Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1912-01-18
Stephan

They all laughed at Stephan with
the careless unkindness of youth and
| the burden of their laughter was that
he was so slow. He even was slow
at resenting their fun at his expense
Like most big persons, Stephan moved
/ ponderonsiy and his speech was heavy
and slow. Something In his mild blue
I eyes seemed TO question, but that
was all the notice he took of the
| others taunts
The reason that he had so little
| time to devote to worrying over his.
| countrymen's opinion OF him was that
| Stephan's mind was taken up with
/ Rosa to the exclusion OF all else. He.
had fallen in love instantly with herr
pert little smiling face and charmingI
ways. Rosa darted across the line of
| Stephan's vision and left him gasp
ing, figuratively speaking. Sometimes!
he gasped in reality-that was when
Rosa turned the batteries OF her,
/ quick wit upon him and left his mind
whirling because or his inability to-
reply to one speech before she at
tackled him again. She laughed at
him along with the others, yet she
did not seem displeased at his de-
votion
Stephan was good looking, although
this fact had never occurred to him.
/ He was modest, and allowed himself
to be elbowed out OF the way by
others more audacious II less worthy
! 1Fvz aa
mirers and Stephan lurked dismally
in the background, patiently waiting
for a glance In his direction. Rosa's
glances came his way at times.
Stella, who was Rosas most inti4
mate friend, ieered Rosa for being
fond of her slow adnirer
why do you waste time on Ste
phan?" demanded Stella He is so
big-and so slow! He never dances
or anything! He just sits and looks
at you!"
Maybe that's It," Rosa answered
with a toss of her head
Stella shrugged her shoulders 4
like some one who is gay. myself
she said. Some one like Josef"
Rosa smoothed her apron and
frowned. Josef was very attentive to
her. He had sparkling eyes and
little mustache, which he kept curied
and sharply pointed. and ne made
pretty speeches on the spur OF the
moment and was very sure of him
self Rosa tiirted with Josef and led
him on. but that was merely girlish
coquetry, and she shrank from any
thing more. OF late Josef had
wearied her
Stella, watching Rosa. burst out of
sudden. I suppose you think you'll
catch some one grander than Josef
but let me tell you"
Rosa turned on her -Oh. josef"
she mimicked why don't you mar.
~ him yourself If you think he's so
fine? I would IL liked him az much
as you dol"
Stella. routed, retreated, scarlet of
face and vengeful of mind Rosa. as
if to prove her power, was kinder tn
Josef and paraded him before Stella |
and the others Perhaps this unusual
leniency on her part really pleased |
him, for he seemed more natural and |
sincere Rosa even thought she had
misjudged him. There seemed more
to Josef than she had surmised-pert
haps he was not such q shallow man /
after all.
Before she knew how it happened |
she found herself engaged to marry |
josef. All the other girls envied her |
and the excitement OF preparing for
the wedding bore her up Rosa as |
sured herself that she was happy. |
This usually was after she had caught
a glimpse Of Stephan. In the back.
ground as usual. looking dumb devo.
ton at her.
Stephan had q very sober face these
days. The thought of him irritated
Rosa strangely. Once when josef
spoke slightingly OF him Rosa had
started to reply furiousIy, but bit her
lip and was sullenly silent She E=sm
Josef would not care for her a.yer!
She had grown to feel that he did
not care deeply for anything.
Stephan had been asked to the we'd
ding. which was at the church ut an :
early hour. but he was not there.
He'd be late to his own weddings
some one laughed. so why not at
another's?"
Some one else was misslng-tha
bridegroom. At arst there was only
restiessness On the part Of those who
were waiting, then came vhisperings
and surmises. After an hour q mes,
senger was sent and reported that
Josef had not been at home for two
days
Stephan arrived as they were trying
70 cain the hysterIcaI Rosa, desolata
In A.-r rel Eal--rr 49, =