The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-03-29
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[Original.I

In the palmy colonial days Of Vir-
ginia there bloomed on one of the
James river plantations-th manor
honse stands to this day-a rose that
was coveted by all the young men In
the colony Katherine Mackenzie, or
"Breakneck Kate" as she was called,
was the perfection Of face and form,
a daredevil rider, splendid shot with
the rif1eAin short, she was the beau
ideal girl of the middle of the eight
eenth. century In Virginia.
Two young planters distanced all
other suitors in the race for her hand.
Sidney Pryor and Homer Lane had
been chums at William and Mary col
lege, were both members of the house
of burgesses and each was In possess
sion of fine plantation Kate Mac
Kenzie admitted that she had deter
mined to accept one Of them, but which
one she was the only being who knew.
Some said it was the intellectual Ho-
mer Lane; others the fox hunting Pryor.
Still others declared that since they
were such friends it would be pity
for the "belle Of the James" to accept
either.
When the young men discovered that
they were rivals, If there was antag-
onism between them it was buried
within the depths Of their hearts,
where no one could know Of it. Each
took especial pains to conceal any
animosity from Kate Mackenzie. Nat
urally she was piqued that neither
showed jealousy of the other. In vain
she favored one, then the other. They
were too loyal to each other to reveal,
If they felt it, what she desired to call
forth.
One afternoon the rivals met at the
made request of Kate that she would
decide between them. 1t happened
that the spokesman for the two was
the man to be rejected. This rufled
Kate, who resolved that she would
make both men show jealousy, and
she had already conceived a plan for
doing so. She told them that she
would decide between them at ball
which marked the close of the hunting
season to come off In week from
that evening. If Pryor was her choice,
she would wear red rose; If Lane
was favored, a yellow one.
During the remaining days of the
season the two suitors while out with
hunting parties, of which Kate Mac
Kenzie was always the most promi-
utmost friendliness. No one knew sure
ly whether 1t was assumed or real.
The probability Is that both being high
minded, honorable men, really believed
that there was no rancOr in their
hearts. They had yet to learn what a
woman in such a case can accomplish.
On the night of the ball Kate pur-
posely delayed her coming. For this
she had two reasons. She wished by
suspense to work on her sultors' feel
ings and to arrive when dancing was
going on, so that she might have bet
ter chance to meet them separately.
When she left the robing room and en-
tered the ballroom on her fathers arm
she had a red and yellow rose in her
hand. Seeing Pryor coming toward her,
she slipped the red rose into her cor
sage. He came up without attempting
to conceal his delight, but Kate went
on to salute the hostess Scarcely had
she turned from Pryor when she saw
Lane standing with his back to her.
Taking the red rose from her corsage,
she slipped the yellow one in it's place;
then. making detour, she passed be-
fore him. After this she was surrounded
with cavaliers, and each Of the two
rivals, thinking he had been chosen,
magnanimously left her to Others
Soon after Hates entrance both
Pryor and Lane met on the veranda,
where each had gone to enjoy his own
happy thoughts.
Homer, dear fellow" said Pryor,
my happiness is marred by your dis
appointment"
You mean that your disappointment
is deepened by my happiness. The
rose was yellow"
That which had been smoidering
within both of them now began to
come out. at first slowly, thep by leaps.
Each believed the other was intent on
not acquiescing in the decision. Kate
was looking for them to come to her
for an explanation, when she would en-
Joy their discontinue and rejoice in
having made them show their feelings.
But they did not come. One, two,
three hours passed, and neither did
they approach her, nor did either of
them appear again in the ballroom.
Becoming worried, Kate asked her at
tendant to walk about with her. hoping
to see one or both of her lovers. A
servant near the door told her that
both the gentlemen had gone and that
two others had gone with them.
Hates heart stood still. Sinking on
a hall lounge, she asked her attendant
to call her father, and when he came
the coach was called, and father and
farUhtar drove away together