Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-08-10
1.-THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSE.
Copyright. 1914. by Louis Joseph vance)

N~opyflEht, H1A, py Louis Joseph NanceJ
Tapped deep in the leather-bound luxury OF
ample loungechair. walled apart from the world by
the venerable solitude Of the library Of London's
most exclusive club, Mr.. Alan Law sprawled
largely on the nape Of his neck) and, squirting
discontentedly down his nose. admitted that he
was exhaustivey bored.
Now the chain he filled gracelessly stood BY
an open window, some twenty feet below which
lay stable walled garden, old English garden
IN full flower. And through the window, now and
then, hafhearted breeze waited gusts OF warm
air suave and enervating with the heavy fragrance
OF English roses.
Mr.. Law drank deep OF It, and In spite Of HIS
spiritual unrest. sighed slightly and shut his eyes.
An unspoken word troubled the depth Of his con-
seriousness. that old memories stirred and strug
gled to its surface. The word Rose" and for
the time seemed TO be the name neither Of a woman
nor OF flower. but oddly Of both, though the two
things were one. His mental vision bridging the
gap OF year, coniured up the vision Of 1.-THE,
sweet silhouette IN white with red roses at her
belt. posed terrace of the Riviera against the
burning Mediterranean blue.
Mr.. Law duly conscious that he ought TO b
sorry about something. But he was really very
drowsy indeed; and So drinking deep Of wine-soent
Of roses he fell gently asleep
The clock striking four when he awoke; and
before closing his eyes he had noticed that ita
hands indicated ten minutes to four. SO he could
not have slept very long.
For some few seconds Alan aid not move but
rested as he was, incredulously regarding a rose
which had materialized mysteriously upon the little
table at his elbow. He quite sure It had not
been there when he closed his eyes, and almost
as sure that II 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
that IT was real beyond all question. warm red
rose treshplucked, drops Of water trembling and
srarkling like tiny diamonds the velvet Of its
eeshy petals. And when impulsively he took II By
the stem, he discovered a most indisputable thorn
(which did service for the traditional pinch.
Convinced that he wasn't dreaming Alan trans
eerTed the 20 his sound hand and meditatively
sucked his thumb. Then he Jumped up from the
chair and glared suspiciously round the room. Il
was true that practical joke in that solemn atmos-
phere were a thing unthinkable; still, there was
the
There was no one but himself IN the library.
Perplezed to evaporation, Alan ned the club,
only pausing on the way out to annex the envelope
ne found addressed to him in the letterrack.
II was a blank white envelope Of good quality,
the address typewritten the stamp English. and
bore a London postmark half illegible
Alan tore the envelope open In absentminded
feshion-and started n stung. The enclosure
was a simple playing card-a trey OF hearts!
AS for Alan Law, he wandered homewards In a
state OF stupefaction He could read quite we'll the
message of the rose. He would not soon forget
that year-od 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 a rose"
But the year had lapsed with never sign from
her so that he had grown accustomed to the unnat
tering belief that she had forgotten him.
And now the sign had come-but what the deuce
did the Trey of Hearts mean?
When morning came. London Sad lost Alan Law
NO man of his acquaintance-nor any woman-hac
received the least warning Of his disappearance
He was simply and sufficiently removed from Eng
Ilsh ken.