Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-05-06
THE WHITE ROSES,
BY +. A. mitchell.

BY z. A. MITCHELL.
copyright, 1910. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
"Edouard." saiil the countess" it is
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, mothcr:" asked Edouard alb
stractedly.
Il would do So" replied the count
ess; indeed, have already taken
steps in the right direction. but can
accomplish nothing without some eff
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.'
"1s she the elder or the younger SIS
tcr?" asked the young man absently.
THE elder"
"Her name, believe, is H2O-I mean
Caroline"
"Oh Edouard," exclaimed the count
ess, raising her hands and her eyes,
you are incorrigible! 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 give up one day
to this work."
Zone day! Work! Mademoiselle
needs to be courted."
"Is she romantic:"
Very"
"You say she is religious?"
Eyes; hers is one Of those guileless
natures that refers every act to a high
er power before making a decision"
THE dear creature: SAID the young
man. Il dare say should love her de-
votedly. In us there are doubtless
two currents. Could I but utilize
them to advantage
"Edouard, what are you talking
about:"
!
about marriage! Forgive me. I will
do your bidding. will go to made
moiselle"-
Caroline"
Caroline! And ask her to be your
I mean my WIFE"
The countess, fearing relapse, sent
at once for her sons hat and coat.
| 70 1,o ~,
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 at
the instigation of his mother.
"Mademoiselle," he said, permit
me to offer you my hand and my
heart
your heart, monsieur?''
Eyes, mademoiselle. am sure l
shall love you devotedly. Just at
present l am absorbed in working out
a scientific problem. But this will
not always be. Some day may have
time to WOO
"Monsieur!'
Pardon! l will not speak further
on the subject now We are all in the
hands Of higher power, and if that
power intends that you shall be my
wife he will give you a sign"
II assure you. monsieur, that shall
require an unmistakable sign to induce
me to marry man who is so infat-
uated with a science that he has no
time to WOO girl
"Adicu, mademoiselle! resign my
self to the will of Providence
That night the young lady prayed
to the Virgin that if it was her will
that her worshiper should marry the
scientist she would give her sign.
The next morning Edouard called
at the chateau with dozen beautiful
white roses.
"Mademoiselle," he said, with his
hand on his heart and a pious express
sion Of countenance, "last night
dreamed that the Virgin came to me
and said: pluck roses from your gar.
den and take them to Mile. de Cateret.
If within Il few hours after you give
them to her they turn crimson she
will become your wife. If, on the
contrary, they are still white she will
remain a maid and go into con-
VENT"
Having said this, lie placed the roses
in her hand, bowed profoundly and
walked away. After going short dis
lance lie turned and saw her standing
regarding the roses with the express
sion Of a saint. The expectation that
she would be his wife, taken together
with the impressive picture, warmed
his heart. Returning. he knelt before
her, took her hand, kissed it, arose and
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 go to examine them till
just before the set of sun, which sank
IN blood red atmosphere. AS Caro-