Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-04-04
Three Roses and
Another
By JOANNA SINGLE

D:. John Durham knew what he dit
TT wai,. lie could also Instantly rec
ogliZc what lie did want When he saw
it. These traits had been OF use to hin
in working his way through college
through medical school after that ant
into fourishing practice now TIVE
years old.
In love as in business it was til,
same, only the girls he lad thus fal
met were undoubtedly the ones he die
not want. DR.. Johns black gray eye.
were always on the silent quest of al
unknown GIL the thought of whom he
linked with the thought of roses. She
did not appear. He was thirty-two and
beginning to think he had missed hel
and was deciding to devote his spare
time entirely to rose culture when the
no longer expected happened.
In September he went, with a col
league, Frederick Mayne, NJ. d., to a
medical convention in st. Louis. Seat
ed at the formal banquet, he looked
up, just across the table, at her! And
then he seemed to have always known
that she wdi small and blond, with
the sweet delicacy of pink tea rose,
that her head was poised like flower
,I bnf hpnn N trn Sh
in every feature and gesture.
Instantly the thought of her as his
mounted to his head like wine. and his
look met hers with an intensity that
made her eyes drOop. He turned cool
ly to Mayne beside him and said in a
low tone:
Look carefully at this ring Oh my
finger, and don't glare up. | want to
ask question Who is shc:'
Strangely enough, Mayne knew who
"she" was.
Dean Carroll's daughter. Rose" he
replied. Then as they both looked up
carelessly lie continued, Il may us well
tell you that | shall try to get her. y
Choking back senseless anger, trying
to realize that Mayne lad as good Il
right to want her as he, Dunham AN
swercd quietly:
And l may rs we'll tell you that you
have ne to work against. ! shall do
M best"
At the reception following John Dun
ham accosted his old professor. Dean
Carroll, shook hands and asked:
Doctor, please Introduce me to your
daughter"
Certainly, my boy-with pleasure.
But"-and the old man laughed-"i
warn you"
ITS everlastingly too late, doctor.
All | ask of you is not to tell her l
wanted to meet her and-not to praise
me to her." The serious eyes Of the
young man checked the old mans
smile.
Upon my soul! I believe you're In
earnest"
Il warn you that l am" Dean Car
roll looked DR.. John Dmham over
carefully from head to foot. Then he
held out his hands.
Il wish you luck" he said slowly.
you're as open now as YOU were dur
Ing the four years | knew you ut col
lese and in your success since. Your
tactics are worthy Of n general and
victory. Come along. But perhaps
you'd like me first to suggest to her
that you're q dangerous character"
John laughed contentedly.
Better that than encomiums."
Rose Carroll met her fathers old pu-
Dill none the less graciously because he
was tall and strong and because the
heavy, dark hair framing his handsome
face was touched with gray. In fact.
he was SO interesting that she met him
with IN armor Of protective resistance
beneath her graciousness. She was
used to easy victories over her admir-
ers. but not anxious, though she was,
on the alert, for her own Waterloo.
There was time enough for that.
John began we'll! While dcfcrential,
lie was not adoring; while entirely ap-
prc"iative, he was not insistent in his
enjoyment Of her society, which lie
accented with sort Of seemingly tram
sient spirit of camaradcrc that piqued
her a little. Several times during the
evening he drifted carelessly back near
her and watched with amusement
Mayne's breakneck endeavor to make
use of his time to impress his rather
ponderous personality upon the girl.
Dunham asked permission to call next
day.
He did call and was carelessly enter
tanning. He let himself 60, showing
his real self, speaking of his y0uthful
adventures in the west, Of his roses at
home and leaving sort Of an impress
sion that he was a man into whose life
women had entered little and that they
were to him sort Of pleasant relaxa-
tion from workaday cares.
Rose found herself putting forth un-
usual efforts to please this man, VINO
was not, as others, apparently IN the
least subjugated by her charms. He
did not stay long, but as he arose TO
90 he unwrapped long, slender par
eel he had been holding. crushed the
tissue paper in his fingers and put
one perfect white rose into her hand.
He laughed down into her eyes.
81 wanted to give you red one'
only The significance Of his tone
and his hesitation made her rise to bis
throw.
"only you didn't dare~ she finished
for him.
"Oh, l dared" he replied coolly,
but 1 thought I wouldn't--yet! The
best for the last, you know" And
he left her trying to decide whether
he meant anything or nothing. As
he went out he met Mayne entering
~