The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-20
"PAPER ROSES"
By RUBY M. AYRES
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have cancelled the berths by teie
gram. IL would have been a harder
life than the circus for you. and l
should have hated it,
She gave a little sound. half-sob
instantly checked
you don't trust me. Rosalie"
he was playing a rotten game--the
best OF him rcyclted against Il. but
the best OF q man speaks with n
stiil small voice that takes some
time 10 make itself heard above the
arrogance Of scif.
Young Briton's fingers frightened
their grip: he hurt her hand. but
she hardly felt THE went on
eagerly.
husband Trust me. ana you shall
never regret II: but can't face
poverty. Roaile. thought
could. but now-now this has come
-" he broke off. rtammertng.
-And. how win you like me for
a wife. now you are riehr-'
She asked the question without
expression. IN q dun voice. Rod.
crfck icoscned her hand angriiy.
what are you thinkingf---that I
am sorry married you. knew you
would say that--it Is 80 like a
woman. I have told you win do
everything for you. That II only
means waitingT.'
waiting untfi am-educsted-
she questioned him with bitter
laugh in her voice. she shivercd as
she stood there In her thin clothes.
She looked round drcariiy al the sod
den field. the fiaring lights. the cur,
ious crowd gathered about the tent
She took a step away from him. al
most as II she had forgotten his
presence.
-Rosalle-
Young Briton called 10 her hoarre-
". Something In the droop Of her
little figure touched him He laid a
hard on either Of her shoulders.
You arc angry with me. Rocaiie.
Don't be angry: II IN for your good
as well as mine. shall be able TO
give you. pretty thlngs-frocks and
dlamondS and-and all the things
women like You win be ever no
happy. It's only just waiting little
whiie--a few weeks
She made no answer; n almost
seemed as II she had not heard.
Presently she asked him an irreie-
want question;
what have you done with my
marriage ccrtiflcatey-
III Is herein my pocket: n Il
quite safe with me-
He wondered IL she were going to
ask him for q: his heart beat ehok
ingiy In his throat.
He looked away from her towards
the tents and the crowd. and az he
looked he saw the deforrned figure
OF the hunchback si'houctted against
the yellow fsre~lights; he was com
Ing In their direction
Resale saw him. tco: she freed
herself from Rcrie's hands
That In Bunch: be II looking for
me I am doing an extra turn to
night Madame Renie n IN
Madame Rerss was the eQuextrt-
enne who nightly ambicd In on the
wide back OF the cream colored
horse
-wait . mcnert.s RDrss canghs
her fingers ~ she would have
turned away. -wm you see me
when you come outf ] win wait
here: please. RoszHey-
She looked mp into his face: she
did not answer his question
After . moment Il WONDER she
said. slowly. wonder.ngfy--I won
der why you married mer'
The simple question gave young
Briton n shock. He fen back q step
from her: he could find no words
with which 10 reply.
She hardly seemed to expect an
answer: she gathered the long drab
cloak more closely about her little
shivering figure-
1T wasn't--it want because you
even liked me- she said. as IL she
were stating fact. She paused a
moment. and then--"was it, she
asked. painfully.
Ror1s never forget that childish
question. He hated and cespsscd
himself. because he could not answcr
II. He felt as n he could have fallen
at her feet and humbiy asked her
pardon This poor little circus girl.
whose shabby shoes he knew he was
unworthy 10 kiss. But he aid no,
love her. and therein lay the differ.
encs. as II always viii. TIL the end
OF tlme' And even while he was
fighting the pity and remorse surg.
ing thru his heart. she turned and
ran from him thru the darkness.
He watched her slim silhouette
against the yellow light from the
booths and caravans. tin II was lost
In the shadows. tin burst OF thun.
derous applause from the great tent
announced her arrival In the ring.
As he turned TO Walk away. he saw
one Of the paper roses that had fai-
len from her dress lying at his fee,
In the mud: he stopped and picked II
up.
He knew That n would be 10 min
utes at least before she was free
again. He wished II might have been
10 times as long.
There was a broken fence border.
DB Wv tt't1 vi OttS tllf. ftOrIt
climbed 70 the top bar and sat down,
lighting a cigarct-
But the cigaret went out and ne
sat iisflessly twisting the sopcd pa.
per rose in his fingers. waiting and
thinking'
And his thoughts were not happy
ones. He knew that he had behaved
like brute: he knew how much he
had hurt the little girl whose worst
fault had been her trust and belief In
him; and with sudden incongruity his
own words. spoken TO old Fcrgerson
the afternoon Of the reading OF his
fathers first viii. flashed across his
mind: when I marry hope I
shah treat my wife better than my
father treated his:- and old Ferger.
.rus~ c~o-r ~S,uvuor- sr bnr.e vct,