Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-05-03
Red Roses for
Miss Nancy
BY JANE OSBORN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Copyrightl

M/ilEN NuhCy Nluli Sh'Sicu iva
w little apartment that afternoon
after the days work was done she
saw two impresslve-looking packages
lying on the day bed where the jan
itress had put them.
Nancy opened the long box and
found red roses. She counted two
dozen of them and buried her face
In their fragrance with sigh of
sweet content Their she hurriedly
opened the other packages very neat
ly wrapped and tied. There were
three darkly bound books and a num-
Der of pamphlets and circulars.
"Studies In Family Budgets" was the
name of one of the books. And an
other was n large volume on dietetlcs.
One of the thicker pamphlets eX-
planned the intricacles of household
account keeping There were adver-
tisements of vacuum cleaners, cleo
trio washers and electric refrigerators
and book called Successful Mar
rIage," or something of the sort.
Henry had told Nancy that he had
some such collection of books and
pamphlets the night before after he
had proposed and she had told him
that she would be his wife. Nancy as
sured herself that she really was
glad that Henry was taking such
practical attitude toward their COM
ing marriage, but her face was flushed
with mingled embarrassment and dis
appointment at the sight of these
books and pamphlets sent so promptly
after the plightlng Of their troth. 81
may not have an unusually large sal
ary," he told her. "but | have studied
the marriage proposition pretty well
and know can make any girl hap
by. Most first quarrels are due to
money matters. Well, we can't pos
sibly have any trouble there, because
I'll give you certain amount to
spend on everything and all you have
to do is to follow the schedule"
When Nancy's glance wandered
from the books to the red roses she
was happy. They convinced her that
though Henry had shown none Of the
gratitude and Joy that she had eX-
pected when she accepted his pro-
posal, after all he had felt It, and he
had sent those red roses to her to
tell her what he hadn't dared to say.
Casually she opened the envelope
that was pinned to the ribbon tied
round the flowers. Hurrledly she
read:
"Dear Nancy:
"Henry told me the glad tidings
and I'm sure he won't object to my
sending you flowers now that the
game is up. Here's good luck to both
and don't forget your old friend,
GRAHAM OTIS"
Nancy's eyes brimmed with tears.
SO Henry had spared no time in tell
| ing Graham and yet the night before
when Henry had explained his attl
tude regarding engagement rings they
| had agreed that no announcement
should be made of the engagement
until shortly before their marriage.
| Henry had actually convinced Nancy
that the money that might have been
spent for the ring had better be add
ed to his savings account Nancy lift
ed the books and pamphlets in their
wrapping paper and none too gently
showed them under the day bed. She
put the flowers In water and sat
| feasting her eyes upon them. Then
her telephone rang and Nancy lifted
the receiver eagerly to her ear.
"Ths Is Graham Otis, Nancy"
Al. T.. l. -
| luandary, Nancy, and I think maybe
you can help me out Could you meet
me somewhere so we could have bit
Of a TALK"
Nancy's heart was beating disturb
| ingly fast The very tone OF his
voice over the telephone seemed to
thrill her. 1--WE can talk best here in
my little apartment" she told him. 81
know never asked you to come here
befOre-but things are little DIFF
ferent now"
Then before a half hour had passed
Graham was sitting easily at Nancy's
side.
Nancy, my dear" he said, ~
wouldn't for the world do anything to
spoil your happiness | swear to you
| that when | sent those roses had no
Idea Of talking to you as ! am going
to now. Henry telephOned me this
morning to tell me that you and he
were engaged. We CHANGED 10 meet
each other at luncheon time and |
took him to my club. Henry talked
about his plans. Nancy, | don't want
to be a cad but could have knocked
him down for some Of the things he
said. He boosted Of his financial
plans His idea Is to make you think
his income is precisely half what It
really Is. That will give him a chance
to pay allmony without troubling you
about it-and will leave quite a little
for himself besides"
Nancy looked at Graham blankly
at first and then with a note Of I'M
Outstanding.
81 didn't know Henry had been
married before" she said at length.
"FrOm what he said gathered that
you didn't. I'd have no right to press
my suit after he'd got your promise,
only he's treated you unfairly. I'd
feel blackguard all my life II
hadn't told you and you had been I'M
happy"
~ knew when ! saw the roses"
said Nancy, shat had never really
loved Henry"
"rhen, Nancy, dear, viii you give
me a chance to get you TO love me
lnsteadf I've precious little to offer
but anyway ! want you to know"
And Nancy know then what the
real message Of the r"gcs haI been.