Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-02
1.-THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSE.


Copyright 1914. BY Louis Joseph vancs)
Tapped deep In the Battle-Ground luxury Of an
ample loungechair walled apart from the world by
the venerable solitude OF the library Of Londons
most exclusive club Mr.. Alan Law sprawled
uargeIy on the nape of his neck) and, squirting
discontentedy down his nose, admitted that he
was exhaustively bored.
Now the chair he Allied so gracelessy stood by
open window, some twenty feet below which
lay szable walled garden, an old English garden
in fun flower. And through the window now and
then halfhearted breeze waited gusts Of warm,
air, suave and eneryatng with the heavy fragrance
Of English roses. a - .ssf J,
Mr. Law drank deep OF f. and in spite a His
spiritual unrest, sighed slightly and shut hiseyes.
An unspoken word troubled the depth, OF his cont
sciousness that old memories stirred and strug-
gled TO it's surface The word was Rose" and for
the time seemed TO be the name neither OF woman
nor OF flower. but oddly OF BOTH though the two
things were one. His mental vision, bridging the
gap OF year. conjured up the vision OF a 1.-THE,
sweet silhouette in white. with red roses az her
belt, posed terrace Of the Riviera against the
burning Mediterranean blue. :..e,e4. :.
Mr., Lawtwas DULY conscious that he ought, to be
sorry about something, But he really very
drowsy indeed; and So drinking deep Of wine-scent
Of roses, he diligently asleep. -sI
The clock striking four when he awoke; and
before closing hts eyes he had noticed that its
hands indicated ten minutes to four. SO he could
not have slept very long.
For some few seconds Alan did not move. but
rested as he was incredulously regarding rose
which had materalised mysteriously upon the little
table at his elbow He was quite sure II had not
been there when he closed his eyes and almost
as sure that Il was not real
And in that instant Of awakening the magic fra
GRANGE Of the rose-garden seemed to be even more
strong and cloying sweet than ever
Then he put out gingerly hand and discovered
thatsitwAs real beyond all question. warm red
rose. fresh-plucked. drops Of water trembling and
sparkling ike tiny diamonds on the velvet Of Ito
heshy petals. And when impusively he took It by
the stem. he discovered most indsputable thorn
(which did service for the traditional pinch.
Convinced that he wasn't dreaming, Alan trans
ferred the rose TO his sound hand and meditatvely
sucked his thumb. Then he jumped up from the
chair and glared suspiciously round the room. II
was true that practical joke in that solemn atmos-
phere we're q thing unthinkable; st there was
the rose.
There was no one but himself in the library.
Perplexed to evaporation. Alan ned the club.
only pausing on the way out 70 annex the envelope
he found addressed to him in the letter.rack
II was blank white envelope Of good quality.
the address, typewriter. the stamp English, and
bore a. London postmark half ilesible.
Alan tore the envelope open in absent.minded
fashion--apd started as II stung The enclosure
was simple playing card-a trey OF hearts! &.
AS for Alan Law. he wandered homewards in q
stateof stupefaction. He could read quite the
message Of the rose He would not soon forget
that year-oId parting with his Rose OF the Riviera
You say YOU love me but may, not marry me-and
we must part. Then promise this. that II ever you
change your mind, you'll send for me-" And her
promise: Il will send you q rose"
But the year had lapssd with never q sign from
her so that he had grown accustomed 10 the unnat-
tering belief that she had forgotten him.
And now the sign had come-but what the deuce
did the Trey Of Hearts meant '.sa''
When morning came London had lost Alan Law.
No man OF his acquaintance-nor any woman-had
received the least warning Of his disappearance.
He was simply and sufficiently removed from Eng
lieh ken.