Democratic messenger., 1911-10-21

folio iulu arose 10 ner Htatciy nelbHl.
Pauline" she said In her slow con-
tralto, Il have instructed james 20
lay out new court on the north side
Of the house. In the meantime please
do not play tennis"
why not?" asked Pauline boldly.
Because desire It," returned her
aunt haughtily. "That should be rea.
son enough, Pauline. but ! will add
that the owners of the hosse next door
have returned. and | forbid any one
OF my household having communica-
tlon with them"
81 am sorry" said Pauline calmly.
but have been talking with the son.
Paul Graham"
"whnt do you mean? Where did you
meet him?" demanded Miss Greye
quickly.
In few words Pauline related the
incident which had led to her acQuaint-
ancc with young Graham. "Eie said
he used TO know you when he was
little boy. Aunt Ruth, but II you don't
wish me to I won't speak to him
again"
Miss Greyes nne eyes blazed with
anger. II do not forbid you to. Pau
line. but I hope you will not. Paul
Grahams father Is detestable man.
When tell you that once upon time
/ was engaged TO marry him he was
widower. and Paul was little lad in
dresses then. Walter Graham is
publisher. and showed him poem !
had written. Pauline. lie laughed at
H."
Pauline. startled by this sudden con
iidence. knew not what 20 say. Max
ers OF books and publishers were re-
mote beings who rarely strayed into
her practical little world. Still. she
longed TO comfort the troubled woman.
Perhaps he laughed because-was
it q humorous poem. Aunt Ruth?' she
asked timidly.
Humorous" scoffed Miss Greye. 1T
was called Loves Dirge
oh" said Pauline family. ~ have
no doubt II was beautiful poem"
ut was" admitted the poetess brief.
was ended between Walter and me.
had the gate in the rose garden nailed
up. and now the hedge has so over
grown IL that II cannot be found II
Is like the incideRt-it is closed for
ever"
"And overgrown with the roses of
memory" murmured Pauline as she
left the rosm and went upstairs.
In the library Ruth Greye stood
with down bent head. her eyes fixed
on the rug at her feet. "The roses Of
memory" she repeated softly. and
there were tears in her eyes.
At the end of six weeks the repairs
on the stone house were about com
pleted Father and son had oyerseen
the regeneration of the neglected cs-
tate until 1t verify bloomed as the
roses that crowded II. Paul Graham
had registered time by his encounters
with Pauline Greye.
They had met many times. Four
times he had passed her pony cart as
his motor whizzed by Then he had
tired OF the car as an unsociable
means Of locomotion and mounted
horse. Often h0 had overtaken her
equipage and ridden slowly beside her
as they talked. for Pauline had de-
cided she would avail herself TO Miss
Greye's permission and continue her
acquaintance with the most interest.
ing young man she had ever met.
Their acquaintance ripcned quickly.
and one day when Pauline returned
home and saw the reflection OF her
own happy face In the mirror she
blushed as she realized she had learn
ed the most beautiful thing in the
world After that she did not drive.
She shyly kept TO the northern grounds
or dreamed over book in the wide
veranda
Paul haunted the roads restlessly
His own love was an acknowledged
fact TO himself. yet because of Pau
lines unguardcd position he dared not
trust himself TO see much OF her. and
he was miserable when she too. hid
herself away
One gloriously beautiful morning
Ruth Grcye arose from sleepless
couch and walked slowly among the
dew drenched roses in her garden.
She stopped now and then to inhale
the fragrance Of Cloth OF Gold rose
or 10 break n tiny cluster OF half open
cd buds. Suddenly she came to the
place where the hedge had oyergrown
the rustic gate. She stopped abruptly
and looked with startled eyes.
The hedge had been carefully trim
med away. and the rustic gate. releas'
ed from its fastcnings. swung idly
with the light breeze. Ruth moved
close 10 the hedge and buried her face
I'm the sweet smelling roses.
There was firm step on the path.
and she looked up quickly 10 meet the
glance of Walter Graham on the other
side Of the rustic gate. Her breath
came quickly. and she summoned all
her pride and fortitudc 10 steel her