Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-11-19
1y.-TuE WILD WHITE ROSE.

iv.-THE WILD WHITE ROSE.
One bright July morning-it was
AIDES birthday, and she was seventeen
years old. Nicholas Drew was hard at
work on new plate of st. Servin's alb
bey,' ruin near the river, while the
young girl was chirping little French
song, when stranger appeared in the
| court below, and was heard TO ask If
Drew, the engraver, lived there. One
of the children poin ed to the stairs, and
the individual assembled and came in
Nicholas took off his spectacles, and
pushed a chair over to the visitor, whom
he supposed to be one of those curious
persons who were in tie habit of com
ing to see his pictures, and ofgoing away
without purchasing any. His action
was not very courteous, for he begrudg-
ed sorely the time taken from his work.
The young man quickly undeceived him
however, by stating that he was himself
an engraver on wood, and that he wish
cd to learn the art of etching on copper
from Nicholas, of whose skill he had
heard in London, through a dealer i'll
prints who possessed some ofhis works.
Flattered and gratifed that pupil from
so great a distance had been attracted
to Eversley by the reputation of his
genius, the old man gave him cordial
welcome, and pr missed to render him
the instruction he required.
They sat conversing together long
time about their art, and Adie with a
bit of work for appearance sake, drew
near to listen. The stranger-Laurence
ltoyston was his name-had taken a
seat with his back to the doorway, and
though apparently quite intent on all
Nicholas said, he still had time to steal
many chances at the bright face by the
old mans shoulder. At first sight Roys-
toms countenance struck you as hand
some; at the second, it pleased less, and
at the third, it's cold, Pickering eye and
sinister mouth were the most prominent
traits. His features were clear but
sharp; his forehead high, bony, and pale,
with tawpy hair-golden, rs the sun
shone through it here he sat-waving
loosely above il. His figure was tall,
but slenderly built, and clad in long
olive coat with much embroidery on the
seams and flaps. In his left hand, the
thin fingers of which opened and con-
II acted with nervous movement, he
held wild white rose-gathered, per-
haps, at the roadside as he came to the
town, for he said that his lodging was
at Crossley, a village two miles off; his
ii, 1T hand he kept buried in the breast
al MS waistcoat. But his voice was
the most peculiar thing about him-a
itlse voice it might be called: for tho
n and softly modula' cd as flute, it
not seem to come direct from the
of his thoughts; but to make many
,'..' = turns by the way, lest it should
express too much.
abe, moved by curiosity, tried more
than once to get fair look at the
strangers face, but She was always
bafiied by meeting bis eye the moment
she lifted hers f,om her needle; being
caught i'll the act, she blushed, ard he
Involuntary smiled, at which she blush
ed the more, and finally got up and
changed her seat for one by the further
window. Laurence Royston, as if to
avoid the hot sun shine, Immediately
twisted his chair around, by which
without its appearing intentional, he
still faced her, and thus checked her
scrutiny. Adie seemed not to observe
his movement; but he saw by the quly-
ering of her lips and the dancing radi-
ance in her eyes that she was laughing
to herself; and secretly annoyed at such
miTth where he would rather have made
n grave impression; he said to Nicholas,
"Y our daughter is not used to so much
solemn discourse, ] think, Master Drew.
She looks anything but well entertain
ed"
The engravcr lifted mp his shrewd
face and glanced at Adie. ''lf you
are tired OF our talk, child, get away
to your birds or your flowers" said he
gently. Il dare say it is often dull
for her up here in Nevis Court, sir
but she pretends she likes it for my
sake"
II am not dull anywhere: you ought
to know ! am not. GrizYie,' tctorted
Adie coming quickly behind the old
man, and standing by him with her
hand on hisShoulder Il am as happy
as the sulnmer-day is long, and all
! through You. | was laughing just now
at my own thoughts; my thoughts are
/ strange sometimes. so strange: they
make me laugh whether would or no. -
"This white rose for the fancy that
made you smile by the window five
minutes ago" cried Lawrence Royston,
offering the flower. Adie flushed and
hesitated.
"What was it, child:" asked Nicho-
las ''somc mi>chevious freak either
planned or remembered"
"Neither, Grizzic: il was-No, | can
not tell YOU what il was" She glanced
with some confusion at the stranger,
and would have moved away, but Mich
| olas held her fast by tl.e arm, and de
manded what she meant by calling him
'Grizzie," 80 irreverently before visit
ors. She gave him the gentlest posi-,
Bile pull by the beard. and ran off laugh
ing saucily. The old man shook his
Lad, and made sort of half-apoloy,
/ for Aides wiidnesS, and then resumed
his discourse anent his art, which Lau-
reuce Royston found infinitely less inter
! ing than before. He could not help
.dering where the girl was gone, aud
thei she would return before he went
an4y. His eyes turned frequently to
.Ac amer door by which She had escap-
ed, and he put off his departure from
moment to moment an;ii another houl
| had elapsed. He then rose 20 90 in ear
nest; and while Nicholas and he We're
exchanging last words, the quick step
and lifting voice of Adie made them
selves heard. She came in. evidently
expecting that the stranger had left; for