Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-17
Blue Roses
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"Will you marry me?"
Certainly not !"
There was no indecision in the clear
voice, and Arthur Shirley's face grew
anxious.
"Why not?" he persisted.
"YOu had better ask why. To begin
with, l am an Ole maid, and-I don't
like men, and-and you have chosen a
most inconsiderate time to worry me.
AS II had not worries enough already.
Look at this Bessie Brown, Blighted
and the show so neari"
Rita Clay's statement lacked accura-
CIV. She was four-and-twenty. clear
skinned and gray eyed, and she had the
prettiest crinkle In her golden-brown
hair. There was crinkle on her brow
as well at this minute, as she gazed dis
tractedly from her lmportunate lover to
the wilted spray.
Shirley frowned.
Pm talking of marriage, which Is a
serious thing" he objected, land yet
you persist In putting 1t second to lot
of roses that have the measles"
Rita's heart acknowledged the justice
of his reproof, and she instinctively
seized on the offending point to turn
1t into a grievance.
'Your remarks just prove" she said
"that you and l are not In the least
suited. Our tastes are different. You
don't care bit for flowers"
"I grow roses"
You don't. They grow themselves :"
Shirley's voice grew more anxious.
But. Rita" he urged, when the
show is over, and you have no more
distractions, promise me to think quiet
ly over what l have said Keep your
answer ill then"
"My answer is final And you need
never refer to the subject again. for
you have no more chance than you have
OF growlng-a blue rose!'
The dark band of clouds In the east
that had brought blight to the roses
had also bllghted poor Shirley's hopes.
When he had been ordered from the
hothed OF the stock exchange to the
cool glades of Durley. he had disobeyed
his doctor by putting a double strain
on his shattered nerves. For he fell In
love At first he worshiped in silence
for Rita was Indifferent and thorny,
until he adopted the right tactics Rita
helped him TO grow roses.
Everyone In Durley grow roses
beautiful roses, too, in spite of the fact
titic knowledge. But the climate and
soil were congenlal. and the roses evil
IDENTIFY liked the attentions they re
ceived Instead OF being a remote Sur
rey village, the little hamlet might have
been a tiny corner of Persia. so sweet
was the perfume of the rose In summer.
and the essence Of pot-pourri In winter.
1t was natural, therefore, that the
great gala-day Of the year was the Dur
ley Rose Show.
The following evening. when he
strolled out on his lawn TO smoke his
after-dinner pipe. he greeted his fair
nelghbor with his usual frlendllness.
She answered constralnedly. and only
allowed him TO see tie back of her
white blouse. as she lndustrIously syr-
Inged her beloved roses. This was bad
manners, and also bad policy. for Shlr-
ley, secure from the fire OF Rita's eyes,
completely recovered his nerve. aud In
FIVE minutes had the audacity to ask
her opinion about an ailing bud.
The bait was too tempting. and a
minute later Rita was on the wrong
side OF her fence. putting Shirley right
about his treatment OF his flower.
Friendly relations restored. the girl
made him a present of confidence.
"Iust think ere said. II have
beard to-day that DR.. Barton Is going
abroad. and won't compete for the bes;
collection of blooms at the Rose Show,
He always beats every one. Aad-and
II believe, at least. l have a chance
Of winning II. shall never have one
again. and you can't think how excited