Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-06-12
CHAPTER ~.
How Ii Struck Portia

It was just fortnight later that
Rose told her mother she was going
to marry Rodney Aldrich. thereby
giving that lady a greater shock of
surprise than, hitherto, she had ex-
perienced in the sixty years of a
tolerably eventful life.
Rose found her neatly writing a
paper at the boudoir desk in the little
room she called her den.
Mrs. Stanton said, "What, dear?
lndlHerently enough, just in mechani-
cal response of the matter-of- in
nect1on of Rosalind'S voice. Then she
laid down her pen, smiled in a puzzled
way up into her daughters face, and
added: my ears must have PLAYED
me funny trick. What did you say ~
Rose repeated: Rodney Aldrich and
l are going to be married"
But when she saw look of painful
lncomprehenSiOn in her mothers face,
she sat down on the arm of the chair,
Slid strong arm around the fragile
figure, and Rugged it up against her
self. L suppose" she observed con-
tritely, "that ought to have broken
it more gradually. But never think
of things like that"
as well as she could, her mother
resisted the embrace. 81 can't be-
tieve," she said. gripping the edge of
her desk with both hands, that you
would jest about a solemn subject like
that, Rose, and yet it's incredible %
The mother freed herself from the
girls embrace, rose, and walked away
to another chair. eff you'll talk
nationally and seriously, my dear" she
said, 1--WE can continue the conversa-
ton. But this tiippant, rather-vulgar
tone you're taking, pains me very
much"
The girl flushed to the hair. 81
didn't know l was being flippant and
vulgar" she said. II didn't mean to
be. l was just trying to tell you--all
about it,"
You've told me-" said her mother,
that Mr.. Aldrich has asked you to
marry him and that you've consented.
1t seems to me you have done so
hastily and thoughtlessly. He's told
you he loves you, I've no doubt. but
don't see how it's possible for you
| to feel sure on such short acquaint-
ance."
| why, of course he's told me- Rose
said a little bewildered. He can't
help telling me all the time, any more
han l can help telling him. We're
rather mad about each other. really.
III think he's the most wonderful per-
son in the world, and"-she smiled q
little uncertainly-"he thinks / am.
But we've tried to be sensible about
lit. and think it out reasonably. He
aid he couldn't guarantee that wed
he happy; that no pair of people could
lie sure of that till they'd tried. But,
he said, it looked to him like the most
Ivonderful, magnificent adventure in
The world, and asked if it looked to
ne like that, and said it did. Be
I.ause it's true. It's the only thing
Ia the world that seems worth-bother-
lng about. And we both think
Ihough of course we can't be sure
we're thinking straight = that we've
lot a good chance to make it 60"
Even her mothers bewildered ears
,ouldn't distrust the sincerity with
which the girl had spoken. But this
My increased the bewilderment. She
lad listened with a sort of incredu-
ous distaSte she couldn't keep her
ace from showing, and at last she had
D wipe away her tears.
At that Rose came oN~T to her,
ropped on the floor at her knees. and
nbraced her. Il guess perhaps I'M
arstand, mother" she said. Il didn't
alize - you've always been so in
uectual and advanced = that you'd
eel that way about it-be shocked be-
use / hadn't pretended not to care
r him. and been shy and coy" in
lite of herself. her voice got an edge
humor in it-"and a startled fawn.
81 u know, running away. but just not
st enough so that he wouldn't come
inning after and think he'd made a
Nnderful conquest by catching me at
q II. But man like Rodney Aldrich
3 Nuldr't plead and protest. mother.
j . wouldn't want me unless wanted
q "a just as much
II was long time before her mother
oke, and when she did. she spoke
enbly-resignedly, as If admitting
Isl the situation was beyond her
verS.
It's the one need of a woman's
1 l. Rose, dear" she said. "the corner
lsne of all her happiness. that her
Sband, as you say, wants her.
lubt of Ii is the one thing that viii
BE the power to make her bitterly