The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-21


!, bought a ticket to the next town portl
and kept out Of sight until the trail
came in. He swung on the rear plat
form, while Mayne. triumphant In BIZ
momentof favor, put the lady into seal
and bestowed her luggage about her
AS the train pulled cut Dunham look
/ ed from his window in the smoker ant
heheld the idiotically adoring face Of
Mayne. who was waving his farewell
When he had smoked a long blaci
cigar John Dunham sauntered intC
the next car. About the middle Of
the aisle he stopped suddenly at q
quick exclamation:
why, Mr.. Dunham!'
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 itT
Wont you sit DOWN. she asked,
little timidly. And he did and went
On talking so carelessly and yet SC
meaningly, so brightly and still SC
seriously, that 1t seemed to her but
moment or two before he looked
from the window and stood up. Draw.
ing slender parcel from his pocket.
be unwrapped single, long stemmed
pink rose.
Il must get of 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. l 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 Dunham had man
sged to obtain her promise to answer
bis letters.
Thereafter Dunham wrote her-not
regularly. but when the fancy seemed
TO seize him-whlmsical, vigorous, JOY.
tul, masculine letters, wholesomely
free from all lovemaking. She an
swered, and sometimes when he was
very busy he called her up on the
bong distance phone In lieu Of a let.
ter. Meantime Mayne had sent bush.
els Of flowers, had written ponderous.
ly sentimental epistles and heaved
many ponderous sighs. Twice he had
gone to see his divinity, and on his
last call her lack OF interest in his
elaborate mention Of Dunham 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.
tT' How the deuce did Durham know
he'd been away? Mayne hazarded a
guess.
Yes, called on Miss Carroll. Write
20 her, don't your Taken OF guard,
Ounham admitted the soft impeach-
lnent and was instantly sorry. Mayne|
laughed with unctuous amusement.
Thought you were too astute for
that. Bet she's got you going-has
me! Stringing you for all she's worth
Practiced hand. Great girl-no end
popular. Knows how to do 1t, Miss
Carroll" Dunham's anger rose, but
be answered carelessly:
Look to yourself, Mayne. Guess |
tan take care of Johnny" But after
Aayne went the tide Of his anger
furged toward Rose Carroll. When
Be could stand 1t no longer he went
10 the phone. closing the door Of the
tuner Office, and called up st. Louis
bnd Miss Carroll. After an hours de
Ay he got ber and went straight to
the point.
THAT you, Miss Carroll? Know who
his Isl Yes! Lovely spring day! Il
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 mer A long pause.
while he listened intently.
"No, did not think SOL simply ask.
I'd. have not the time nor the TEN.
per to play. You will forgive me for
asking your No, can't tell you what
made me think of such a thing. Yes,
Rome day l will. Certainly I believe
5ou! WhatT May l? May l come
'hls week? OF course I want to! But
[ can't reach you till Saturday even.
hg and will have to start back Sunday
morning. It's long way, and connec-
tions are bad. All right -goodby-till
Saturday.
At In the afternoon of June John
Durham stepped from his train at st.
Louis and went to a hotel to get rid
Of his travel stains and appease his
hunger.
About he emerged faultlessly at
tired, visited florist and took cab to
Dean Carrolfs stately old home
Rose came TO him in the dim candle
light Of the library, a vision In SHIN
nprinv Urav Ja bad intandad Ynonf.