The Times News

she told him. "Steve-I wish we could go on being friends again." "Do you mean that?" "Of course I do." "Then it's all over," Steve said eagerly, "I mean about these last few days. I've been nearly crazy, Gale. It's the first time we've ever quarreled and it'll be the last. I won't be such a fool again. Look -I brought you something—" He held out a package, a long white box. Gale took it, looking up in surprise. She untied the cord and drew off the cover. There were six pink rosebuds inside the box, lying on a bed of green. "Oh, Steve!" she exclaimed, "you shouldn't!" "I thought you'd like them." "I do like them-they're lovely, Steve! But you shouldn't have done it: you shouldn't have been so extravagant!' She lifted the roses and held them in her arms. The perfume of the flowers filled the room and their warm color seemed to bring a flush to the girl's cheeks. "They're not much," Steve said. "Not as pretty as you are, Gale. Not nearly. You ought to have flowers all the time. I wish I could buy them for you." She was smiling and yet, just for a moment, he thought there were tears in her eyes. "Why, Gale." he said, "what's the matter?" "Nothing. There's nothing the matter, Steve." The dark lashes were lowered so that he could not see her eyes. He went on them, "You said we could be friends again. Gale. Does that mean I still have a chance? That maybe some day—" She raised her eyes and met his over the roses. "Let's leave things as they have been for a while, Steve," she said. "Let's just be friends-at least for a while." There was a moment's pause and then she went on quickly. "Oh, but I must find something to put these flowers in. They ought to be in water!" She turned away to find a vase. Later Gale Henderson was never to see pink roses without a tightening about her heart. But that was much later after a great many things had happened. (To be continued) SHAWS CREEK SHAWS CREEK, Feb. 7.-Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Galloway announce the birth of a daughter born February 4. She will bear the name of Janice Raleigh. Rev. Eddy Liberman, a converted Jew from Mars Hill college. preached last Sunday night at the Shaws Creek Baptist church.