Copyright. ise., bu koIa L. Forester
1t was late when Rosemary arrived.
| The other guests were rising. and din
| ner had been announced. She had
barely time to toss aside her furs and
XChanee a few hurried words with
Mrs. Creighton.
There was one thing certain, she de-
cided. after 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. it was relief to breathe
freely without fear Of conversational
dissection of her case.
"Who is to take me in?' 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 a 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 difference.
Looking back on the joyous days Of the
month. she decided that 1t had been this
element Of chumship, of mindful atfini-
ty. which had been responsible for the
whole thing
AS a 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 exacting.
Moreover, it was foolish, because, real
", it was in the abstract compliment
to his own good taste.
She could not help Jack Stowell tell
ing her that he loved her. or course
he loved her. He had told her so on an
average Of twice q month for over
year. And he was dear, dear boy.
She smiled contentedly at the mir
rored image Of herself in the dressing
room as she paused to tuck In 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 man is in love
She laughed softly and buried her
lips caressingly in the heart OF
single long stemmed La France rose
that lay lightly on her breast.
u - n.
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 he. Not Jack.
Mrs. Creighton did not approve OF
Jack. In fact. she had once called
him q cub. Mild, but irritating-to
Jack. The figure turned suddenly ut
the sound of her coming. 1t was Dean
himself Half uncOnsciously she hes
ituted. her head lifted Il trit1e higher
than usual. her lashes dropping OBJ
stinately over telltale eyes.
He was terribly grave and dignifled.
IL am to have the pleasure OF TAX
Ing YOU in, Mrs. Creighton said. She
evidently does not know"
Il had no idea that you would Dc
here" She spoke Indignantly. IT was
almost impertinent Of him. when only
last night she had told him she never
wished to even look at him again.
81 could hardly help myself, after
accepting the invitation 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
maddening under the circumstances.
She resolved not to even speak to MIN
again. Old Mr.. Rathburn sat at her
other hand, and she devoted herself to
him with earnest fervor. He was In
terested In plan for the irrigation OF
the great American desert by means OF
huge spinning hose nozzles to be op-
Grated from balloons.
But you'll have to get the water up
there before you can get 1t down. OBJ
jected Rosemary anxiously for the sew
snth time. She knew that Dean was
smiling amusedly. "Unless you attach
It to the clouds"
Mr.. Rathburn was silent, and she
felt withered by sense OF MS als-
pleasure. and she hated the theory OF
irrigation by balloons or any other way.
Dean was talking across the table
10 Eleanor Lee. and she suddenly class
ell Eleanor with irrigation and other
unpleasant topics. Next to Dean was
Mrs. Chadwick. Her gray curls were
lust visible beyond his brown ones.
She was congratulating him, Rosemary
knew. She had been in Europe all
summer and had only heard OF the be-
trotha few days ago. 1t seemed to
Rosemary that she was unnecessarily
rapturous and vOluble on the subject.
ut Is the sweetest time of your life
she was saying. 1.-THE betrothal hour
when we laugh and love and let Cupid
bind us in rose chains and drive us at
his dear. capricious will, span or tan
dem
Its generally tandem. Mrs. Chad
wick" suid Dean, with merry scorn.
"There must be leader. you know,
and Cupid's law is ladies first"
"Ah, but they are only rose chains,
Dean" The gray curls Were shaken at
him rebukingly. "And they break 30