Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-10-24
after MANY YEARS
Bit Of Romance Of the Kind That
Does Something to Sweet .
en- Life.
BY JANET REESE.

Mal7 zines he had proposed. and
bust as many times she had refused
him: but they remained good friends.
It was Just after one of the offers and
,efusals that, half jestingly. half seri-
ously. they agreed to meet IN a favo'
tie. select roof garden ten years hence
10 that each might know what the 9th
Or had reaped, and the girl declared
that they must put the finishing touch
% romantic situation by wearing red
roses, and the youth laughingly as
tented. Even though he married, he
was to keep the appointment. 1t would
be but meeting Of one old friend with
another, the girl said. She, OF course,
would be welded to none-not with
her glorious career to follow.
Five Of the ten years passed with
their freight Of events. The girl and
youth were now man and woman,
and had married-each other. Fame
had come to the woman--misery to
the man. The woman had found 1t
necessary to dispense with the man or
the career. and it was the man who
had been told to 60.
Five more years, alternately slip
ping and dragging away, brought the
night Of the engagement, made ten
years before. The man had not heard
Of the woman for long ~time-the
last he had heard was that she was
IN the continent. She had written
some books--he had heard of them,
but had not read them. They had
been the cause of his desolation.
With low, mirthless laugh at his
>wn foolishness, the man took the
elevator to the roof garden--a red
rose nesting in his buttonhola. The
garden had changed but little, and
with an odd, choking sensation. he
sought and found the little corner
which she had liked best. corner
screened by dropping palms, SO that
two could be alone with the stars and
music.
He came with no thought that the
Homan would he there. No doubt she
had forgotten the romantic agreement
If ten years ago. but 1t pleased his
fancy to keep the appointment, even
though she would not know. Besides
by closing his eyes he could almost see
her on the other side Of the table. an1
Imagination appeases the hunger OF
loneliness for awhile He even ordered
the dishes she liked best, remember
Ing with reminiscent smile her fond
uess for glaces.
For what seemed a long time he sal
there. The dinner grew cold. and the
waiter cleared it and large tip away
with curious look at the generous
patron. The mans cigar went out ant
he red rose in his buttonhole dropped
dmply on the table. With a sigh
he rested his arms upon the balcony
rail and dropped his head upon them.
At the far end of the garden an or
:hestra was playing the Rosary, ant
perhaps it was its heart-rending ca
dences which made him dream of the
girl as she had loved him. So al
luringly near did she seem that he
reached out his arms toward her; bu
The little table interviewed, and she
seemed to smile mockingly at his vair
attempts. AS he YEARLY dropped hi.
arms the fragrance Of roses seemed
sitting him, SO that he could hardly
breathe. Yes, he knew now. It was thu
red roses she was wearing in tn
dream, for she had come nearer ant
was bending over him. In maze, h
saw In the dark depths Of her eyes ,
word of love and longing.
After all, 1t was only dream. h
told himself bitterly, and surely tn
gods were cruel to torture him so
Strange, when he looked again she wal
still there! Well, when he tried t.
crush her in his arms he would flint
but thin air as one does in Dreams Ye
-,ah, 1t was true! As he held her Close
be felt the beating Of her heart, thu
clinging sweetness of her lips.
Only the waiter saw. and he merel,
smiled, for many strange things hap
pen in . roof garden.-Buffalo Elk
press.