The Holly chieftain., 1913-06-06
running aeetly from the veranda OF

running Heetly 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 MIR. Baker. He is always late.
but he 10 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
I At the same moment coollooking.
dark-eyed young man was introduced
as Forbes Baker.
II was not until they sat at table
that Barbara stole q 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 noteSs
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 II
ready for the exhibit We are all dy-
Ing to see 1t with its twenty magnifi-
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 crime-a theft She
had stolen Mr.. Bakers prize roses
from his bush. She knew it. It was
her own fault-to take 1t for granted
that that lovely old place was Bark
er's. She knew that Barker was .
"gentleman-florist" 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 q SEN
tence regarding the beauty Of the
dusky. moonlit garden. Barbara had
turned to him with outstretched hands
and beautiful pleading face.
Il am so sorry-oh. SO sorry!" she
said. shakily.
"Sorry?" he asked little vaguely
About your roses-you-you-rec
ognized them?"
Yes. Then 1t was you'll saw
someone In motor car leaving my
place-then you took them?"
There was carefully suppressed an
ger In his tone but there was won
derment in the blue eyes fixed on
Barbara's fearful face.
why did'you take them?" he asked
gently.
Barbara told him frankly; related
the plight Of her sister over the de-
linquency Of the faithless Barker-told
of her own hurried search for the
'gentleman-fiorist'-o the stolid labor
er who had undoubtedly misunder.
stood her inquiry-and in a sudden
flood Of shamed tears she told how
she had cut the twenty beautiful
blooms from the rose tree.
you should have turned to the
right at the foot of the hill and Bar.
ker's place is the first place on the
left. Please forget the whole Incident.
1t is not worth one tear from your
eyes, Miss Ware. I'm afraid I've act.
ed like beast over the whole thing.
That's the worst with having hobby
ono becomes such . fool over 1t.
Please-please-there. that's better"
he smiled down at her with tender
eyes.
Barbara smiled wanly.
But you will be so disappointed al
not exhibiting the tree" she said for.
lornly. You can never grow Just
such another splendid bush"