Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-04-21

shall bring you that red rose.v 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-Nhimsical, vigorous. ioy.
ful, masculine letters. who.esomely
Tree from all lovemaking. She an
swered, and sometimes when he was
very busy he called her up on the
long distance phone In lieu of n let
ter. Meantime Mayne had sent bush
els OF flowers, had written ponderous.
~ sentimental eplstlcs and heaved
many ponderous signs. Twice he had
gone to see his divinity. and on bis
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.,
itT How the deuce did Durham know
he'd been away? Mayne hazarded a
guess
YES, called on Miss Carroll. Write
10 her, don't your Taken of guard,
Durham admitted the soft impeach-
ment and was instantly sorry. Mayne
laughed with unctuous amusement.
Thought you were too astute for
that Bet she's got you gefng-has
me! Stringing you for all she's worth,
Practiced hand! Great girl-no end
popular. Knows how to do II. Miss
Carroll" Dunham's anger rose. hut
he answered carelessly:
Look TO yourself, Mayne. Guess I
can take care of Johnny" Bu4 after
Mayne went the tide of his anger
surged toward Rose Carroll. When
ne could stand 1t no longer he went
10 the phone, closing the door of the
inner office, and called up st. Louis
ana Miss Carroll. After an hours de-
lay he got her and went straight To
the point.
That you, Miss Carrollf Know who
this Is? Yes! Lovely spring dayl I
want to ask you something. Forgive
my bluntness. but 1 must know. Miss
Carroll, in your letters and all have
you meant everything or have you
oecn piaying.with mc?" A long pause.
while be listened intently.
NO. did not think SOL simply ask-
ed. have not the time nor the tem-
per to play. You will forgive me for
asking you? No. can't tell Won what
made me think OF such n thing. Yes
some day i will Certainly l believe
you! What? May I? May l come
this week? or course want toi But
I can't reach you till Saturday even
Ing and will have to start back Sunday
morning. It's long way, and connec-
tons are bad. All goodby-till
Saturday.
AT In the afternoon Of June I John
Durham stepped from his train Mt ST
louis and went to n hotel to get rid
OF his travel stains and appease his
hunger.
About he emerged faultlessIy Mt
tired. visited florist and took n cab TO
Dean CARROTS stately old home.
Rose came to him In the dim candle
light Of the library. vision in SHIN
mering gray. He had intended meet
Ing her I'm his usual easy way. but the
clamor or his heart and the wine of a
certain proud yielding in the glance OF
her blue eyes swept him into speech
lessness. lie stood long looking at her
her hand still In his. Then he dropped
the small hand back ut her side ano
strobe out into the hall.
In a moment he came back and CLASH
cd her warm little fingers about the
stem OF n glowing red rose.
THE red rose" he said simply-"thc
time for IL is now, isn't it2" he ques-
toned quietly, stepping back with his
arms straight at his side to look ut her.
isn't IL time, dear?' he insisted.
YES" she murmured. "I'- And as
she did not finish. with n sudden long
Ing he held out both his hands TO her.
"Will you come. RoseT' With tho
pride OF n small queen. Rose Carroll
laid her two hands In his.