Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-28
Mystery of the
Black Roses
e.-s.s..s-s.-ss..s-'
By ANNA MCCLURE SHOLL

L room had been relieved by hang
ings Of ancient tapestry where was
portrayed in dim green tints, as of
sea depths, the story of Circe.
In high carved armchair by the
open wood fire woman sat, listening
and waiting.
They had lived In the villa already
three months, she and her husband,
yet in that time they had visited the
beautiful city but once, He was alb
sorbed In his chemical experiments
and she was absorbed in him.
She heard his step now in the cor
ridor, and her heart leaped with ex-
pectancy.
For moment she could not see
what he carried in his arms, but she
OWNED from his air of exaltation that
his latest experiment had been sue
cessful AS she crossed the room,
graceful figure In her long white dra-
perles, he held out to her his precious
burden, twelve coal-black roses. She
gave a cry Of delight.
"Oh, how beautiful Basil, how did
you do itT'
He smiled as he watched her caress
the ebony petals with her white finger
tips and brush their soft blackness
against the pale oval Of her cheek
THAT I cAnnot tell any one--even
you'll You wished for a black rose.
Your husband Ii a magician he went
on playfully, "and you have your
hearts desirel"
She sank into the armchair by the
fire, the roses On her lep, a dark mass
against the delicate ttssdes of her robe.
what are they likef" she cried,
holding one against her face. ",They
are witch flowers now, uncanny mid
night things. Ali I know. They are
like the soul of tucrezia Borgla."
Her husband adjusted the black fur
mantle about her shoulders.
mo, no, you must not call them
ugly names sweetheart, fQr I mean
them to peraopify you. You are
dark rose-~ith yodr midnight hair
and eyes"
"Du Dist vie cine Blume'f Ab, the
poet never thought Of such flower,
Pm sure. They msnamed me who
called mo Rosamond. But tell me,
BASIL did you have to mingle a great
many poisons to produce this effect"
"Yes, great many. But they have
-annulled each other, though they de-
stroyed the rose perfume In the proc
ess."
1.-THE loss is slight. l love them,
these black roses. they fasclnate me.
Suppose l should decorate the way
side shrine with them at the garden
gatei"
"The peasants would stone you for
a witch, / fear. No, Rosamond, keep
them in your bed chamber"
81 shall put them by my bed now
and ring Santuzza to take away these
other flowers. want my black roses
to reign alone"
She crossed the room and from an
inlaid cabinet took out Enthusiastically
carved vase Of rich green malachite.
In this she arranged the roses.
"How heavy they arel One would
think they were overburdened. How
well they suit the vase They shall
give me rare dreams You are not
going back to the laboratory? 1t IL
past midnight Isn't this achievement
enough for one day."
Dearest, have another experiment
still uHcompleted Go to your rest and
dream of your roses"
lie kissed her and went away, his
footsteps echoing along the stone cor
ridors that led to the laboratory. She
stretched herself upon the bed and lay
for long time between sleeping and
waking, the light from swinging
lamp falling across her face, one heavy
black rose just brushing the pure
wilderness of her cheek.
Her husband worked In his labora-
tory until the morning sun was gliding
the domes and towers Of Florence.
Tired out at last by prolonged and
unsuccessful experiment, he left his
work to go to his bedroom. As he
passed his wlfe's room he saw that
the door was ajar He reached out n
hand to close 1t, lest the morning
sounds through the house should dis
turb her; but In the act he caught n
glimpse of something by her bed which
made him turn faint. The roses in the
malachite vase had become white
again, and were cleaning ghostly in
the pale radiance Of the swinging
lamp. Knowing the nature Of the poi
sons lmprisoned-he had thought for
ever-In the black roses, a terrible
fear possessed him, In making their
escape from those petals, now Of In
nocent pallor, where had they gomez
"Rosamond! His voice shook as
he called her name.
There was no answer.
"Rosamond Rosamondw
His tones were now loud and terri |
fed. No answer came from the dark |
shadow of the bed He drew nearer, |
cold with apprehension. Something
very black was outlined against the
wilderness of the linen. A great hor-
ror slckened him. For an instant he
paused, shaking as with ague. He
dared not go nearer, dared not look.
What was this In the bed By su-
preme effort he reached the window
curtain and pulled It aside. The morn
ing light streamed In, revealing the
form OF his wife, quite dead, and black
a.