Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1912 — Gift of the Groom [ARTICLE]

Gift of the Groom

By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON

(Copyright, igii, by AstocUtad Literary Press)

Eric Prescott stood at the window 'of his little real estate office In Ford’port. He had opened It In the fall land now it was spring. .■ ir /' He looked at the landscape complacently well pleased with himself fc* various reasons. In the first plaoe, coining from the south, he had shivered and shaken all the cold northern winter; but the warm May weather suited him. The freshness of the little yellowish green Heaves, the smell of the lilacs and the songs of the birds made Fordport more like home. Another reason for his felicity was the little office and the row of six nearly completed frame houses half a ’block down the street. He could see jthe latter from his window. The outslde work had been done before the i rough weather and the inside during the winter months. Nothing remained to be done but the trimming, paving and one extra coat of paint on each. Eric Prescott was engaged to be 'married to Rose Marshall, the belle or jFordport When he had settled In ’the village eight months before Rose 'was engaged to marry Tom Lyle. The minute be saw Rose, Eric made jup his mind to have her. The fact ’that she was engaged to Tom Lyle was nothing to him. , Few girls would have been proof ;against the siege he immediately laid to Rose’s favor. His southern accent iand excellent taste in clothes, which jset off his tall slender figure, made ihlm favorite with all women. - Eric showered gifts of candy, roses, books and music on Rose, who refused them-all at first-then accepted a few flowers reluctantly and finally, overwhelmed with many attentions, succumbed completely. Then she and Tom quarreled and that was exactly {what Eric wanted. They were soon ; engaged and Rose was seemingly happy. She was the envy of all the Fordport girls. The comer house in* the row was to jbe hers when they were married. {Eric gave her to understand that before she had accepted him. She joked much as she loved Eric. The house began to look different {from the others in the row. The ■porch was extended ground the side •and made two feet wider than the other porches. —-• v-—-i Rose,, busy with her trousseau, appeared to be very happy and the wediting was a month away. She seldom *aw Tom Lyle. He ~ was spending most of his time now at the farm a half mile from the village. She congratulated herself that she had escaped a life of monotony in the country. Town life suited her. One day she met Tom driving two strange men toward the farm. He seemed to be explaining’ something to them and merely nodded at Rose. She went home thoughtfully. He evidently was not unhappy.

The day following this meeting with Rose, Tom hitched his little black mare to the runabout and drove over to see his chief councilor and confessor, Aunt Polly Goodwin. She was taking a “nap” in her sitting room when Tom drove in at the gate “What news, Tommy? Sit right 4own here: "TJCw tdlT There much coal on the farm?" “Yes, Aunt Polly, acres of it they say. Congratulate me. I am a rich ■man.” “Bless your heart, Tommy," said the old lady, wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron. “I am so glad, so.glad for you." “Thanks, Aunt Polly, but riches do me little good now." The old lady looked at Tom keenly. “If you don't mind me mentioning It, Tom, I have been doing a little thinking lately, since you talked of finding coal. May I suggest a little plan? You used to take my advice." “Fire away, auntie, that’s what 1 came for.” “Well, it is this way. I hate to see a fine girl like Rose Marshall throw herself away on that southern dude, and ruin her life at the same time. Her heart is in the right place, but tier head has boon turned by Prescott’s attentions and his house. Now that you have some money—" “Money!” he interrupted impatiently. "if you mean that Rose will marry me now that I am rich—” "Hush, Tom!” she said softly. “Now listen to me. Rose is not to know a rword- about your good luck. Neither Ss anyone in town to know it for a little while. This is my plan." ‘ Tom left a half hour later thinking ,-what a wonder Adfat Polly was and •with a determined set to his lips bod■ing good or 111 for'someone. One day, a week or so before the wedding, Rose stopped in to see Eric at bis office. *Tve come to ask about the window .Beat in the dining-room, Eric," she explained after he had kissed her. “I do inot want It varnished. Did you tell i Simmons?” : Erie looked uncomfortable for a minute, then walked to the window aad looked over at the house. "Do you like the place so well, Rose?" f -I love ft. Wbyr • ‘ "I have last cold it" * "You whatr •*g o jd it" "That house! Our house! >Une!

Rose sank into a chair, white and Bhaking. “Please explain." He turned quickly. “I had too good an offer to refuse. A firm In the city offered me ten thousand for It and wanted an Immediate answer. You were In Foxburg yesterday and I could not wait to ask you. So I wired ‘Yes.’ You didn’t care so much as that for the house, did you? We can put up another.” She rose unsteadily, the tears starting to her eyes. “I must think It all over, Eric. I am a little upset. Goodby.” Alone In her room, Rose began to think as she had not done for months. The sale of the house, bis wedding gift to her, had given her a sudden Jolt. But after all a house is only a house, her common sense kept telling her. She must do nothing for which she would be sorry. But something was wrong with her. All her feeling for Eric seemed dead. Surely his thoughtlessness could not kill real love so easily. Rose sat and thought It all out. Then she realized for the first time that her feeling for the southerner was not love at all. thinking of Tom. “Ob, what have 1 done?” she moaned. “I have spoiled -his l.’fe and mine, but I would rather live in a cave with him than in a palace with Eric.” In the morning she awoke clearheaded and courageous. Before she dressed she wrote two notes, one to Eric breaking the engagement, and a very short one to Tom, merely asking him to come to see her as she had something to explain. Tom went to Rose’s house. He had not been surprised to get the note. Rose, trying to look matter-of-fact and dignified, met him at the door. And Tom pretended not to notice her burning cheeks and eyes which threatened to run over. “I will just keep you a minute, Tom,” she said simply, “but I wanted you to know something. It Is due you. You were entirely In the right when we quarreled and lam very sorry, i And another thing—” She stopped suddenly, then caught her breath and the color left her taue. “I have broken my engagement to Mr. Prescott I tnink you should be the first one to know It. I discovered quite accidentally that I did not love him. That Is all, Tom,” she said, rising and holding out her hand with a smile, “except that mother and I are going away tomorrow for a month or two and I will say good-by. Do say I am forgiven. I would feel better about it, you know.” Tom looked at her steadily, then took her little pink hand in his. Slowly he reached for the other and got it. “Rose!” Rose dropped her eyes and turned crimson again. “Rose, do you love me?” No answer. “Tell me. Do you love me?” —“Yes, Tom/’ ahnost inaudlbiy. He gathered her In his arms and kissed her. “Dearest,” he said a little later. “1, too, have something 1 must get off my mind. I thought I would beat "TSFfgrat~firs own gam?. ’•Airs nor nr love and war,’ he used to say, and so it is." Rose looked startled. He went on. “Did Eric tell you he had sold the house?” “Yes.” “Well—l bought It. The farm has valuable coal on it. Rose, and I sold the rights. No one knows it, but 1 am rich now. 1 bad an idea you did not love Eric Prescott and 1 determined to try him, too. I got an uncle of mine to make an offer for the house to see if he would sell It. Prescott sent the answer by wire in less than five minutes. Now am I forgiven, dear? The house is still yours, you know.” ’ ’ Rose put her arms around his neck. ( “You are a dear, but I would rather live in the country.” she said.