The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-13
TIE EVENING STORY
Julie O,Neips Roses.
BY A. Maria Crawford.)

100000
and make them afraid" said Kate
Brandon. who was entertaining the
Iar-famed Irish beauty, Julie O'Neil.
DON'T wear roses tonight to the gar
zen party, but adorn yourself with
BOD Telford's sweet peas. 1 suppose
IL is habit or some absurd fancy
that makes you select three pink
roses and wear them every day, but
be dear and break the habit for my
sake want to settle you here so
that we can live in the same town
again Remem Der what great times
we used to have at home ?"
indeed I do, and when you mar
RED Tom Brandon and moved here,
Julie was brushing her long wavy
plack hair and Katie, admiring her,
thought what beautiful picture she
made in her pink negligee, with her
head.
you are beautiful, Julie. If I were
a man L would steal you and run
Hear, hear" laughed the girl
even you grow anxious over my state
of single blesse dness."
No, it isn't that, my dear. 1 really
want to see you as happy as I am
and / would like to be as happy as
you are, Kate
Julie. | want. you to marry Bob
Telford. He is a great catch, attrac-
tive, clever and counted rich even
among very rich men. He is also OBJ
Viously in love with you. Won't you
leave off the three roses tonight? They
seem to voice the sentiment of an en-
gagement right, a sort of hands off
sign. You understand"
You are SO dear to me and have
been since we were children that [
would gladly do anything in the world
for you, anything except what you
ask. Forgive me this time. / promise
to leave off the roses after tonight"
So yh a Oh
now that there is some warm and vital
sentiment back of your prediction
for three pink roses. This is the last
night of June, Let's make the most
of it! To me, it is the romance time
of all the year."
Perhaps that is why I wear the
roses"
II won't question you any more,
Julie. You never would tell anything
unless you really wanted me to know.
Are you going to wear that white lace
gown on the bed? You look like a
princess in it,
Kate had been gone for just a min
ute when she came back to jules
door. by the way, Phil Shields is in
town. I told Tom to invite him to our
garden party. 1 haven't seen him
since you turned him down the night
of my wedding There never was such
a pretty maid of honor and never,
to my notion, such splendid best
man as you and Phil made that mem
II.
ried two or three years ago. Old
wounds have to heal. don't they?"
Isn't it well that they can heal?
Pain is such poor company. / think
Telford's flowers tonight instead of
the roses. Win you have them sent
up to me- please
Indeed 1 will, gladly" agreed Kate
heartily.
When the%great bouquet of sweet
peas tied with soft tulle had been
brought to her, Julie held them in
place, studying the effect. From
somewhere near came q deep, rich
baritone voice singing, "Oh, Thou Sub
lime, Sweet Evening STAR" with violin
Julie dropped the
flowers on the dressing table and
turned to the window.
Across the fragrant summer night
throbbed Wagner's wonderful melody.
Julie pushed the curtains aside and
looked out, her eyes as bright as the
stars that pierced the dark sky with
silver light.
The garden below her window had
the appearance of fairyland. Lanterns
twinkled through the trees like giant
fireflies in the night. Servants were
taking last look at the little flower
laden tables, and the sound of ap-
automobiles told of early
guests. The last note of the singer
died away, and Julie, flushed and a
little breathless over awakened
pink roses in a little vase on the desk
and. drying the stems, fastened them
on her breast with corsage pin of
diamonds and pearls.
Later, on Telford's arm, she made a
round of the tables, where little sup
per parties were making merry.
81 think Kate has made a match
between her guest and Bob Telford,
Julie heard one woman say, and, turn
ing presently toward the sound of the
Vioce, she saw Hates sister-in-law and
a man who looked strangely familiar.
He turned then and she met his eyes, !
gravely questioning her. Her youth
came back to her suddenly on a flood
of memories.
She went toward him smiling, con-
fident in her acquired self possession. |
II am glad to see you, Phil. Mr.. Tel |
ford, I want you to know Mr.. Shields. |
He was a friend of mine when 1 was |
very young and unsophisticated-"
The two men exchanged greetings. j
Telford wondered at the cool indlffer- /
ence of the stranger. He seemed al |
most hostile in his attitude.
MAY I talk to you for little |
while p" Phil asked Julie. II leave at
Together they went down a pathway |
toward a little rose-covered summer |
house, bright with many hanging Ian |
terms. His eyes took in every feature
and then he seemed to see the roses |
for the first time. She saw a smile |
touch his lips and change his face to
the face of the boy. carefree and hap
Ply, she remembered in the lost years |
Of her youth. Then the smile faded
and his face grew stern and the lines
IN his forehead, that only time and
sorrow can cut deeply, showed that /
youth had gone. i
Just the same beautiful julie" he !
nused; beautiful and unaffected |
That was one of your chief charms for
me. All the really lovely women
ever knew except you demanded
mems homage Aren't you ever going |
to look old like the rest of us?"
mot while 1 manage to keep my
heart young"
How do you do that?"
by dreams; foolish, perhaps, but |