The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1916-01-19
The Signal
OF the Rose
A Girl Who Had Every
thing She Wanted
By AGNES G. BROGAN


David Bourne turned from the wild
commotion of the pit" with it's baLeI
Of high keyed voices, and passed out
into the morning sunshine. $50 old
Richards has won again" Failure
seemed a word unknown to this wiz
ard in the world of finance. How did
he do it? What ''god Of fortune wait.
ed upon this great Spectator, giving
him infallibly the proper cue? And
what new extravaganza would thi'
later victory bestow upon Paula
Paula, the daughter Of whom her IA
Their so proudly boosted, She shall
have everything she wants.
1.-THE girl who has everything she
wants." Bourne thought Of her now
as he strobe along, and an inner light
passed over his features, erasing all
WEAKNESS. 1t had been a mistaken kind.
ness upon the part of the doting father.
carrying out this humble clerk in his
employ to spend delightful days at his
famous home on the Hudson. Had it
been an intentional kindness. David
wondered gloomily, or merely the insa-
table desire of the man to impress
another with his greatness? And the
daughter, who was beautiful, had aljo
been kind. David pictured her now
| moving with sort of stately dignity
her little dusky head held high, her
rare and radiant smile. And she had
done justice to the generous advantage
of her training; her touch upon the pi-
ano was joy, her voice charm to be
remembered.
David sighed abruptly, 1.-The girl
who has everything she wants" He
recalled half bitterly the luxury Of
her surroundings, the rich draperies
which chung about her slender figure,
the little jeweled fingers-Paula Rich
ards, only daughter of the king of
finance-and he, David Bourne, loved
her. Sometimes he had fancied a ten
derness in the girls eyes appraised to
his, a usefulness answering to his
own unspoken longing. But David put
these dreams resolutely from him. He
even laughed contemptuously as he
squared his shoulders.
You poor simpletonr' he breathed.
Still it was growing-the little hoard
in the bank-growing, oh, so slowly,
with such painful self sacrificing. with
almost hopeless desperation. Yet there
were times when the hopelessness van
ished, and David smoked on in sub
dued excitement as he planned his one
plunge, his first venture in the pit of
the Stock Exchange. And if he were
successful, if he could follow the lead
of his great employer, if his money
should come back increased a hun
dredfold, why. then she might be his
and still continue to be "the girl who
had everything she wanted" Until
then he must worship at her feet AZ
long as she should be kind.
She met him that evening with her
usual sweet gravity. He had always
admired this pretty seriousness, light
ened by her rare smile. Tonight the
smile seemed more rare than ever.
She glanced at him with concern.
"You are tired" said Paula, cor
troubled"
David laughed shortly. Troubled, I
think" he replied Twill you play for
me?'
With her characteristic understand
ing the girl seated herself at the piano.
Throughout the Love Symphony he
wondered wildly if a milliOnaires
daughter might not possibly find hap
piness in a small apartment, if ro-
nance might not be made to atone
for the absence of a retinue of serv-
ants, if and if A song of Caruso's
brought him back to the opera and
Paula there in her fathers box. with
her the people of her kind.
Paula" he cried abruptly. The girl
quietly arose and stood before him.
David pointed a tentative finger at the
diamonds upon her hands. you love
those things?' he asked.
"Why, Of course" she answered
wondering. Il love everything beau
tiful." She smiled at the roses upon
her breast. 81 cover myself with roses
and cover myself with jewels
"And you may have for the wishing
anything which money can buy?"
Paula nodded. Yes" she said.
David jumped to his feet, IF |
could say that" he cried, I'D be the
happiest man in the world!'
Fer voice came to him softly, 'Is
there something. then, that you wish
for so very much"
He laughed shakily. 1.-THE moon. /
think" said David.
"And." she persisted, would money
purchase this particular moon of
yours?''
perhaps not" he answered, "but ii
would at least give me chance to
try" Passionately he swung around
upon her. I'm quite mad tonight.
Paula" he said tensely. you and
your music hsve sent me up into a
fooIs paradise of hope. 1 want to
tell you something, not Of my love for
you; you have always known that.
Your fathers success has got into my
blood. I've thought that if I could
make one deal like his today I'd dare
to voice the longing that's consuming |
my heart I have been able to save |
a little money. end-and I'm going to |
make a plunge If by any glorious |
chance it should win out I'll try |
again and again. If it doesn't"-David |
paused-"then I'll say goodby to you a |
little sooner. That's ALL"
Paula motioned him to a seat at her |
side. Her eyes had taken ON a strange,
calculating CLINT, which reminded |
Bourne forcibly of her father. When |
she spoke her tone was calm and i'm
personal, like his.
IF you succeed" she asked, do you |
intend to ask me to marry your Da-
vid nodded dumbly. "Then," she went |
on. Il am naturally interested. You
have heard my oft given name, The
girl who has everything she wants.
You will first understand that I wish
to keep that NAME"
David was conscious Of a keen thrill
of disappointment. Il am merely hon.
est" the girl nodded. with q smile to |