The Dickinson press., 1910-04-23
THE WHITE ROSES,
By z. A.

SLhtlOu.J
"Edouard." said the countess" It IL
high time that you desist from your
studies for a long enough period to do
the counting necessary to marriage"
"Why can't you attend to the matter
for me, mother?" asked Edouard alb
%stractedly.
II would do So" replied the count
ess; Indeed, l have already taken
steps in the right direction. but l can
accomplish nothing without some ef-
fort on your part. l have applied in
your name for the hand Of Mile. de
Cateret. Her parents would be pleas
ed with the match, but the young lady
declares she will never marry a man
whose fingers are perpetually stained
with acids"
lis she the elder or the younger sis
teri" asked the young man absently.
"The elder"
"Her name, I believe, is H2O-I mean
Caroline"
"Oh, Edouard," exclaimed the count
ess, raising her hands and her eyes,
you are incorrigible! I do wish you
would leave these chemicals for
awhile and help me-"
Edouard went to his mother, put his
arms about her neck and kissed her.
"Would you be satisfied, dear nam
ma" he asked. If l give up one day
to this work."
Zone day! Work! Mademoiselle
needs to be courted."
"Is she romantic? 2"
Every"
"You say she is religious?"
eyes; hers is n of those guileless
natures that refers every act to q high
er power before making a decision"
"The dear ~creature!" said the young
man. Il dare say I should love her de-
votedly. In us there are doubtless
two currents. Could l but utilize
them to Advantage
"Edouard. what are you talking
about?"
"Oh, yes, mamma; we were talking
about marriage! Forgive me. I will
do your bidding. I will go to made
moiselle'-
Caroline"
caroline! And ask her to be your
I mean my wife,"
The countess, fearing a relapse, sent
at oDc for her sons hat and coat
He put them on, walked to the cha
teau of the De Caterets and sent up
a card for mademoiselle. She came
down becomingly dressed, but receiv'
ed him not very cordially. She knew
why he had come and that it was al
the instigation of his mother.
"Mademoiselle," be said, permit
me- to offer you my hand and my
heart"
"Your heart, mensieur?"
Eyes, mademOiselle. I am sure
shall. love you devotedly. Just a
dpresent I am absorbed in working GU
a scientific problem. But this will
not always be. Some day I may hav'
time to WOO
"Monsieur!"
pardon! I will not speak further
on the subject now. We are all in thu
hands Of a higher power, and If tina
power intends that you shall be my
wife he will give you a sign"
II assure you, monsieur, that l shall
require an unmistakable sign to induce
me to marry a man who is so infat
uated with a science that he has M
time to WOO a girl"
"Adieu, mademoiselle! l resign my
self to the will Of Providence"
That night the young lady prayed
to the Virgin that If it was her viii
that her worshiper should marry tn
scientist she would give her a sign.
The next morning Edouard callet
at the chateau with a dozen beautiful
white roses.
"Mademoiselle," be said, with. hi:
hand on his heart and a pious expires
sion Of countenance, "last night
dreamed that the Virgin came to M
and said: Pluck roses from your gar
den and take them to Mile. de Cateret
If within a few hours after you Civ
them to her they turn crimson sh'
will become your wife. If, on tn
contrary, they are still white she will
remain a maid and go into a con
VENT"
Having said this, he placed the rose!
in her hand, bowed profoundly ani
walked away. After going a short dis
lance he turned and saw her standing
regarding the roses with the express
sion Of a saint. The expectation tina
she would be his wife, taken together
with the impressive picture, warmed
his heart. Returning, he knelt befor,
her, took her hand, kissed it, arose ant
resumed his walk to his own chateau.
In the Chateau de Cateret was a pri
vate chapel. Caroline took the roses
there and placed them on the altar
She did not 60 to examine them til
just before the set Of sun, which sanl
In a blood red atmosphere. AS Caro-
line stepped into the chapel she saw
rvl,o% ch~e +1,0,,~I,4 - Lo %l,o r,,s,Sex ~o-<