The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-08-10
Rose
Chains
BY lola L. FORESTER
Copyright. I9al, bv Izold L. Hprr.sttr

exchange II few hurried words with
Mrs Creighton
There was one thing certain. she de
cidcd, after glance nj 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-
proachcs and condolences of four
younger sisters, each with her indi-
yidual opinion ON the fitness of the
engagement, it was a relief tn breathe
freely without fear of conversational
dissection of her case
''Who is TO take me I'M" she asked
at the foot of the stairs, but Helen was
already howinG and smiling To another
guest rs she answered;
You're always late. dear, aren't
you? No excuse, though please. Don't
you Sc the senator looking helpless
and alone over there? He's 10 take me
in and thinks I'm lost"
"Eut'- Rosemary stopped short
and went upstairs to the dressing room
with little sudden heartaehe For n
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 10 any one
brilliant and strenuous tonight, who
would bother her by trying to make
an impression. She didn't want to be
impressed LII measure she blamed
imprcssioniSm for her engagement to
Dean. He was royal comrade, clever
and responsive hut not too clever or
too responsive. There WAS difference.
Looking back on the joyous days of the
month, She decided that IL had been this
element of chumship, of mindful atlini-
ty. which had been responsible Tor the
whole thing
As a comrade Dean was splendid, hut
as lover in the role of prospective
husband To- he welded 10 for life she
had suddenly discovered TINT he WIS
eNactinE most cXacting.
Any man who was engaged TO girl
and positively forbade any other man
falling in love with her was cxaeting
Moreover it was foolish, because, real
ly, II was in the abstract compliment
to his own good taste.
She could not help Jack Stowell tell
ing her that he loved her OF course
he loved her lie had told her SO on an
IA u pf tNxsina "a nlnnth for
year. And he was n dear, denr boy.
She smiled contentedly at the mir
rorod image Of herself in the dressing
room as she paused To tuck in II few
refractory hnirpins Who could help
loving herr Even Dean had called
her the dearest girl in the world 1t
was sweet to remember that. or course
he had behaved intolerably about jack.
but when u man is IN love
she laughed softly and buried her
lips carcssingly IN the heart of n
single long stemmed La France rose
that lay lightly on her breast
The last trailing gown WIS vanish
ing beyond the heavy velvet portieres
of the dining room MS she came down
stairs. only one lone figure awaited
her coming in the wide hall, and she
wondered who II could be. Not jack.
Mrs Creiglt n did not approve Of
Jack. In fact. she hid once called
him cub. Mild, but irritating TO
Jack. The figure turned suddenly at
the sound Of her coming 1t was Dean
himself Half unconscionsly she hes
itatcd, her head lifted triflc higher
than usual, her lnshes dropping OBJ
stinatcly over tclltale eyes.
He was terribly grave and dignifled.
Il am TO have the pleasure of TAX
Ing You in. Mrs. Creighton said She
evidently doe; not know"
Il had no idea that you would be
here" she spoke Indignantly. 1t was
almost impairment of him, when only
last night she had told him she never
wished TO even look Mt him again.
Il could hardly help myself, utter
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
pcnsablc to each others happiness.
His quiet, courteous sarcasm was
maddening 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
tercsted In plan for the irrigation of
the great American desert by means of
huge spinning hose nozzles 10 be OPP
Grated from balloons
"But you'll have 10 get the water up
there before you can get 1t down." OBJ
tectcd Rosemary anXiously for the sew
enth time. She knew that Dean was
smiling amusedly Unless you attach
1t 10 the clouds"
Mr. Rathburn was silent, and she
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
ed Eleanor with irrigation and other
unpleasant topics. Next to Dean was
MTb. tHduNlth. lltT tIuy tuIlS Ntte
just visible beyond his brown ones.
She was congratulating him, Rosemary
knew. She had been I'm Europe all
summer and had only heard Of the be-
trothal few days ago. II seemed TO
Rosemary that she was unnecessarily
rapturous and volublc on the subject.
"It IL the sweetest time of your life,"
she was saying 1.-THE betrothal hour
when we laugh and love and let Cupid
bilci us in rose chains and drive us at
his dear, capricious will, span or tan
dem
Its generally tandem, Mrs Chad
wick" said Dean, with merry scorn.
There must be a leader, you know,
and Cupids law is ladies first"
''Ah, but they are only rose chains,
Dean" The gray curls were shaken at
him rebukngly And they break 80
easily. Once married, they are rose
chains still, but some wise fate has
slipped links of steel beneath the pet
ais"
And If we break them now Dean