Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-21
XXI.
The Rose.

Il r
On a Wednesday morning; clear and
cold; not cloud fioated across the sky,
nor did there rise above the horizon one
of those clouds (portentoHs forerunners
of evilD to which noyelfsts refer as being
mo larger than a mans hand" Heaven
knew right well that the blight of evil
was approaching fast enough. but there
was no visible indication an her face that
glorious November morning. Doubtless
you are familiar with history and have
read all about what great, personages did
just before calamity swooped down on
them. The Trojans laughed at the wooden
horse; 1 don't know how; many Roman
banuueters never reached the desert be-
cause the enemy had not paid any slnsu-
lar regard to courtesies in making the
attack; men and women danced on the
eve of Waterloo-"On with the dance, let
Joy be unconfined;" my heroine simply
went shopping 1t doesn't sound at all
romantic; very prosaic In fact.
She declared her intention OF making
tour of the shops and of dropping into Mrs:
Chadwick's on the way home. She ordered
James to bring around the pair and the
coupe. James was an example oi uocne
obedience AS she came down the steps sne
was a thing of beauty and JOY forever
She wore one of those jackets to which sew
eral gray-squirrel families had contributed
their hides, hat whose existence was que
to the negligence of certain rare plro ana
many silk worms had spun the fabric OF her
gown. Had any one called her attention to
all this there isn't any doubt that she would
have been shocked. Only here ana tnere are
women who see what true Molocn Iashloh
is: this tender-souled girl saw only hand
some habit which pleased the eye. Health
bloomed in her cheeks, health shone from
her eyes, her step had all the elasticity OF
youth.
antly.
James touched his hat. What was it, he
wondered. Somehow her eyes looked un,
familiar to him. Had been there couio
have read the secret easily enough. Some
times the pure pools of the forests are
stirred and become impenetrable; out by
and by the commotion subsidies ana the
water clears. So 1t is with the human soul.
There had been doubt hitherto In TINS girl
eyes; now the doubt was gone.
To him. soberly watchful. her smile meant
much; 1t was the patent Of her innocence OF
any wrong thought All night he had tossed
on his cot thinking, thinking! What should
he do? Whatever should he do? That some
wrong was on the way he hadn't the least
doubt. Should he confront the colonel and
demand an explanation, demand ne knew
he had a perfect right to make! II TINS
this lovely being? . = No, no! He must
stand aside he must turn deaf ear to
duty; the voice of love spoke too loud. Hls
own assurance of her innocence mace MN
desire to fall at her feet and worship. AFTER
all. it was none of his affair. Had ne not
played at this comedy this thing would have
gone on, and he would have been In igno-
rance of it's very existence. So why should
he NEEDLE? Yet that monotonous query
kept beating on his brain: What was this
thing?
He saw that he must wait. Yesterday he
had feared nothing save his own exposure.
Comedy had frolicked in her grinning mask.
And here was Tragedy stalking IN upon the
scene.
The girl named a dozen shops which she
desired to honor with her custom and pres
-,NnI; .~x-. 10 nr
closed the door, and James touched up the
pair and drove off toward the city. He was
perfectly indifferent to any possible expo
sure. In truth. he forgot everything. apso-
girl and the fertilization plans she had
been drawing. b3.J r
Scarce half dozen bundles were the
result Of the tour among the shops.
Mrs Chadwick's, James,
The call lasted half Ean hour. ..t.
AS a story-teller II am qsupposed to pc
everywhere. to follow 1.-THE footsteps of each
and all of my characters and with noel
marvellous So l takahhes hberty of imag-
ming the pith of the CONVERSATION between
the woman and the girl
The Woman-How longs dear, nave We
The Girl-since I left slhool. believe.
Where did you get that stunning morning
gown? Il no
The Woman (smilingi -insspite of the Sc
rlouS purpose She mas III SieWj-tNevef
mind the gown, my child; have something
of greater Importance to talk about.
The Girls there anything more impor-
tant to talk about among women!
The Woman-Yes. There is age
The Girl-But, mercy, we do not talk
about that!
The Woman--I am going to establish
precedent, then. l am forty, or, at least, l
am on the verge of it.
The Girl (warningly)-Take care! II we
should ever become enemies! If should
ever become treacherousi
The Woman-The world very well knows
that am older than look. That Is why
1t takes such interest In my age.
The Girl-The question is. how do you
preserve 1t?
The WomaE-Well. then. I am forty.
while you stand on the threshold OF the
adorable golden twenties. Walks over 70
picture taken eighteen years before ana