The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-10
-"PAPER ROSES"
By RUBY M. AYRES
.s.sess.ssesss All RIshts Reserved ,.............,

words which they had both. perhaps'
taken too hghtly-'"riil death US do
part"
And Il had come aiready--the dev.
astating presence OF the Man with
the Scythe. before either OF them
had tiwe to hear the rustic OF his
wings--even to speak their fare.
wells
They had parted--if not In anger.
at least with momentary diacord DO.
tween them. but II would not bear
thinking ot--that way madness lay.
lie looked up az young Rrlton with
bitter envy In his heart. This boy
was starting life and love afresh.
with wedding bells as yet unrung.
Whilst he-soon he would be turn.
lng away alone from tho grave that
held all his hopes.
lie spoke with sudden harsh
abruptness.
Resale Dean Is my daughter"
he said.
Unbrokcn silence followed Or.
Myers abrupt confession TO Roder.
lex Briton.
outside the window a shivsring
ivy bough tapped trcmhllngiy on the
Sass; the autumn wind sighed round
the house. The two small noises
sounded enormous thru the siieni
room whore tho two men faced each
other--the ono disbelievinx, tho
other with numbed indifference. In
tho face Of the tragedy that had be.
fallen him. nothing else seemed OF
much account 10 Eustace Myers.
ITS an old story-perhaps a
common one" he said presently. IN
a listless voice. II met Rosaile's
mother In my student days In Lon
don. She was q waitress IN 30.
herman cafe l used to frequent. She
was good girl. and-and i.
well II was one OF those infatuations
Of youth which 80 often bring dis.
aster In their train. married her.
but tired Of her almost at once. I
suppose let her see what I felt: at
any rate we quarreied and she left
me. When I next heard OF her
months aftcrwards-shs was dead.
That was all ever knew-perhaps
all I wanted TO know. Many times
since have heartily regretted thai,
I did not trouble to make deeper
inquiries"
Young Briton flushed sensitiveiy
There was a curious resemblance be
tween this old story and his own:
In his heart he thanked Providence
that Il was not yet too late for him
TO undo the past.
1T was a chance that discovered
about Rosaiie.- the doctor went on
slowly. There was q certain like
ness-the eyes. tho sniis--is woke
memories in my heart; and then one
DAY she told me about her mother.
She could not remember her, but
she had an old photograph and
ietfers--sufficient proof At all
events. II appears tina, she had
Joined . circus after she left me. Of
which the man sherney was the
manager. When she died he brought
Rosaiis up. The child has her birth
certificate. and . ring I gave her
mother
sav kuoNsl ashsu ktor1A
That she Il my daugh,sr-yes. =
DR.. Myers sighed. and leaned his
head YEARLY on his hands. Only last
night was II that he had hurried
back homo TO tell his wife the whole
story Of that youthful foiiyf II
seemed an eternity agoi
Young Briton stood looking down
into the fire: he was conscious of q
most absurd feeling OF jealousy. Ro-
sale was no longer the friendiess
Girl he had believed and almost
hoped that she wasl She was no
longer entirely dependent on him
for her happiness-this man was her
father. Was II not likely that. In thu
face Of his terrible bereavement. he
would turn instinctiveiy 10 her for
comfortY
Myers looked at him. and seemed
to guess what ne was thinking.
IF my wife-Brenda--had lived"
he said. speaking with difficulty.
II don't know what might have
happened. had some foolish idea
OF adopting Rosaiie before knew
the truth. Nov--weil. II seems out
OF the question. could not bear
her 10 be here with me. II Brendn
had known. II would have been DIFF.
ferent I can't explain myself--per.
haps you understand"
II wonder you can bear to speak
TO me-" said Roris. In muffief
voice. Indirectly. all this IN my
fault IT 81 goes back to my infer.