The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-19
The Euening Story
The Heart of a Rose.
(By Elinor Gale.)


Rose Staples stood in her bedroom
window looking down at the pair sit
ting under the great beech tree
Her aunt, charming in a cool white
gown. was pouring tea for Captain
Garth. The captains straw hat was
on the grass and the sunshine flick
cred on the silver streaks in his dark
hair. Except for the silver hair one
might have taken George Garth to be
very young man, SO 1.-THE was his
form, so light his step, so youthful his
heart.
Rose knew him to be just twice her
own age-that was forty.
And Aunt Angela was almost forty
and she was SO lovely that Rose felt
pang of jealousy as she watched
them.
Garth was leaning forward in the
wicker chair, his eyes fixed on An
gela's fair face. He was talking
Rose often wondered what topic
it was they found SO interesting. They
always grew silent when she APP
preached and they changed the sub
newest books.
Il wonder they don't talk to me
about dolls" thought Rose rebel
Iiously.
She glanced into the mirror and
saw that her pink linen frock was
vastly becoming in combination with
brown eyes and bronze-brown hair
and golden tipped lashes.
She went out to the tea table and,
as she expected, Aunt Angela changed
the conversation to the forthcoming
society circus at the Country club.
Presently the elder woman excused
herself and went into the house.
Take me to see the roses" sug-
gested Captain Garth.
He is bored with me.' thought
Rose, but she swallowed her pique
a n 1n6 hnx to hn or-1n
When they reached the shade of the
pergola the captain turned his hand
some blue eyes down upon his COM
panion.
Il would like one rose from the
garden he said in an odd tone.
lone rose?" repeated the girl. You
may have a dozen if you wish" She
reached for cluster of pink ram
blers.
But his strong brown hand caught
hers and held it close to his heart.
You are the rose 1 want he said
gently.
"I?'' she faltered, only half under
standing.
You Is is so incredible that I
should love your" he smiled down at
her.
What evil spirit whispered to Rose
that perhaps Aunt Angela had re-
fused George Garth and he was offer
ing her his damaged heart?
Surely, he had not made love to
Rose according to youths romantic
dreams. His proposal was so sudden
and unexpected.
With throbbing heart Rose
pushed him away from her and cried:
"Oh, I'm afraid you've made a mis-
take!"
She ran away to her own room and
faced her flushed reflection in the
glass.
HE has made a mistake" she told
herself. 1T is Aunt Angela he loves
he is only flirting with me. L hate
him.
Poor Rose, who could not recognize
love when it came knocking at her
heart!
There were many months when
Captain Garth did not appear at Pine
Grove. His ship was ordered to
Asiatic waters and Rose noticed that
Aunt Angela frequently received for
eign-looking letters.
Il was right" Rose assured her
self, but her unruly heart ached for
the love she had denied it.
Angela studied the letters closely
Sometimes she smiled over them, and
once she hurriedly left the room in
tears.
1t was all great mystery to Rose,
who lived alone in the big house with
Angela. There was much company
and music and pleasure, but both aunt
and niece seemed to be living under a
great strain of anxiety.
June came around again and An
gela took to watching the gates.
"She expects him." thought Rose.
who knew that he had been ordered
home.
One night when the rose garden was
fragrant with the incense from thou
sand blossoms, the dew was falling
and the cool moonlight flooded the
open spaces, Rose stepped into the
pergola.
At the remote end man, tall and
straight, was standing, and in his
arms was Aunt Angela
He has GOMEZ" thought Rose.
She turned and ran toward the
house. Her eyes were blinded by
tears and she could scarcely see the
way, so that she ran right into the
arms of George Garth, who was COM
ing across the lawn.
"Oh!" she cried sharply, you? I
just saw you therein the pergola-
with Aunt Angela
!'Oh, no,'' he chuckled. You saw
my brother Charlie. He and Angela
have been sweethearts for years
There was a misunderstanding and
Charlie lost himself in the orient;
been exploring Tibet, I believe.
promised Angela I'd try to locate him
this time-and L did-brought him
home in fact. He has suffered
we'll as Angela. I am glad for them"
Rose was still in his arms.
ut is a long tine to Keep you wait
ing for enc rose" she whispered.
Not when it's the rose of NY
neart" he declared copy
right 1915. by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate-)