The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-05
by DOROTHY ARTHUR.
Copyright. 1911. by the Associat'

tIopyTlkHt, ASlI, Dy the ASSoSidtcu
Literary Press.)
TITS so dear OF you, Aunt ROSE, to
come all the way up from Virginia,
Just for my wedding"
We'll. child, don't you know what
a romantic old maid l am at heart?"
laughed Miss Carruthers. laying off
her wraps. and sinking restfully
down in an easy chair before the fire.
II wouldn't have missed II for
worlds. 1t needed the joy-bells OF
wedding to rouse me from my sleep
mess. l was turning into regular
Miss Van Wrinkle"
THE idea! You don't look day
over twenty-nine. auntie." Bettina
knelt down on heap of cushions.
and looked up adoringly at the face
over which the freight played II
was piauant. changeful face. that
time had been too much in love with
to deface with many lines. The eyes
we're tender and endearing under
their long lashes.
Il am forty, BETTE. and proud of
it. proud to have attained such du-
bious age and found life sweeter.
filled with richer opportunities than
ever. Why, | am just beginning to
wake UP to what really splendid
old world it is. When l was your
age. dear. / felt a hAldred years old.
and was
The door opened hesitatingly. It
was Bettinas younger sister, Grace.
Bette. the bishops here" she
said Don't you think you ought to
greet him. He asked for YOU the
first thing"
We'll be down in a minute" sang
back the little bride-elect Aunt
Rose. did write you that / am 70 be
married by the t,ishop f1tmseif--tf,c
dear. splendid bishop. that I've loved
and cherished ever since | could
toddle?'
Miss Carruthers looked attentively
at Bettina.
What bishop. child z"
Hepburn. Don't you know him.
dear He used to 10 rector OF ST.
James. oh. years and years ago"
Rose smiled. Fate had surely play
twenty years. IT was foolish. che
ed strange trick on her after
twent wears. 1t was foolish, she
told herself. that at forty her pulses
should play traitor and start to beat
at the mere sound of voice, the
sight of a form. Was 1t only twenty
years ago. or twenty thousand. since
the morning he had found her alone
in the old rose garden at Twin Tow
ers" He had been such an eager,
boyish wooer in spite of his sober
clerical garb, And she, in her blind.
girlish narrowness. hadA sent him
from her. She did not IRE for the
life of a clergymans We, she told
him. She loved society and movement
and action. She would share no
dreamer's lot. She meant to travel
and revel in variety She had told
him that man who donned the
cloak OF the prophet In these days
was Il shirker OF the real battle OF
life. ~
Now, they called him the fighting
bishop. She had followed his career
closely. tenderly. through the years.
Wherever there had been a chance to
raise the standard OF tho church mill
tant. he had pressed forward. She
who had loved action, had slipped
into her serene old-maids life down
at Twin Towers In Virginia. and he
at whom she had laughed had be-
come the fighter. the man Of action.
Bettina was actually Introducing
them in her eager. glrlish fashion.
The bishops rich. deep voice broke
in on her words.
But We are old friends. ara we
not. Miss Carruthers? Do you still
teach the roses how to grow 90
He had drawn her a little apart
from the others. Tall, lean and
eiean shAyen. with his keen merry
eyes, he made her think OF tho young
rector. Most unaccountahly, Miss
Carruthers lost her sense OF humor.
and her tender. beautiful lips Quiv-
cred
Paul. Paul. how wrong you!
Oh. don't be kind to me now and try
to smooth it over. was u selfish.
untaught girl. Il hope life has given
you IN fu1f measure all The happiness
you deserve"
- The bishop sn4ilet down ae-her
whimsicplly. What sort OF happi-
ness. Rose? am batchelor."
Here Bettina swept down on them
and bore the bishop away to the tea
table. where her mother wished to
speak with him. Rose slipped back
to her room. She would not be
missed in the wedding rush OF guests.
she knew; and she wanted to look
at the face OF the bishop had just seen
after twent yyears- -unsparingly she
raised the window shade. and
threw back the softly tinted curtains.
Then she moved the little dressing
table over In the full daylight and
sat down before it To look at herself.
And presently she put her head down
on her arms and sobbed quietly, ar
uost pityingly. for the stupidity Of
that oiri who had taught the roses
how to grow twenty years before.
do you know. auntie." Bettina told
her in strict confidence that night.
when ehe came in aud sat ON tha