The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-24
"PAPER ROSES"
By RUBY M. AYRES

said. whimxicAfiy. And Rodorick
Ia q nice boy. I have great hopes of
him In the future
The conversation drtfted into other
channels: but later on In the even
ing. when old Fergeruon had re
turned TO London. and Brenda and
her husband wers having dinner to
sether. the doctor himseN again In
troduced the subject
-rcddy's getting quite ahscnt-
minded he actually let mo drive
him al the way To Bcdmund. and
then clean forgot TO 70 and sec his
cnent-whoever n was-After max.
Ing a special journey from London.
too
Rr-ndA looked up win sudden IN.
terest.
what did he DO, them
Nothing. We went into Mrs.
Fowier's together, and he taIted to
the little girl. and we came away
remembered when ". got lf.way
homo. but he wouldn't hear OF going
back again: said his business Was Of
no consequence"
I did Teddy talk to the gtrfr-
Bless your heart. yea They were
great friends. I left thcm together
while talked 10 Mira Fowler. Hs
says he shan 20 again.
Mrs Myers made no answ~r. She
Was thinking that perhaps. IN spite
Of everything. there might be sofps
truth In the story the under groom
had told TO her hcusemaid about
Roderiok's infatuatlon for the little
circus gtrl
IL there werc1but rcryerscn had
denied IL 20 ernphaticaily. she dis
missed the thought with q shrug.
II was late when Mr.. Ferwer-on
got back home. The bright, sunny
day had changed 10 n wet. chin even.
ms. lie was glad TO find a CHEEKY
fire In his study. and his slippers put
TO warm.
He fen very much worried and
pcrplcxed- He could not make up
his mind whether 10 tell Rodcrlck
that his wife was stiii living or not.
Hts mind was fined with arru.
mcnts for and against no doing. Rod
crfck did not love this girl. and II.
after an. she had got to dc. what
was tho use Of adding TO the breath
Of rumor that was already sfioa.
by dragging Rcderick back 20 the
scene Of his folly.
And yet. on the other hand. n TIE
girl loved him. ca old Ferr~rson fen
sure she did. II was hard II she were
TO be allowed 10 die without seeing
him again.
II was certainly q problem. and an
the harder inasmuch - Il appealed
20 Fergerson's kind heart rather
than TO hin shrewd head.
He sat back IN his deep chair ana
stared ~ the glowing fire with
frowntng brovp. Which vas the
right thing to dor The answer
seemed to rush IT him from an cor.
ners q The room: Tel him--seri
him"
But old r~yvrwUs henftated I'm.
q was wy vsfl he argued. but
he had nightmare vts1uns az the ~
turs vhaA. r Rodsrtck eprnfy
ACKNOWLEDGED hi vffe thers would
- trcubss and regrvtn. and . mutual
chatting Against ne bord which held
them together. and u abe wers 10
be--as EsstAos Myers had aid-an
invalid an her ME. what chanes Of
happine~s would there Be for efshw
Of thems
And then. - he at thers. trying
to determins which vas the best
thing 70 be- done young Brifon him
self was announced
He looked very big and handsome
As he came forward into the freight
"a little graver. . little older, par
haps-bus the derponden, X OF 70
morvs had vanished. a. old Ferrrr.
son had guessed II quickly would:
he shook hands. and sas down IN the
big chair By the fire. Hts first ques
ton was boyish and fnconsequene
Il want TO know n I can have
some money. Mr.. Fergerron--
There was little silence. Ola
rergerson thought Of the gfri he had
left 30 short . time ago. keeping her
secret with brave silence. even tho
her chiid-hcart might be breaking:
and . sort Of bitter resentment,
filled him ~ he looked at Rod
er4ck.
Rorss vas wearing . VIZ anarSiy.
cut coat and gray spats over his
patent boots. there vns certainty
black band on hs sleeve. and he
wore . black tie. but he hooked very
far from being In mourning. even
tho he had just lost the two who,
by all the laws Of nature. should
have been his nearest and deareaf-