The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-06-13

Time was flying and Alice was wait
ing for her roses. Barbara hammered
at the greenhouse door with her
gloved fists but the door was locked.
She sped over to the quiet old gray
house and knocked at the closed
kitchen door. There came no re-
sponse.
Back she few to the rose garden,
picking up a pair of shears from a
bench In passing.
A search of the garden showed that
the tub contained the only American
Beauty rose bush. A hurried peep
into the different hothouses merely
disclosed long rows of empty benches
well, here goes" said Barbara
recklessly, and she carefully shipped
the twenty roses from the big tree,
feeling a pang of remorse as she
looked at its denuded branches.
II wish people wouldn't cut flow
ers," she murmured, conscience-strick-
en-, as she entered the car with her
fragrant burden. Now, IL Alice had
only ordered the whole tree transport
ed to the dining room and let us gazed
upon it-well-it's too late. now!"
AS she turned out of the avenue
into the road, Barbara heard a shout
behind. She turned and saw a man
running feetly from the veranda OF
the house.
"Stop!" he cried authoritatively.
"You are too late, Mr.. Barker"
smiled Barbara saucily to herself, and
the little car darted forward and was
soon out of sight around the bend of
the road.
Fifteen minutes later Mrs. Madison
embraced her sister and the huge
bunch of roses in an ecstatic hug.
You are just in time-all here ex-
cept Mr.. Baker. He is always late,
but ne is such dear we don't mind
will give these to Haksuo while you
put on your gloves and slippers"
Flushed and lovely Barbara entered
the drawing room just as Haksuo an
nounced that dinner was served.
At the same moment a cool-looking,
dark-eyed young man was introduced
as tOrDe5 BAKER.
1t was not until they sat at table
that Barbara stole a glance at the
man who had taken her in. His eyes,
blazing with wrath were fixed on the
great cut glass vase of roses. His
face was white and Barbara notei
with an odd tremor of her pulses That
his hand was shaking as he raised
his napkin to his lips.
A man addressed him across the
table in gay reproof.
Don't glare at Mrs. Madison's roses
that way, Forbes; of course we all
know you are eaten up with jealousy
because they are bigger and handsom-
er than anything you can produce on
your place"
Forbes Baker smiled grimly.
How about your wonderful tree,
Forbes?" asked Mrs. Madison. ''Is 1t
ing to see it with its twenty magnii-
cent blooms-Forbes has talked of
nothing else for weeks-roses are his
hobby" smiled Alice at her sister.
But Barbara sat in frozen silence.
A great fear had come over her The
meal seemed hours long. Forbes Bak-
er uttered few commonplaces, but 1t
was evident that his mind was on
other matters. Barbara was glad she
did not have to talk She knew Mrs.
Madison would scold her afterwards
for her stupidity-but she didn't care
nothing mattered any more. She
had committed a crime-a theft. She
had stolen Mr.. Bakers prize roses
from his bush. She knew it. 1t was
her own fault-to take 1t for granted
that that lovely old place was Bark
ers She~knew that Barker was a
"gentleman-horist" and she had not
been surprised at the surroundings.
Forbes Baker found her In the gar
\ den, wandering drearily among the
paths. They came face to face and
Baker tossed away his cigar and
turned to walk beside her.
Before his lips could form a sen,
tence regarding the beauty of the
dusky, moonlit garden. Barbara had
turned to him with outstretched hands
and beautiful pleading face.
II am so sorry-oh, so sorry!" she
said shakily.
! "Sorry?" he asked a little vaguely
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