The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-25
THE EVENING STORY
Christmas Roses.
DIV TempIe Bailey.l

against the green holly wreaths, rib
bon-tied with red; little pepper trees
planted in dull green pots and check
erberries shining crimson in glass
globes.
But excelIing all these in beauty
were the roses, flame-hearted and
fragrant. rising on their tall stems
above all the other blooms, imperious,
perfect.
"GeeI'' said the smaller of the men
who stood looking in.
He was a shabby little fellow with
a round, freckled face and turned-up
nose.
The other man was not shabby. He
was protected from the keenness of the
air by a fur-lined overcoat.
Pretty, amt they?" went on the
shabby little man socially.
Then. as the other did not respond,
as he explained, THE roses.''
Yes" The tall man was evidently
disinclined to talk.
II wanted me for my best GIRL" the
shabby little man chuckled, land II
went in and priced them, and they
asked a dollar apiece-and 1 came
out.
Il knew better than to spend a dol
lar on one rose" continued the shah
by man, confidentially. ''Why, Maggie
wouldn't enjoy anything that took so
much monoy-so I'm going to get her a
pair of gloves-but I'd have liked the
roses"
For the first time the man in the fur
overcoat seemed interested. Us Mag
gie-your wife?" he asked.
No the little mans eyes shone as
We're going to be married in the
spring-that is" he hesitated, eff I get
my pay raised. You can't do much in
the housekeeping way on twelve a
week"
us she pretty?" the other man de-
manded.
SAY. she's beauty" said the shah
by little man, land she might have
married somebody that had more mon
ey than have-but she liked me-"
The tall man spoke impulsively: Let
me send her some roses-I'm going in
to order a lot-and-Im one of the I'M
lucky people who don't know what to
do with my money-my father left it
to me-and shall never be so fortunate
as to have work for my wife as you
WILL
The shabby man stared. 'Of course
you mean that for a joke" he said.
mo, I don't" said the other, and
there was tinge of bitterness in his
voice. I'D give all 1 possess to be
poor for a week, to learn if the woman
1 love wants me for my money or for
myself"
The little man whistled under his
breath. Il see," he said, 'it's a girl
with you, too"
L QOn' Z KNOW why L m Cell1ns In1S TO
you" the tall man said. Perhaps it's
because you're in love and it's a fellow
feeling-but I'm going to send two doz-
en- of those roses to the woman I have
asked to marry me-and yet I'm not
sure that If she accepts me she will
really care"
Look here" said the little man,
don't you send two DOZEN
why not?"
you send her one rose, just one big
rose" said he Of the freckled face. "And
the way she takes it will show you
what she thinks
But 1 don't see"
'Well, you send her one. If she loves
you she'll like that one rose better
than she would a whole bunch. She
can stick it in her dress, you know, |
or in her hair, not in a vase
what makes you so wiser"
well Maggie put me on to such
things" said the little man.
'1'll try it, said the man in the fur
you will let me buy two-one for your
Maggie. I feel that I owe you some |
thing for the suggestion"
mo SIR said the shabby little fell |
low stoutly, hut the tall man insisted. |
''It will be a favor to me-" he said, and
at last he won . hesitating consent.
The two roses. laid each in its sep |
arate box, brought forth ordinations !
of wonder from the little man. Mag
gle Just won't know how to act when |
she gets hers he said. She'll be so |
pleased"
AS the two men stood once more in
the snowy street, the tall man said, |
almost wistfully, ''I wish you'd give me !
your name and address. I feel as you
were going to be nv mascot-Tm a bit |
superstitious at times, and tonight I
was down in the dumps. when you |
spoke-and-and it seemed a sort of |
sign
Sure" said the little man, heartily, |
I'm Dck Donovan, and you can always |
get me at the power house. I'm night |
Waterman there
They shook hands, and then the tall |
man said: I'm Dirck Van Cortland"
The little man turned pale. ooh, |
gee" he murmured, 81 wouldn't have
spoken to you if I'd known-you must
have thought was butting in
That's the trouble said the tall
man, bitterly, I'm cut off from every
body because my family happens to
money! can't be man among men.
I'm forced to be a sort of dummy to
keep up the family dignity
well, Maggie and won't ever throw
away that red rose" said the shabby
little man, land I'll tell you this, that
I hope you'H find your girl loves you
as much as Maggie does me-
They shook hands again and parted.
Dirck Van Cortland fifteen minutes
later found Margaret Anes in the
music room of the great house where
she was visiting her aunt.
AS she rose and came toward him she
seemed to light the whole world with
her beauty. She was all in filmy
white, and her shining hair was held by
a little silver cap that gave her an old
world appearance that was captivating.
1--WE brought you this" said Dirck,