The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-01-24


lin skirt and the spark of fire at the
end Of the cigar ms the two walked
together and the sound of soft laugh.
ter and young, fresh voices floated up
to me.
After tea the children took posses
sion of her. II want Miss Elliott by
me-" Laura would say; and "Oh, Miss
Rose, tell us n story--a real loug one;
aud then she was carried off in tri-
umph to the library window, until
Mrs. Kenyon, coming in, would sum-
marily disperse her small mob TO their
beds and. sit down to talk TO her he:'
self. In the meanwhile, kinlock
would amiably submit TO be bored
until snatch of the story would
awaken restless spirit in him and he
would stroll off to the nearest garden
seat and listen until some invaders
drove him from his post of obserya-
tion.
But Rose was such quiet little
thing that nobody seemed TO notice
it. Perhaps she did not know all, un-
til
1t was n moonlit evening in August
and the shadows of the dancing leaves
aud the showering moonshlne fell
over Rose as she walked for the first
time alone and with slow step down
the iarthest garden walk. She had
been there fifteen minutes, when n
sudden step crushing the gravel made
her start and turn, showing tell.tale
tear on her white, dimpled cheek. 1t
was kinlock.
"W ere you sorry 2" he said, eagerly.
She turned quickly away, aud began
The white roses OF The, gar
den wall. IL was 40 still and he was
so close she fancicd he would hear her
quick breath and heart ;brobbing so
loud. Oh, il she could say No! But
he had seen she was crying.
Just then some one touched the pi-
auo in the drawing.room few gath
ering chords, aud then low, long,
sweet minors ripping off into the
sweetest rhythns and cadences.
She found courage 10 say, Here is
some jasmine in bloom; it must be
the last. Wha, faint, sweet smell =
Il love roses best" he said. "Oh,
Rose, DON'T Listen To me- and he
caught her hand in his own. which
trembled ali The while. Rose, !
love you; what can say more? |
can never tell how dearly. Rose,
love me u
The music sounded on--a faint. low
chiding. sweet with excess of tender
ness. Rose looked up aud he was an
swcred.
You are cold" he said, after a
while; "wait 4 moment; and he
brought from the hall light cloak oi
white crmiue aud threw it over her
The haii.storm has made the air 50
chilly"
II was late when they went in, and
on the steps he drew the little hand
with the shining opal ring into hi,
again: Let me tell my sister-Mrs
kenyon-to-morrow; | want them
all To know"
"Oh, no. not yet. Let me only re
aiize it first myself" she pleaded. A
shadow fell over his brow, but he lei
her so. 1T shall be as you wish
then"
All were assembled in the drawing
room as they entered.
"Oh, stop" cried Miss Warner
'..just as you are standing now, Miss
Elliott; has not the ermine lovely
effect? II is our Swan Maiden tc
perfection. Miss Elliott, you must ac
in onr tableaux."
Rosc did look beautiful. He,
cheeks glowcd with vivid carminc
and her hair fell in thousand little
wayward waves and curls over hel
chiidlike brow, while the soft white
ermine enveloped in white clouc
her light figure.
Ida Vernon whispered somethin.
to her friend, and she looked sur
priscd. A little while afterwar:' Ros,
saw them go out, and as they passet
the window heard her emphaticall.
say, "How foolish, Ida, to think o
such thing! Kinlock is too ambi
tious. He told me she was n kissable
pretty little girl, and he is sorry foI
her, poor child! But as TO being il
love, that's different"
"Did you see how he elooked at her?'
persisted Ida; but Rose ran up stairs
bitter tears OF modification filling he
eyes. She did not believe it, but i
hurt her pride to have his sister tall
of her so.
Next evening all of us were sittin,
on the long porch steps. In a fort
night Warner was going away, ant
we were all regretting his departure
Don't you believe in haunted places?
he said, lightly. II shall open tha
little gate and come down th
walk. have been SO happy here,
his fond eyes resting on Roses face
II cannot leave it in spirit, if I mus
take my bodily presence away"
at will be no comfort TO me- sai'
his sister. Il shall miss you, you
face and laugh-even your cigar, Kin
lock. / shall miss walking with yor
in the morning"
Kinlock flashed a sudden glance t.
bis quiet little neighbor, Rose Elliott
but she would not look up.
"You have an uncomfortable idea c
spirits" | interposed.
Il believe happy spirits see an,
know each other-can feel the toac
of the hand, have all the bliss G
sound and sight and laughter in
clearer merriment than ours, know al
the JOY of embraces and kisses. l be
lieye they remain still human spirits.
"Who is talking of kisses?" inter
rupted Harry Morris, a noisy boy o
fifteen, who had just come ont ot'th
house.