The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-08-16
THE ROSE WALTZ
BY HARRISON CHASE.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ted Gibson sat disconsolately on the
terraced lawn sloping to the lake In
front of the country club. From the
direction of the ballroom came the
sound of soft music, and Ted, recogniz-
ing the waltz the stringed orchestra
was playing.
Months had passed since he had last
heard it, 1t had been at the Junior
prom at college, the last dance of n
series of the most wonderful dances
he had ever known. Sylvia had been
there.
He had planned to make that prom
turning point in his life. Sylvia had
promised to be his guest and had sml-
ingly consented to give him twelve of
the twenty-fot& dances. AT the end
Of the last number on the program
Ted had planned to ask Sylvia to mar
ny him.
The affair had started off with ev-
cry promise of success. They had
motored to Kingston in the long, low
runabout with just enough room for
two. 1t was beautiful night, with
full moon casting long shadows over
the quiet roads and a touch of spring
in the evening air. 1t was an ideal
night for Ted's purpose. He seemed
to sense in Sylvia's attitude the kind
of answer he wished for.
And then Sylvia had spoken. She
didn't say much-only a single SEN
tence-but after the words had fallen
from her lips the glory Of the night
seemed lost.
"Tom Ainsley is going to be at the
PROM" she had said.
Tom Alnsleyl Ted's hands had
gripped the wheel more tightly. Aims
ley was the name which gossip had
linked with that of Sylvias. For two
years, while Ted was away at college,
the two had gone about together al
most constantly. There had been ru-
inors of an engagement which Sylvia
had ignored, and Ted returning to
Westwood, had taken the girl at her
word and had pressed his own suit. A
Short time later Tom had left for the
West, and Ted and the girl to whom
rumOr said Tom was engaged had been
in each others company continually.
The announcement that Tom was to
be present at the prom had filed Ted's
heart with vague misgivings. For him
the remainder of the ride had been
without charm.
They had reached the gymnasium
just before the first dance. Ted had
left Sylvia at the door and had hurried
into the smoking room, and when he
had returned to the ballroom he had
found Sylvia and Tom in earnest con-
versation. The girl had turned to him
with bright spot in each cheek.
'Tve given Tom three of your
Dances" she had said. 1--WE haven't
seen each other for months, and
knew you wouldn't mind"
Ted had nodded.
(Which ones are they?" he had
asked. you might tell me so that |
can check them OFT"
"The third sixteenth and twenty
third" she had answered.
!. The evening had worn away. The
girl had noticed Ted rather re-
strained silence and had chided him
about it. But he had refused to re-
spond to the Gliding, and finally Syl-
via, too, had grown quiet. And then
the twenty-thlrd dance had arrived.
"The next dance is the last" Ted
had told her just before Tom had come
to claim her. ats Mighty Like a
Rose and that Is our dance, you
know"
Eyes, that is our dance" she had
repeated absently.
But it hadn't turned out to be their
dance, after all, for when the music
started Sylvia had been walking along
one of the shaded campus paths with
Tom.
She had seemed sincerely sorry
about 1t.
81 didn't know the dance had begun,
Ted" she had explained. "We walked
too far, and I'm sorry that l missed
1t. You believe me, don't your"
Ted had told her that 1t hadn't mat
tered so very much, but during the
ride home that night he had not pro-
posed.
That was six months ago, and since
the prom Ted and Sylvia had not once
been together for more than five min
utes at time.
The yearning to talk with Sylvia
came to him with renewed force as he
sat on the porch of the Country club
listening to the strains of mighty
Like a Rose" So he sat, his chin In
his hands, looking with unseeing eyes
over the rolling green Of the golf links.
And then a figure suddenly appeared
beside him and soft voice called his
name.
, He looked up almost unbelievlngly,
for Sylvia was standing so near that
he could touch her. He leaped to his
feet.
"What are you doing heref" he
asked, blankly.
"Do you really want to know why /
came here?" Sylvia asked.
"Yes."
st was because this waltz always
reminds me of man who used to be
nice TO me-" the girl explained. "Once
ne said that It was our waltz and
then, because | made a mistake and
didn't get to the last dance at a junior
prom, he didn't want 1t to be our dance