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

walking across the lawn, some talk
ing in groups on the stairs. Rose
and Kinlock were left near each
other. Sheturned toward the garden !:
III want some heliotrope."
~ will gather it for YOU" he said,
and they went together.
There was no one near. A startled
bird flew out of tho dewy bushes
The wind stirred the long rose
branches near them as Kinlock filed
her hands with fragrant blossoms
lie then bent his head low to hers:
"Now, Rose, my kiss; / have n
right now We are betrothed, you
know" His tone was very tender
and pleading, but sudden .ecollec-
ton OF his sisters words came into
her hand:
"No, / cannot now"
"Rose," he said, and his face turned
deathly white, II meant what | said
Rose, cannot you trust me z" She re.
fused still, and he drew long. qniv.
ering breath "Well, it Is all over,
them
She smclt the hcliotrope blooms,
with their overpowering subtle sweet.
ness, as he crushed down their purple
sprays under his heel She drew off
her ring slowly, lingeringly. Some
one was coming. She heard the rustic
OF robes and voices; and holding it
out, she let it fall into his hand, and
ran, breathless and painting, into the
house.
All gone-her brief delicious sum
mer romance of day--all the sweet
ness out Of her nights and their moon
lit drcams-all the freshness out of
her days?
''oh. the muFmur Of music yop iniss.
Tlic rapture of light son forcs:o.
She did not think such pain could
last, but day after day she met him on
the stairway, in the ball, at the table,
aud never one look or tone or word for
her. He seemed turned TO stone, so
white, so immovable. Once or twice
common courtesy required some at
;ention from him, but the scarcely
vailed contempt under the outer de-
ference struck her as sharply as dag
ger.
Then she changed. From stealing
away quietly 70 her room at night to
moan To herself and wiring her hands
over her empty life, she began to join
the crowd in the parlor. 4 feverish
gaycty rung in her laugh and flashed
her checks aud frightened her eyes.
The gentlemen crowded around her
--all except kinlock. lie remained
contemporary aloof, while she sang
and danced and jested TO her little
court of admirers. The evening be-
fore he left she walked in the garden
with Harry Morris and Captain Law.
renee, ahd Harry picked up ring
with an opel set, but the gem was
+ broken in two.
1T is bad omen," said Captain
, Lawrence.
ut is Mr.. Warmers ring" said
Rose, quickly. Il will give it to him;
and she crossed the lawn and placed
, il in his hand.
He gave her ono look full of ieal
Gus reproach and pain and scorn, bat
her face did not culver in It's white
stiffness. She did not seem to hersel
to suffer any longer; she was numt
with long pain.
"And so love dies" he said nnde
his breath. Later in the moonlieh
. he was still sitting there, his iac'
with a white despair, n sittled trouble
in il. Rose conid not endure it IN,
, longer. tender little heart. She went 20
, every ona's troubles. She stole dow,
, the steps toward him; perhaps h
I would forgive her, after ali, and i
was the last time.
r Miss Eliot" called Ida Vernon
/. behind her, what do you want
There is no one there but Mr.. War
r ncr;" and she turned back, sick, ho
Q throbbing at her heart.
| And the next day he was gone
out of reach of tender words or kis
, or reconciling touch of hands. If W,
!, only knew. how close the darkness
G lies about us and the great gult-hov
| far the "next time" shines--oh, if W,
y only knew, life would be so different
+ No one knew how the slow week
afterwards tagged and "crept OIL
J, broken wing" to poor little Rosa, 70
r the sign or token that never came
n One day in the late Fall she wen
down TO dinner with an uncertain
- crimson in her cheeks and eyes q
!. strange, dilated brightness. "1s Nh
r Warner here?" she asked of n hal
t servant. He looked puzzled, and sh
k repeated her question.
mo, ma am he answered, in sur
y prise. ale has been in Baltimore,
: believe the last month, ma'am."
i The next day l came to "Chestel
J. Vile" to see her. An accident ha
y happened on the train the day before
t and among the dead had been Kin
@ lock Warner, killed on the way t
- her. / had been with him in his dy
}. ing moments, and carried messages t
L the one he loved so we'll.
She came down to me as from lane
i very far off, with countenance to-
r white and still for any smile to res
]. there, with eyes full of a high, strang
II rapture and pain commingled, with
voice that seemed to sound far o
o between falling tears, and yet ther
!. were no tears there.
"You know all?" / said; my darl
# ing, who told you."
She looked at me with a wonderin
A look, as if she were looking into din
h and shadowy Beyond"
I'll Yesterday, at noon, she said, e
a sat in the hall. I was thinking c
Il him. The door opened. and he er
J. tered / remember the room wa