The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-11
PAPER ROSES"
By RUBY M. AYRES
eeessssss, All Rishts Reserved ,sseeseesssss.ss

are her only hold on nfe-remember
that.
Il am not likely 20 forget" said
young Brlton. Brave sounding
words. but long before he was back
again at Four Winds every ounce OF
courage had ooxed from his finger.
tips. Blunt found him whlte.faccd
and miserable. wandering about the
big house. and at once proceeded 20
administer brandy and advice.
Rorie was ashamed OF his coward.
ioc. he refused the brandy and man.
aged 20 laugh. Blunt was san.
guine soul. but even he permitted
himself . sorrowfui shake OF the
head ~ he watched his master drive
off along the Bedmund road for the
last time before the operation.
Blunt loved the Britons. good and
had alike. lie knew their history
from A TO u. and knew. too. that
they had all had illluck with their
wives. Roric's mother he could re
member. and he could not help won
dering II this only son Of that dis.
astrous marriage would be pursued
by his fathers ili.iuck.
All his life Rorie remembered that
last drive over to Bedmund: to his
overstrung Imagination II seemed ~
II Rosaiie's fate were already scaled.
tho he calamity tried 20 hide his
despair when he went In 70 her.
They talked very little: somehow
Rorie could find no words In which
to say the many things In his heart.
Only just 1T the iast. when Mrs.
Fowler knocked az the door and told
hun gently II was time he went
away. his young face bianched; his
hands frightened on the slim fingers
lying 40 contentediy In his clasp as
he broke out sgitatcdiy: -Ro.aiic.
you won't forget You promised 10
fight all you cantor my sake. I
shall be only just outside--waiting
to hear--ionging to hear. shall be
there every minute. you won't for.
set what you promised me. will
your"
she looked mp ss him with tender
eyea.
did I forget beforer' she ASKED.
mo. know: but ms different
now. Say Il agatn--my that you
promise to DO all you can. Oh. my
dear. II could only bear Il all for
you, I'd do u gladly. Rosalie; you
know that. don't your And we're
going to be 20 happy when It's all
over. We've only got to be brave
for little whiie-just = little while"
He made his broken appeal STAN
meringiy. Rosaiie freed her hands
from his. and. lifting them. clasped
them about his neck.
III have to break my promise
she sAid. with = little sob. ss he
bent his white face to hers. -it vii!
only BE- because I can't help IT, You
know that. don't your"
"And-snd-ycu do like me--just
fitfleY-
Il always did--from the very nrse
minute" she told him softly.
Rorie never closed his eyes that
night long before daylight he was
up and dressed and IN q fever Of
impafience to get over TO Bedmund.
He was not TO be allowed to zee
Rosalie again before the operation:
and afteruArds--he could only shud-
der a. he thought Of the Altar
wards.
Hours before the London surKson
wns expseted be vas haunting the
country road. pacing up and down.
always within sight and sound Of
the cottage. with the sheep-do
Scott trotting patiently At his heek.
When 1t last. after what seemed
an eternity. big car swept past
him along tie road. with DIR. Myers
and two strangers IN Il. Rodericx
felt as II someone had Just read his
death warrant
He leaned his elbows on the gate
Of . field skirting the cottage. and
hid his face In his hands
Scott pushed a cold. friendly nose
against his master. and graveiy of.
fered him shaggy paw.
Cheer up" he seemed 10 my. A.
he graveiy sat himself down at
Rorie's feet. Cheer up. I am here
on guardr'
But Oh! the eternity Of time! Mn.
Fowler slipped out once to give him
the little news there was.
1T can't be much longer" shs
said. hopefully. AZ she went quickly
away again. wondering = little at
the despair In Roric's face.
Rorie walked up the road again
past the cottage; the window OF the
room where Resale lay was open.
He thought he heard = moan a. he
passed, and stopped for an instant
with clenched fists and a racing