Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-04-11

| Next morning at 100 he walked up
| TO the station. Just around the corner
on the platform he saw Rose Carroll
smiling at Mayne, who carrier her
suit case and a great bunch Of pink
carnations. Before they saw him he
stepped back into the waiting room,
| bought ticket to the next town north
and kept out of sight until the train
came in. He swung on the rear plat
form, while Mayne, triumphant In his
momentof favor. put the lady into seat
and bestowed her luggage about her.
AS the train pulled out Durham look
ID from his window in the smoker and
beheld the idiotically adoring face of
Mayne, who was waving his farewell.
When he had smoked long black
cigar John Durham sauntered into
the next car. About the middle OF
the aisle he stopped suddenly ut
quick exclamation:
why, Mr.. Dunhamr'
He looked down and saw, with ap-
parent surprise, Rose Carroll, blush
ing and smiling. He removed his hat,
but made no effort to take the seat
which she had cleared for him beside
her.
Miss CARROLL SO this is your train
how pleasant! Lovely day, isn't It'll"
won't you sit DOWN." she asked,
a little timidly. And he did and went
on talking so carelessly and yet so
meaningly. so brightly and still so
w hot 1AI - 1r.. h..k
moment or two before he looked
from the window and stood up. Draw
Ing a slender PARCEL from his pocket,
he unwrapped SINGLE long stemmed
pink rose.
II must get Off here In order to get
back to an important case with your
father only got on to tell you
goodby. Didn't want to interfere
with Mayne at the station. | can't
compete with this floral generosity"
and he laid the rose In her lap, ''but
this is to remind you that some day
! shall bring you that red rose He
was gone, without touching her hand
in farewell. She sat gasping pleased,
astonished, half angry, but completely
interested She looked at the pink
rose. Then she tossed the carnations
from the window and wondered how
in the, world John Durham had man.
aged to obtain her promise to answer
his letters.
Thereafter Durham wrote her-not
regularly, but when the fancy seemed
to seize him whimsical, vigorous, Joy
fW, masculine letters, wholesomely
free from all loyemaking. She an
swered, and sometimes when he was
very busy he called her up on the
long DISTANCE phone in lieu Of let
ter. Meantime Mayne had sent bush
els Of flowers, had written ponderous-
ly sentimental epistles and heaved
many ponderous signs. Twice he had
gone to see his divinity, and on his
last call her lack of interest In his
elaborate mention of Durham raised
suspicion in his slow but relentlessly
logical mind. On his return he saun-
tered into Dunham's Office
Morning. old man."
Morning, Mayne. Enjoy your Wis.,
it?" How the deuce did Durham know
he'd been away? Mayne hazarded a
guess.
"Yes, called on Miss Carroll. Write
to her, don't yous" Taken Off guard.
Durham admitted the soft impeach-
ment and was instantly sorry. Mayne
laughed with unctuous amusement.
Thought you were too astute for
OF l.
me! Stringing you for all she's worth i! |
Practiced hand! Great girl-no end
popular Knows how to do it, Miss
Carroll" Dunham's anger rose, but
he answered carelessly:
Look to yourself, Mayne. Guess I |
can take care of Johnny" But after
Mayne went the tide Of his anger |
surged toward Rose Carroll. When
he could stand it no longer he went |
to the phone, closing the door Of the |
inner office, and called up st. Louis |
and Miss Carroll After an hours de-
lay he got her and went straight to |
the point.
THAT you, Miss Carroll? Know who |
this is? Yes. Lovely spring day! / |
want to ask you something. Forgive |
my bluntness, but must know. Miss
Carroll, In your letters and all have |
you meant everything or have you
been playing with mcr A long pause,
while he listened intentfy.
mo, did not think SOL simply ask
ed. have not the time nor the tenn
per to play. You will forgive me for
asking you? No, can't tell you what
made me think OF such thing. Yes,
some day / will. Certainly | believe