Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-04-13
Three Roses and
Another
u
By JOANNA SINGLE

DIR. John Dunham knew what he did
not want He could also instantly rec
ogniZe what he did want when he saw
it. These traits had been of use to him
in working his way through college,
through medical school after that and
into a 1ourishing practice now two
years old.
In love as in business 1t was the
same, only the girls he had thus far
met were undoubtedly the ones he did
not want DR.. Johns black gray eyes
were always on the silent quest Of an
unknown girl 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 her
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
then he seemed to have always known
that she was small and blond, with
the sweet delicacy of pink tea rose,
that her head was poised like a flower
and that breeding and courage showed
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 on my
finger, and don't glare up. l want to
ask a question. Who is she?"
Strangely enough, Maync knew who
'she" was
Dean Carrolrs daughter, Rose" he
replied. Then as they both looked up
carelessly he continued, Il may as well
tell you that | shall try 20 get her"
Choking back Il senseless anger, trying
to realize that Mayne had as good
right to want her as he, Dunham an
swered quietly:
"And / may as well tell you that you
have me to work against. | shall do
my 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-'l
warn you"
Its everlastingly too late, doctor.
All ! ask Of you Is not to tell her |
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! / believe you're In
earnest"'
81 warn yau that am" Dean Car
roll looked Or John Durham over
carefully from head to foot. Then he
held out his hands.
ct wish you luck" nc snid slowly
you're as open now as you were dur
ing the four years / knew you ut col
lege 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 dangerous character
John laughed contentedly.
Better that than encomlums."
Rose Carroll met her fathers old pu-
pil none the less graclously 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 an nrmor of protective resistance
beneath her graclousness. 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 well. While deferentlal,
he was not ndorlng; while entirely ap-
preclative, he was not inslstent In his
enjoyment OF her society, which he
accepted with sort of seemingly tran
sient spirit OF camaraderle that piqued
her little. Several times during the
evening he drlfted carelessly back near
her md watched with amusement
Mayne's breakneck endeavor to make
use of his time to impress his rather
ponderous personality upon the girl.
Durham asked permission to call next
day
lie did call and was carelessly enter
tanning. He let himself go, showing
his real self, speaking OF his youthful
adventures In the west of his roses at
home and leaving a sort of an impress
sion that he was man into whose life
women had entered little and Tint thoy
were to him sort Of ploasant rciaxa-
tlon from warkadhy cares.
Rose found hcraclf putting forth un-
usual efforts to please this man. who
was not. MS others, apparently In the
least subjugatcd hy hor charms. He
did not stay long. but as he arose to
20 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 10 give you II red one,
only, The significance OF his tone
aud his hesitation made her rise to his
throw.
"Only you didn't dare" she finished
for him.
"Oh. | dared" he replied coolly,
"but | thought / wouldn't-yet! The
best for the last, you know" And
be left her trying TO decide whether
he meant anything or nothing. Aa
ne went out he met Mayno entering
with n large florists box, and during
bis call he had learned that she was
leaving the next day for home. When
he reached his Office he looked up the
northbound trains.
Next mnrnfng at 1855 he walked up
o. tho station. Just around the corner
on the platform he saw Rose Carroll
smiling at Mayne, who carried her
suit case and 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. lie swung on tho rear plat
form, while Maync, triumphant In his
moment Of favor, put the lady into n sent
ana bestowed her luggage about her.
AS the train pulled out Dunham look
cd from his window In tho smoker and
behcld tho idiotlcally adorlng face of
Mayue, who was waving his farewell.
When he had smoked II long black
cigar John Dunham sauntercd into
the next car. About the middle OF
the aisle he stopped suddenly at a