Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-26
CHAPTER XII.
The PLAY and the Chorus.

During the days following the fire Rose
seemed sober and preoccupied-a new moou
for her She did not laugh and sing as OF
old and she did not go out of afternoons to
drive. Therefore she is sick, reasoned her
father. and he knew the cause 1t was the
inevitable reaction. girl cannot pc
snatched from the brink of death without
shock An experience like hers has often
completely unnerved a woman and made
her a physical wreck for life. He insisted
on calling Dr. Kuack, but she scorned the
idea.
on Sunday, when Karl Keichline drove
into the yard. she declared that she would
not see him Somehow the very sight of
the man repealed her. She wanted to go to
her room and stay there.
But. Rose, you need to be cheered up,
and no one can do it like Karl the old
squire had burst out. 'of course, you'll see
Karl
mo. won't" she snapped. Il don't want
to anybody"
But you'n see Karl. Rose"
And why?"
oh. come, come. Rose OF course.
good spirits in no time. He's jolly $
A lark this morning. Mother and l are go
ing to meeting and leave you two to keep
house. OF course l wouldn't have you go
20 church feeling you do"
No, no, father. Don't. l want to go
"Of course you don't l know all about
II. you rogue! l know girls. Take good
care of him, Dot. Ho, no. ho!' He went
out in great good humor, and Mrs. Harris
wick Joined him at the door. Then Kari
came in. simpering and solicitous, and she
ushered him into the front room.
Somehow she felt no desire to laugh at
him now. though he had never appeared
more ludicrous. Bolt upright he sat in
straight-b backed chair that creaked dole
fully under his every movement. and twiri-
ed his fat thumbs and told her of his week;
his sales of this and that; his hopes of this
and that; his plans, and his profits and his
ideas. The abundance of his prosperity
seemed TO keep him in n continual state of
mild aStonish ment She did not laugh nor
remark; she sat by the window, her eyes
on the distant range, which still had a
ghost of smoke upon it. and rocked to and
fro with nervous jerks, while he droned on
with his tales of prosperous endings and
moving accidents by store and farm.
Today she ,oathed the man. 1t seemed to
her as If she had never really seen him be-
fore. Something all of a sudden had open
ed her eyes. He was a mere clod of
creature, intent on money and acres. And
he was TO be her husband Her fathers
will was like iron, when once it was set,
and he had willed 1t. There was no escape;
only five weeks more-ffve weeks morei She
stopped rocking and looked with far eyes
out over the ridges. He had never known
her so still.
You are not well Rose he said at
length with calf-lke tenderness. You are
not yourself -
mo. I'm not myself she snapped sud-
denly, turning full upon him. Il think I'd
better go 10 my ROOM In q twinklng she
disappeared. leaving him to wonder and
speculate, and spend the forenoon alone.
After the dinner. which was patriarchal
in its quality and its profusfon, the squire
took the young man to ramble over the
estate He instructed him to the diff
ferent plots and their time of rotation, and
he mapped out the spring campaign of
paintings and sowings The fences were in
perfect condition; the corners and bounds
were carefully marked; the wheat was free