Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1906-03-16
Ohe Red and
UOhffe Roses

been long waiting for my reply TO a
very important question, and l had al
last promised It him. We were both to
attend the ball, and had agreed to
give him his answer there by signal.
II the word was Yes" l would wear
white rose in my hair; IL II was NO
a~red one. ! was not able after this
promise to make up my mind any more
than before aad thought 1t better that
] should signal mo" I would gtill be
on the safe side. and l had no fear Of
his giving up the chase.
On the evening Of the bail, while
walking through broad hall between
suits Of rooms, caught sight Of my
ngure-as supposed--in mirror. At
any rate, cir, the counterpart OF my
self was moving toward me. At first
sight supposed our costumes were
identical because our dresses were both
Of a gauzy white material. But what
astonished me was that in her hair she
were a white rose. l was not aware
that che was not my reflected image
until she turned and ascended a stair
case.
She was with an escort; had lust
left mine. followed her to the ball
room, and, desiring to see more Of her
unobserved. l went up into little bal
cony where could look down on the
dancers. watched her for some time
and saw many Of my friends nod TO
her. To most OF them she returned
surprised stare. She appeared to be Of
merry disposition, for she finally got
to laughing with her escort because so
many people whom she did not know
bowed to her. Finally saw Reginald
al the other end OF the room and kept
my eye on him till he met her. When
he first saw her he started. Then, see
! iG3 the white rose in her hair, he hur-
ried forward and. literally forced her
attendant to retire.
The girl by this time seemed ready to
permit strangers to approach her, and
she took his arm as IL she had long
known him. He bent over her and
whispered something In her ear. There
was surprise, blush, then a merry
twinkle In her eye She must have
known that abe had been mistaken for
another and was evidently ready for
an escapade-in other words, to play
Juliet to Reginald's Romeo.
watched them from the balcony
while they danced several numbers to-
gether, but sat most of the time in a
window seat could see that the girl
occasionally surprised Reginald, by
something she said. She was doubtless
betraying herself, but she laughed at
him and played the lover so we'll that
she always drove away his wonder and
escaped the pits she had fallen into
These explanations I OWNED, though
could not know for certain.
I suppose should have been pleased
at this pantomime. Reginald was GER
1eainly very happy in the smiles OF one
who he supposed was myself. At first
was greatly amused and thought the
way the girl played her part was
charming. Then suddenly It occurred
to me that she might supplant me. My
Indifference to Reginald Vanished in a
twinklIng. The girl was evidently de
lighted with her supposed lover and
did not attempt to conceal her prefer
ence for him. But to me from the mo-
ment ! saw my danger her every ac-
ton was repulsive There Is nothing
1ike me In this forward thing" said
to myself. except her face and figure.
She acts as II she had never had q
lover before and II she loses this one
may never get another" Then the |
color left my cheek as added, "She
viii surely make serious AFFAIR OF 1t |
II she is able"
Finally i saw Reginald look up at the |
balcony and say something to her, and |
they both arose and left the ballroom. ! |
knew they were coming up to be alone |
where I was and sprang behind cur
tain. A moment later they entered and, /
finding themselves alone, sat in the |
very spot where had sat and where |
they could not be observed from below.
Reginald took her hand and with his
other hand clasped her waist, then bent
forward to take an engagement kiss.
The girl shrank back for a moment
Reginald looked surprised--then submit
ted TO his embrace.
This was more than I could bear'
Throwing aside the curtain. stepped
out before them. Reginald, half aris-
ing, gazed at me as though he had seen
a ghost.
II have observed this billing and COO
ing" said to him, "and am astonished
that one who has so long been begging
me to be his wife should so easily be
turned in another direction. a II is quite
evident that II is the face and form you
desire; the soul makes little difference.
do not know who this girl who re
sembles me so remarkably is, but
Ave observed her actions, and do Lot
care to see any more Of them. A girl
who will palm herself on as another
and receive kiss intended for that
other must be bad indeed"
While l was speaking Reginald look