Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-04-21

the long night, and it was not my idea
Of comfort. uttered an impulsire
ejaculation Of sympathy, but she
checked me with some dignity and re-
marked that she thought she would
take, my advice and go hone.
Il shall be all the better for cup
of tea" she said isn't it curious how
depressed enc gets when one is COLI
and tired"
1 watched her frail figure walk Ian
guidly in the direction OF her house
and knew that the tea, even IT sac
drank it. would bring her no comfort.
Several times she stopped and looked
behind her and looked out over the
expanse of water toward the far hOrl-
ION. I knew she was looking for the
little skiff I had seen bounding so JOY
ously over the waves, and when she
resumed her walk, her thin shoulders
dropping and her head bent upon her
breast, I felt the contempt for Harry
Graham which something in his per-
sonality prevented me from feeling
when he was actually present.
I was very glad when Gabrielle
joined me and my thoughts could be
diverted into another channel. l saw
at once that her afternoon had not
been a success and she was anxious to
tell me about it.
WELL" she began, slipping her
hand through my arm, 1--WE had the
funniest experience. I'm glad my
brother is not recovering from an ILL.,
ness that left him with crook in his
temper"
It seemed she had gone to Lady
Edith's sitting room at the hotel (for
the Campbeils had taken suite), and
finding her alone had presented the
roses and had coy little chat, as
we'll as cup of tea, which she found
very cheering.
"And then," continued Gabrielle,
''just as I was about to come home I
heard some one go into Lady Edith's
bedroom and slam the door. She got
| up quickly and then sat down again
| and l saw she looked worried. Then
L
| body swore-yes, and swore hard, too.
| I didn't know whether to get up or
sit still and, of course, did the wrong
thing; ! sat still and I ought to have
gone out; l knew that later"
well, what happened?"
I'm a minute the door between the
rooms was flung open and Lord Will
frid marched in, so angry he never
saw me. And, oh, Elise, his arms
were full of roses"
| "Roses!"
Eyes, red roses. Dozens of them.
They were more than he could carry
and fell on the floor all round him,
and whenever he saw one on the car
pet he stepped on it,
| WHAT"
! Eyes, he did, and ground it under his
heel. He began to say something, too,
in clustering sort of way when
Lady Edith interrupted him. She stood
in front of him, very tall and straight.
and looked directly at him. She said:
'Wilfrid, we are not alone Her head
was very high in the air, and I never
saw her look so lovely; l felt awfully
sorry for her, too, for I think her pride
must have suffered
What happened them"
"Well, then he saw me-and Ger,
tainly wished l was not there to be
seen-and muttered something. And
then he dumped those glorious roses
On the floor and rang the bell. l tried
to talk pleasantly while we were wait,
ing for the boy to come, but honestly
the whole room seemed full of red
roses, I never saw such flowers in my
!. life, and couldn't think of a thing to
say. When the boy came Lord Will
!, frid said: Take that trash and throw
it out and he gathered them up and
[ went off.
Lord Wilfrid went off, too. He said
l something civil to me about having
sailed about in the sun until he had a
: horrid headache and the scent of the
t roses was intOlerable. But you know
? he didn't have to smell them, for he
: could have stayed in his own room
l He scowled at his sister as he
! left the room and think she is dread
2 fully worried about him. She is going
5 to get doctor from the city, for she
!. doesn't think this air agrees with
2 him.
! II wonder what can be the matter
3 with him. speculated. perhaps he
e is threatened with brain trouble. She
seems to be so careful of him, and the
I least things excite him."
Il couldn't help wondering where
so many exquisite roses came from,
d said Gabrielle, 'for flowers are hare
to get here, you know. Lady Editt
said her brother had never been able
to endure the odor of roses, but
noticed that the white ones We sem
d did not seem to excite him at all. IL
d fact, don't think he saw them. What
D sort of time did you have?"
l I told her about my afternoon a.
q we mounted the steps leading to thu
t cottage, and we agreed that we were
very glad our own families were mere
}. ly commonplace and possessed NJ
D highly wrought invalids to be watched
and guarded.
l The cottage was brightly lighted
and Elizabeth stood in the door tt
l welcome us. A metamorphosed Eliza
e beth, absolutely radiating happiness
and arrayed in her red dress, which
she only wears when she feels espe
/ cially cheerful.
! Where have you been?" she eX
y claimed. Il thought you would never
l come hOme.'