The Washington times., 1925-11-17

BEATRTC
she reached the street Flossie
was nowhere In sight.
We'll, she really may have
had some errands to do" thought
Mary Rose as she began her long
walk home through the violet
twilight.
Spring Jagged last year, If you
remember, and the April evening
was cold. But there were tiny
leaves on the trees and the air
smelled fresh and fragrant.
AS the girl walked along she
forgot about F'lossie Her thoughts
turned toward John Manners.
Maybe It's only the stir Of
spring makes me feel this way
about him. she told herself,
remembering line in the old
brown Tennyson on the living
room table at home.
''In the spring q young mans
fancy lightly turns to thoughts or
love-" it read.
mine, too. perhaps" thought
Mary Rose Middleton. But deep
down within her heart she knew
that her love for Manners had
nothing TO do with spring. She
knew It was going to last through
all her springtimes, and all her
winters too.
She was sure It was ''for keeps"
ST suppose it ought to make
me happy but 1t doesn't" she
went on to herself. ''It can't
make you happy to love a man
who looks at you as IL you were
49, all
And then: IF can't marry
him, / shall never marry any
b0dyr'
That brought her around to
the question of Tom Fitzroy-
Tom, who had asked her to
marry him only a week ago.
i She was still thinking about
him when she turned the corner
Of G. street and all but bumped
into him. At the sight Of her, he
turned q bright shade Of pink,
and grfnned, showing a mouthful
Of handsome teeth. But he seemed
to have lost his voice.
Hello. Thomas! How's the
busy doctor?" Mary Rose saluted
him.
In his own mind, Tom Fitzroy
knew himself for the desirable
and attractive young bachelor he
was. His father was the most
popular doctor In Washington,
and at thirty, Tom bade fair to
follow in his footsteps. His
patients liked him tremendously.
But with Mary Rose, Tom was
like a bashful schoolboy. He
stammered a little now as he
spoke to her.
my stink-wheel's parked
he said, Take you home?
Mary Rose shook her head.
"No thanks, it's only a STEP"
she answered, smiling at him with
the sweetness that was natural
to her.
went on; Come to see you to-
night?"
Mary Rose hesitated. She
hated to hurt Toms feelings.
But she didn't want to see him
tonight. She wanted to be alone
after the racket Of the day-tc
think about John Manners.
And, anyway, was 1t fair to
lead Tom on, when she knew
she could never really care about
him?
mot tonight, Tom. I'm awfully
tired" she said, and went past
him.
He stood watching her until
she disappeared into the deepen
ing dusk OF G street. Then he
kicked a tree-box with such vigor
that his foot was numb for min
utes afterward.
"Oh. lord, l always lose out
with he-w he remarked aloud
and bitterly.
Ha had hung around that
corner since shutdown waiting for
her. when he should have been
making rounds with his father at
the hospital.
He burned up the road or his
way there now.
Mary Rose opened the gate and
went around to the back OF the
house. In the warm, bright
kitchen, her mother was stand
ing at the stove, tasting some
thing. She turned, spoon In
hand, do the girl opened the door.
Where's Flossis?" she asked
anxiously. Didn't she come
home with your"
Mary Rose bent to kiss the
troubled forehead before she
answered. NO." she said, but
she'll be along soon. You didn't
ask her to do any errands. by
any chance. did your"
Mrs. Middleton shook her head.
Her frown deepened.
mo, didn't" she said fret
fully. II. suppose she's some
Whare or other with that Young