Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-11-27
THE ROSE WALTZ
BY HARRISON CHASE.

tefraced 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 a
series Of the most wonderful dances
he had ever known. Sylvia had been
there.
He had planned to make that prom
turning point In lis life. Sylvia had
promised to be his guest and had smIl-
ingly consented to give him twelve Of
the twenty-four dances. At the end
OF the last number on the program
Ted had planned to ask Sylvia to mar
~ him.
The affair had started OF with eg-
cry promise of success. They had
motored to Kingston in the long, low
runabout with just enough room for
two. 1t was a beautiful night, with a
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-onIy a single SEN
tence-but after the words had fallen
from her lips the glory Of the night
seemed lost.
tom AinsIey is going to be at the
prom," she he'd said
Tom AInsIeyI Ted's hands had
gripped the wheel more tightly. Aims
ley was the name which gossip had
linked with that Of SyIvta's. For two
years, while Ted was away at college,
the two had gone about together al
most constantly. There had been ru-
mOrs 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 Eoom, and when he
had returned to the ballroom he had
found Sylvia and Tom in earnest con-
Versatfon. The girl had turned to him |
with bright spot in each cheek.
"Tve given Tom three of your
dances" she had said. "We haven't
seen each other for months, and 1 |
knew you wouldn't mind"
Ted had nodded.
(which ones are they?' he had |
asked. You might tell me so that / |
can check them off,"
'"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 chfded him /
about it. But he had refused to re-
spond to the Gliding. and finally SyI- |
via, toos had grown quiet. And then |
the twenty-thlrd dance had arrived.
1.-THE next dance is the last" Ted |
had told her just before Tom had come
to claim her. sits Mighty Like a |
Rose and that is our dance, you
know"
''Yes, that IS our dance" she had /
repeated absentIy.
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 it.
''I didn't know the dance had begun, |
Ted" she had exnlainad- 'We walked !
too far, and I'm sorry that l missed
it. You believe me, don't youP'
Ted had told her that it 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 a time.
The yearning to talk with Sylvia l
came to him with renewed force as he
sat on the porch Of the Country club /
listening to the strains of Mighty Il
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 unbelievingly, |
for Sylvia was standing so near that
be could touch her. He leaped to his
feet.
what are you doing hereT" he
asked, blankly.
do you really want to know why
came hereT Sylvia asked.
"Yes."
SIT was because this waltz always
reminds ne of a man who used to be |
nice to me-" the girl explained "Once
be said tLat it was our waltz, and Il
then. because I made a mistake and
didn't get to the last dance at a junior
prom, he didn't want it to be our dance
any more"
Ted caught his breath sharply.
"How about your he asked
II always wanted It to be our
dance
And then they went back to the ball
room and danced the last half Of the
waltz together.
Copyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndiGatsl