The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-29


above.
"wen, will take you at your wori," said
Rose. 81 want you to give me up, Fred, and
break of the marriage. Come, now, arc You
good enough old fellow for that /" very coaKingly.
"Break of the marriage, Rosel" cried Fred,
all in amaze. "Are you dreaming"
"Not bit Of it, she answered, laughing a lit
tie Historically "quite serious and wide awake"
"But cannot give you up, Rose" said Fred
"My mother has set her heart on the marriage
ana il Is so near, too, now and do love yOu-a
great deal more than have said or shown," he
ADDED, stirred out OF his aiIeCtaion. "Nou know,
Rose, how hate the idea Of sentimentaIity or
spOOncyism with any one; and have fought OIL
that as long and a. well AS / could. But am
not the indifferent beast you may think me. do
love you, Rose, and l cannot give you no"
She had lurned quite pale during her l)ver's
speech "Well Fred, she then said of cOu Sc
| am very much obliged to You, and all that; but
! have not been PLAYING part, and do not feel
bit more than l have shown; so that we are
not on equal terms, II yOu love me as deeply as
you say and / am sinply in the old way Of
good fellowship. Mind that, and never reproach
me hereafter; for / have told you tho truth,
remember. And as for your lady mother d0n't
think she will make much objection when she
knows all, because, dear old Fred | am rIined."
Good God, Rose" cried Frcd "whlt on
earth DO you mean 2"
"WcIl YOU know / have been going in for
specu.ating; and 30 Mr.. Norton came down 90 tell
me to-day that all my great expectations are
come 10 nothing the Bella JuanItt mines are
drowned and have not what will realilctSo
hundred year instead OF two thousand. And
81 l think the question Of Mrs. WhithclIs CON
sent J., settled, is it not !"
"NOw, then, Rose, will not give you up for
any one in the world" said Fred in Il deep voice.
my mother may say what she likes, and You
may say what yOu lIkC-the marriage shall 20
on this day week you are my wife, come what
may never felt how much loved you before
to-day, Rose, when there has been just a chance
Of losing you
But If don't want to marry you. Fred"
urged Rose, touched, in spite Of herself by the
unusual warmth and Ghiyalry OF the man
ooh, bOsh Z" said Fred "IOu are not the girl
to have been engaged for three months content
edly enough, and turn round Just al the last
moment, and say You don't care for the fellow.
| quite understand you, Rose, dear old lasse
Nuuthink that my mother will not like the match
so much now as when you had money, and that
you ure not the catch you were before you had
LOST it and 50 you thought you would role use me.
Bu; will not be released Rosey, and so I'll tell
my mother when she speaks 10 me about it, Il she
takes that tone at ALL
Upon which Rose did what was most extra
ordinary thing in her to dO-what Fred had
never before the slightest inclination in her
| towards him-she flung her arms round his neck
and kissed him; and then burst into violent
| flood of tears, which soon passed into Mysteries
| when she was obliged to call the servants and
| Harvey Wynn.
So now the whole thing came out, both TO Mrs
| Whitfield and to Harvey Fred had no idea OF
making mysteries aud keeping secrets unneCessa-
| rily but he noticed two things as the result of
his communication, that his mother looked de-
cidedly displeasod, aud as if she had made upher
mind in different direction to his aud, perhaps,
| with more stability and that Harvey, whose face
| had lighted up with strange passion, suddenly
| burnt himself out and became cold, and ashen,
| and "odd." But Fred Whitfield was not remark
able for penetration so the coil coiled itself
| turn tighter, and no one seemed likely to get out
| Of the rounds. or TO be free of its strands Rose
could do no more than she had done Fred could
do no lessi ana for once in her life his mother
| was pOwerless, and he fatty refused TO obey her.
| His nature bad been ploHghed up for the first
| time and the weeds had been cut down and the
! good seed had sprung up. Rose BlaCkett, how
! ever, and Harvey Wynn, were as miserable as It
often falls to the lot of people to be by the virtues
Of another. If Fred would only have been selfish
and narrow. hearted, how many days and nights
Of suffering would have been sayedI
The time was coming very near, now; 1t
wanted only three days to the wedding, and none
| but Fred was content. Mrs. Whitfield was cOldly
savage, and declared she would not appear at the
| church or breakfast either. Conditions were
| changed she said, since the engagement was
made; and Rose Blackett, who mad once been
| well enough, was no fit match now for the owner
| Of the Hawse Mrs. Blackett was in state of
chronic tearfulness which made her poor eyes
| very bad; Rose was broken up out of all likeness
to her former self, and her attempts at the old
high handed "fastness" failed signaly; Harvey
was moody, irritable, feyerish, uncertain; and
the whole octave rang with an undertone of dis
| cord which no one saw any means OF preventing /;
it not being always possible for ones fingers to
| strike the true key.
The three friends were riding along the lane
leading up to Lisson, Rose and Fred In front, and
| Harvey at some little distance behind-the lane
| being too narrow for three abreast. Fred was
| talking about Thursday next (it was Monday
| now and talking naturally and lovingly-ior
somehow he had forgotten his drawl Of late
when they heard a terrific plunging in the rear
and then heavy fall as Harvey hoTse-a wild
fiery, nervous brute-hung him suddenly TO the
ground, taking him at moment Of inattendon
when he was riding with slack rein and his
mind far away so that he was thrown in second
almost 1t the first start and plunge the terrified
brute hac mRde-trightened a. an idiot lad of the
place starung up from behind the hedge, yelling
and Ringing his arms abroad.
In another moment Rose Blackett, throwing
her reins willy TO Fred, was kneeling by his
side, holding his head against her bosom, and
calling him hel Beloved Harvey" which he,
stunned as he was, and unable to reply, was not
too insensible to Lear and understand.
The carriage was sent for from Lisson, and the
poor fellow, bleeding and terribly shaken, was
taken to the house to be set to rights as soon as
possible; and while they were carrying him
through the hall Rose turned TO Fred, who stood
leaning against the Intel of the door, and nearly
as pale as the wounded man, but great deal
more wIetChed.
at has come out, Fred" she said, laying her
hand on his shoulder, the tears in her eyes, but
with more contented expression of face than she
had of late. 81 am very sorry for you, especially
as you have seemed 10 ike me so much more
really than you did but | cannot help it,"
"You are dear good girl, Rose" said Fred
"and l have been fool II serves me right.
When was master of the situation / fooled away
my opportunity and now when would die to
| be loved by you Rose, you have gone off to
another" He tried to smile, but his lips quiyered
and he was Obliged to turu away his head
'Heyer mind, Fred" said Rose. "You will
find some one else better suited 20 you, and more
worthy of you than am; and perhaps you will
| come TO me some day, and say, Rose, you have
been the best friend l ever had In my life,' when
you have a sweet little wife that you adore"
| al don't quite think that" said poor Fred