The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1927-06-11
A Few Roses, More
or Less
BY cLARISSA MACKIE
tcOpyrIghtl

blue eyes were Dlue, ana as True az
loves own flower.
AS she reached the bottom of the
stairs, Gerald bent to kiss her fin
gers with a gallant foreign gesture
that amused and pleased her at the
same time. Tabitha was sure that he
had come to propose to her again. He
followed her into the drawing room,
where vases and bowls were filled
with American Beauty roses. Tabitha
took the largest vase In her arms. Her
lips touched the roses.
"You dear things" she whispered,
then to Lang. Did you send them,
GerryT
He nodded.
your birthday-two for every
year" His dark eyes sought her face
eagerly-for something-he scarcely
knew what.
She was counting the roses Forty
eighth she sighed
Gerry looked uncomfortable. Per
haps there should have been more"
he hesitated.
There are too manyl" she smiled
brilIiantly-a dazzle of blue-graE eyes
reproached him, ridiculed him.
"Does it matter. Tabitha. a few
roses more or less?"
'It matters a great deal; l am only
eighteen today, Gerry. With two roses
for every year, three dozen would be
just right"
His gaze crystallized on her eyes,
more gray now than blue. and rather
cold and hard. "Six years ago when
/ was last home" he said coldly, you
were eighteen, but I am poor mathe-
matician, Tabitha."
"RatherI"
Tabitha rang for servant and
ruthlessly pulling out a dozen Of the
roses, ordered them to be thrown out,
and when the man had gone, she
turned to Gerald. Nov l am happy
with your roses Gerryl"
81 am glad you are happy, Tabitha,"
and his voice changed Il have come
to make my adieux. Tabitha-I am
joining the Blizen exploration party
after ALL"
Into AsiaT' she faltered.
She was pale now and not so pretty.
She had been sure old Gerry was 20
ing to propose-she wondered why he
had not.
He said good-by and went. and for
got to kiss her hands. He had first
refused to Join the expedition because
he had resolved to marry Tabitha-
but now, things were changed Tabitha
had had birthday-she had lied to
him, and no Lang Of Lang's End had
ever welded a deceitful woman, or
one who wasted precious roses.
Twenty years afterward he came
home from Asia, a lean, silent brown
man Of fifty. One Of the first things
he did was to order roses for Tabltha.
She had never married, and he won
dered why. If never occurred to him
that she could care. after all.
She came to him under softly shaded
lights. looking not year over twenty
four.
HAS time stood still?'' he inquired,
and he felt the old thrill at touch of
her hand.
She smiled and shook her head.
Does il ever? ] am having another
birthday. Gerald-must you always
come on anniversaries"
"They are anniversaries for me-
too" he retorted.
They talked about some amazing
discoveries he had made in Tibet. and
he had brought her a small ornament
of milky-white jade. For your birth
day." he said.
And my roses2 You see / am
spoiled"
Il believe Jenkins is bringing them
now" said Lang.
Tabitha was counting roses again,
and he saw her reach out with a
handful for Jenkins, but Gerald's long
arm interposed and he squeezed these
flowers in with the others.
"Tabitha." said Gerald firmly, 81
came home to marry you If you would
accept me-you know 7 love you-and
we have wasted twenty years-if you
are forty-eight years old, want to
marry you"
Tabitha grew very pink indeed
tears came into her lovely gray-blue
eyes, IF you should hold my hands,
Gerry" she whispered. ut would help
lot r.
His hands swiftly sought and found
hers. so small and so warm. He held
them tightly. Does ID matter-these
years, love-if you feel young-and
your heart Is young enough to love me
as of old?" he murmured
She leaned toward him. fIuttering
foolish Tabitha, who had been so ten
der Of her years. "Ah. Gerry. darling
If l had known-if had only known, n
she whispered contritely. But have
suffered. dear. suffered in the waiting
for you-take me quickly. Gerry, 80
that I can 60 away with you on your
next voyage"
There win be no next voyage for
me-" declared Gerald happily-aonly
our wedding trip, II you wish to &c
a-sailing somewhere. my Tabitha r.
Her face was very close to his. end
her deep eyes were shining with love
"Ah. Gerry" she whispered, asny.
where-with you-wiu be heaven to
me"
And then Gerald was quite sure.