Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-20
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE RED AND WHITE ROSES.
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very important question, and 1 had at
last promised it him. We We're both to
attend the ball, and 1 had agreed to
give him his answer there by signal.
If the word was "Yes' l would wear
II white rose in my hair; if it was NO"
red one. 1 was not able after this
promise to make up my mind any more
than before and thought it better that
l should signal "No.' / would still be
on the safe side, and l had no fear of
his giving up the chase.
On the evening of the ball, while
walking through Il broad hall between
suits of rooms, 1 caught sight of my
figure l supposed-in mirror. At
any rate, a gir' the counterpart of my
self was moving toward me. At first
sight 1 supposed our costumes were
identical because our dresses We're both
of a gauZy white material. But what
astonished me was that in her hair she
wore white rose. 1 was not aware
that she was not my reflected image
until she turned and assembled Il stair
case.
She was with an escort; | had just
left mine. I followed her to the ball
room, and, desiring TO see more of her
unobserved, l went up into little bal
cony where 1 could look down on the
dancers. l 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 or
Il merry disposition. for she finally got
to laughing with her escort because so
many people whom she did not know
bowed to her. Finally l saw Reginald
at the other end of the room and kept
nv eve on him till he met her. When
he first saw her he started. Then, see
ing 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, ana
she took his arm as If she had long
known him. He bent over her and
whispered something in her ear. There
was surprise, a blush, then merry
twinkle in her eye. She must have
known that she had been mistaken for
another and was evidently ready for
an escapade-in other words, to play
Juliet to Reginald's Romeo.
L watched them from the balcony
while they danced several numbers to-
gether, but sat most of the time in
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 well that
she always drove away his wonder and
ESCAPED the pits she had fallen into.
These explanations / OWNED, though
could not know for certain.
I suppose l should have been pleased
at this pantomime. Reginald was GER
tainly 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 1t occurred
to me that she might supplant me. My
Indifference to Reginald vanished in
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
to myself. except her face and figure
She acts as If she had never had
lover before and If she loses this one
may never get another" Then the
color left my cheek as / added, "She+
will surely make n serious affair of it
if she is'able.'
Finally 1 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 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 moment.
Reginald looked surprised-th submit
ted to his embrace.
This was more than / could bear.
Throwing aside the curtain, / stepped
ont before them. Reginald, half ariS-
ing, gazed at me as though he had seen
ghost.
81 have observed this billing and COO
ing" I said to him, sand am astonished
that one who has so long been begging
me to be his wife should so easily be
turned in another direction. 1t is quite
evident that 1t 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 I
have observed her actions. and do not
care to see any more of them. A girl
who will palm herself off as another
and receive kiss intended for that
other must be bad indeed"
While I was speaking Reginald look
ed straight at me. When 1 came to
stop he said coldly:
al do not see what interest you have
in me since you wear in your hair