The log cabin Democrat., 1921-07-05
A Yellow Rose for
 Marcia
By FREDERICK CLARKE
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 You have my uttimatum, daughter When young Randall makes man of himself and shows some pluck and ability ill business, l may change my mind. Until then"
 Col. Hector panyers, magnate of the pretty Kentucky town of Lisle termi- mated his very positive decision by bringing his hand down on his desk with resoundins bang.
 Marcia, pretty as q picture and smil- ing braNely and beWitclingly, placed caressing arm about her fathers neck.
 You dear old dad" she said, coax ingly, you couldn't be hard-hearted if you tried. have told Seiden what you have decided on"
 And what does he say?" demanded the old warrior, bristling.
 That there never was d clearer headed, grand old friend of his fathers and himself than Col. Hector Dan vers."
 ''Ha-hum! Ahem. That so? Look here, Marcia, l don't want to be harsh-"
 But with a gay laugh the sly sprite danced from the room. She was en- tirely satisfied with her fathers de- clsion. She knew what he knew, and while her tender heart ached to think of sending Selden away like a lamb among the Philistines, she knew that it would try and test him, and make him the stronger for the real battles of life
 Selden went to a northern city with farewell kiss of Marcia aroused him to mighty resolve. Her last words lin gered in his ears:
 Dear" she said, i've must respect papa's wishes-no correspondence un- til you have made business record, When you feel that you have consci- cautiously made it, send me a token a Yellow Sose.'
 SeIden reached the city with sutii- cient funds to finance himself for a time
 One unfortunate night, however, he " uS lIldQNtt tO tlllcI Club IOOIu. kNtl- den Randall left the place with his cash all gone.
 He took shelter for the night in a vacant building and lay down on a broken bench, but he could not sleep.
 It must have been nearly daylight when a shot in the street without startled him, then shouts. And then one of the shabby windows of the place was crashed through. A heavy object struck him, nearly stunning him.
 Recovering himself, Selden examined the object that had been sent flying through the window.
 It was a valise. It bore several travel-worn tags. On silver plate near its handles were the words, Woodbridge, Palmer Terrace"
 One glorious morning just six months after that, Marcia Danvers re- ceived from the postman at Lisle little box. With fluttering heart she ran up to her room. The writing upon the box she recognized at once. She tore off the wrappings, removed the cover. and viewed the first token re- ceived for over half a year from her lover-a yellow rose.
 And then, the next morning, Selden Randall himself appeared.
 He came up the garden path, smi1- ing, joyous; hope, health and devo- ton personified He took her into his arms with assurance and pride
 He told her of his first downfall in the city, his last in that line forever, and then of returning to the wealthy Joseph Woodbridge a valise containing over ten thousand dollars footed from his house by burglar, who, hotly pur- sued, had flung it through the window of the old rookery.
 "Mr. Woodbridge has become almost a father to me" explained Seden "I have settled position, my path in business life Is sure one. Can you take the rose, Marcia?"
 "Yes, and wear it next to my heart Oh, my dear l nm so happy, so grate. full"
 And orange blossoms, too" said Selden, proudly.