ROSE-MARIE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 6

ROSE-MARIE

A HYPHENATED ROMANCE

(By AVi.)

Faith moves mountains, Love rules ihe world, and Money makes tho maro go. So by these tokens do kingdoms rise and fall, men fight and women weep, Chancellors lie. Labour agitators thrivo, corporation:! dispnnso dividends, schlinlors crook the betting odds, Socialists gnash their teolh, and politicians perform on th« tiglit-ropo.

Now let us get on with the hyphen. The etui's in their courses ordained that I'rivato William Farjeoii. of the Ninth Reinforcements, should fall in love before he went to the war. .Hc-r name was Rose. William iirst mot tier in tho clandestine gloom of a picture'theatre. Stumbling iu from the bright sunshine of the world without, he veiy nearly sat. on her lap. She was so nico about it when ho apologised that ho sat down 'beside her, bought her a box of chocolates, ivul (.-lulled to her as if ho had known her all his life.

'Villi? in war-time doth Uoniance lake root and flourish. As William had just sold his farm ho had money to burn, and Cupid whooped up the enchantment in huge stacks. The eyes of Rose became as the stars that shine, her hair the gossamer of Titania, her teeth—hut enough. William was gone a million. The fragrance of orange blossoms was in the air. It filled his nostrils, permeated his being, and unbalanced his brain in drunken ecstasy.

And what of TJ-ose? She was poor, she wan an orphan, but she loved. What nioro could William want? Or fee? Before he sailed Private William Farjeon, of the Ninth Reinforcements, had sworn by all tho tokens in sight, in tho books, and everywhere else, that when, ho came back he would many Hose, and to help her to stock up the bottom drawer had allotted her part of his pay. Cupid, satisfied that the situation had nothing new to offer him, restrung his bow, selected anothenjarrow,, and disappeared round the coiner. Sergeant Thomas Piper, of the Tenth Reinforcements, loved Marie., It happened this way. Ho went into a marble bar, crystal lounge, or whatever you call those places, to get a drink. The place was full. livery table was occupied, everv chair—stay! In the far corner, at a table built for two, sat Mario, all alone. What else was Thomas to do? He sat down at Marie's table, and apologised for intruding ilpon her solitude. She was so nice about it thatwell, why tell the story of Private William Farjeon all over again? Before Thomas sailed, he too had sworn to be' true, to come back—if it so bo he could—and, in blissful alliteration, marry Marie. In token of serious purpose, and by way of contribution to tho bottom drawer, ho too allotted a portion of his pay to her, for, as was said of Pose, so with Marie. She was poor, she was an orphan, but she loved. And Cupid, turning Catherine wheels, disappeared round tho corner in acarch of fresh victims. Whether ho found them or whether ho didn't matters not. Two victims—l mean heroes—are quite enough for ono story. And two heroines aro ono too many. However— When the hospital ship reached Dnnedin, Private William Farjeoii, certified as unlit for further military service, sent a wire to his Pose, tolling her that if she went down to tho wharf at Wellington on a certain date she would seo her William, and Sergeant Thomas Piper, returning with a crippled foot, but otherwise well and happy, telegraphed something to tho saino effect to his Marie. Thomas, in a moment of inspiration, added: "Journeys end in lovers' meetings." . Two days later tho ship came slowly up to her berth at tho icing's Wharf, and tiro pairs of eager eyes scanned tho sea of faces that. ga.7,ed up at them. Alas for William, and alas for Thomas! For one there was no Rose; for tho other, no llario!

Private William and Sergeant Thomas, thus blighted in their anticipations, sought solace together—they worn bosom friends of tho voyago out—and after getting ashore drifted into a tea shop. As they entered tho door a girl came out. "Pose!" "Mario!"

Tho girl stopped, and gasped. On ono sido was Private William Farjeou, holding out his left hand, and on tho other was Sergeant William Piper, switching a look of blank amazement from the girl to his friond, and back again. Then a blind terror seized her. "I-I-don't know you," she 6tammered, a-nd fled. "\Villiam," said tho Sergeant, with a mirthless smile, "Itose-Mariu has done us in." Tho other nodded, grimly. "Onco more the boob and the gold brick," said he. "Let's go and have somo tea." That's all. Eh? Of courso it's true. Many hyphenated Pose-Maries who havo been luxuriating on khaki allotments tako the morning air on the Quay. Of ono of them it was said that she had been living on the income of three allotments and ono pension! Why doesn't tho Government stop it? Well, it's trying to, but these daughters of Evo aro very subtle. The Government now makes both parties to the allotmont declaration sign a form, and so converts mere shameless fleecing into a serious crime.