Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-23


''went in" for speculation on a tolerablt
large scale so that, since she came of age
she had placed most of her money out al
nurse, she said but she had chosen, un
fortunately for her, the most capricious
nurse of alI-mining property. However
she would do it so she had no one tC
blame but herself Not even smooth-spok
en-, cleanly shaven, Mr.. Norton who had
helped her by-the-by,to more than one"good
| thing" in which he himself had taken shares
that he generously handed over to her, af-
! ter private advices received and pondered
over. And when Mr.. Norton came Harvey
left, bearing with him the promise that the
two ladies would come to dinner at half
/ past six precisely As much before as they
liked, but not moment after.
When they came it was easy to see that
something had happened Mrs Blackett
was depressed, fearful her eyes were red
and swollen, her face putfed and pale she
| spoke as if she had a violent cold, and in
every other particular OF manner and per-
son showed that she had been weeping bit
| terly. Rose was flushed and excited, with
a certain bravery Of manner which trem-
! bled too nearly Oh bravado to be quite as
| lovely as might have been. But she looked
beautiful-perhaps more beautiful than she
had overlooked in her life before and even
| lazy Fred seemed struck by her, and warm
ed up to unwonted feeling
After dinner she asked him to 90 with
her into the library for she was utterly
unconventional in all she did, and would
not have minded asking a prince to tie her
shoe, or anything else she might desire, be,
! ing Just a little touched by the self-will be-
! longing to the heiress and Fred assented,
| wondering what was up, and what she
wanted. When she had shut the door, Dear
old Fred" she said in coaxing voice, 81
want you to do me kindness"
! am sure | WILL Rose" said Fred, nat,
uraIly, and without his drawl.
| You do like me, don't you. now 2"
Why, yes ofcourse do. think you
the best girl going" answered Fred, open
ing his eyes.
And would not like to hurt or distress
me?"
by Jove no." he cried. 81 should
| think not, indeed !"
She was standing by the fire, leaning one
hand on the chimney-piece, with the other
just lifting her dark-blue gown over her
ankle, her foot on the fender, showing her
pink silk stockings, bronze slipper, and a
| bit of broad ncedlewcrk as founce above.
"Wcll, | will take you at your word, -
said Rose Il want you to give me up,
Fred, and break off the marriage. Come,
now are you good enough old fellow for
| that p very coaxingly.
Break off the marriage, Rose !" cried
Fred all in amaze. "Are you dreaming ~
"Not bit oft" she answered, laughing
a little Historically; quite serious and
! wide awake
But | cannot give you up, Rose said
Fred My mother has set her heart on
the marriage and it is so near, too, now ;
and | do love you great deal more than
have said or shown" he added, stirred out
of his al1tctation " You know, Rose, how
| hate the idea of scntmentality or spoon
eyism with any one and have fought of
that as long and as well as / could But |
am not the Indifferent beast you think me-
| do love you, Rose, and | cannot give you
up"
She had turned quite pale during her low
cr's speech
"Well, Fred" she then said, of course
! am very much obliged to you, and all
that but have not been playing part,
and do not feel bit more than | have
shown so that we are not on equal terms,
if You love me as deeply as you say and
| am simply in the old way of good fellow
ship Mind that, and never reproach me
hereafter for | have told you the truth,
| remember. And as for your lady mother, |
don't think she will make much objection
when she knows all, because, dear old Fred.
! am ruined
Good God, Rose " cried Fred what
on earth do you mean?'
Well, you know have been going in
for speculating and so Mr.. Norton came
down to tell me to-day that all my great
expectations are come to nothing the
Bella Juanita mines are drowned and
have not what will realize two hundred a
year instead of two thoustand And so |
think the question of Mrs Whitfeld's con
sent is settled, is it not?
Now, then, Rose, | will not give you
up for any one in the world" said Fred, in
deep voice my mother may say what
| she likes, and you may saywhat you like
the marriage shall go on this day week
you are my wife come what may never
felt how much | loved you before to-day,
! lAoS', Nlt'H ll'IC lldH bttlI just d CldliCc ol
! losing YOU
But if don't want to marry you FredY
urged Rose, touched, in spite of herself, by
the unusual warmth and chivalry of the
man.
Oh, tosh 7" said Fred. You are not
the girl to have been engaged for three
months contentedly enough, and turn round
| Just the last moment, and say You don't
care for the fellow quite understand you
Rose, dear old lassie You think that my
mother will not like the match SO mucl
now as when you had money, and that you
are not the catch you were before you had
lost it +; and so you thought you would re-
lease me. But Twill not be released Rosey
and 50 I'll tell my mother when she speaks
! to me about it, if she takes that tone al
all"
! Upon which Rose did what was a most
extraordinary thing in her to do-what Free
had never before seen the slightest inclina
I tion in her towards him-she flung her arms
round his neck and kissed him; and then
burst into a violent flood of tears, which
! soon passed into mysteries when he was
obliged to call the servants and Harvey
! Wynn.
SO now the whole thing came out, botl
to Mrs. Whitfield and to Harvey Fred had
no idea of making mysteries and keeping