The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-23
THE TWO ROSES.
BY BENEDETTA.


Boston Iraveller.l 4
If Glare was fatigued, she seemed to
have no intention Of going to bed. for af-
ter taking down mass Of glossy black
hair and braiding it i'm one large braid,
and putting ON q soft warm wrapper,
she seated herself before the open fire.
| SNOW, Glare Whaitley," she said, in a
low voice, II want to have talk with
you, before give sleep to my eyelids
this night. A good honest talk, too"
| "First, theE you love Donald Lyon,
land have loved him ever since ne visited
you four years ago. Next, Donald Lyon
4 does not love you and never did. He
was the first man whom you did not
succeed In bringing to your feet when
you tried. Oh, we can afford to be honest,
I very honest,n she said, as she felt the
hot blood mantle check and brow. s'It
Is desperate game You have to play
tnow, Glare Whaitley. Donald Lyon
loves Constance Ashley, but as am a
living, breathing woman, he shall never
wed her, and failing there, perhaps ]
iyetmay win. ! can afford to wait"
| For an hour Glare Whaitley sat with
knitted brow and compressed lips think
4 ing. Then she retired to rest and slept
as quietly as if she had never thought Of
evil.
1t was two days before the grand party
at Villa Deane was to come of. Mrs.
Doane and Constance had driven to the
city to attend to some necessary prepa-
rations for the festival night. Clare had
lexcused herself from accompanying them
on the plea of a severe headache. All
the morning Glare sat engrossed with
her own thoughts-not very pleasant
ones, if one could judge from the looks
of her face, AS she rose in answer to
ba nf ha In hal
fell on number of letters which Watson
had brought in on his return from the
village. Mechanically she turned them
over to see ii there was one for her.
i'One for Mrs. Doane, two for herself,
and what is this 70 she exclaimed. Soon
stance Ashley, written in Donald Lyons
square, decided hand." She knew his
writing-she had never seen any other
like it. Hastily concealing the letter
between her own she took them in her
hand to the dining-room. ~ will ring
for you il you are needed," she said to
the sable girl, who at once left the room.
i As soon as she found herself alone,
she held the letter belonging to Con-
stance over the streaming coffee urn,
thus softening the seal; then with a del
icate paper cutter opened it without
tearing-
| Ali whas do you read, treacheous
Glare Whaitley, that makes your cheeks
! pale and your glis tening teeth bite your
lips in rage. We will read also;
MISS ASHLEY: have met many wo-
men abroad and in my own country, but
among them all, / have met none for
whom l entertained for a single mo-
ment other than sentiments OF esteem
and friendship. I have met you, Con-
stance Ashley, and ] find myself power
fully influenced aud governed by a senti-
ment which is not alone esteem. love
YOU, Constance. 1 avow it. l love you.
How much l love you dare not write.
What have written may not be pleas
ing to you, but If it is net displeasing to
YOU. will you do me the favor to wear a
red rose In your hair on the night OF the
party; il you are displeased wear a
white one, that / may be in no suspense.
You will not see me again until that
night. DONALD LYON.
Clare re-read the note, carefully folded
Z and returned it to the envelope, which,
upon returning to the library, she sealed
again. Leaving the letter with her own,
unopened on the table as she found
them, she went to her room, threw her.
, self upon the lounge where she was
busy thinking, until she was interrupted
by the entrance of Constance On her re.
: turn from the city.
} "Why, you poor child" exclaimed
/ Constance, with voice full Of sympa.
thy, ssdid your headache drive you to
the lounge? | am sorry, but perhaps
the two letters have Tor you here will
make you better,i' she added, handing
: them to Clare. 81 found them on The
library table,"
"Thank you, DEAR" said Clare, in a
. lang.lid voice as she took the letter in
: her hand. II did not expect any letters
at all this week. and SO did not look on
:. the table Tor them when went to
lunch"
: "But how tired you look, Constance
81 Do 90 and rest until tea is ready"
, II am rather tired and l think will
take your advice"
When Constance had left the room, o
/, cruel smile played about Clare's lips as
+. she said to herself: ''Yes, 60 and read
the note know you have in your pocket
but whatever your decision may be, mine
, | ia that you shall wear a white rose in
ri your hair for Donald Lyon two nights
: hence. My plans are too well laid to be
tbwarteu now, fancy"
. When Constance reached her room she
: drew the note from her pocket. 81 won,
!, der who this can be FROM" she said; ~
:. do not recognize the writing, which il
very peculiar" After examining closely
7 again, she opened 1t.
4 An. Constance, we will not pry into
| your secret just now. We will leave you
j, win your fair face buried in your hands
while you are busy with your owI
thoughts. We will wait TO see If yor
Il place in your hair, two nights hence, 1
, red rose or white one.
The day OF the party dawned clear ant
bright. and with it came Philip Bradley
1t would be useless to deny that Con
: stance was a little sorry that he shoulc
4 have arrived that day. She knew on he:
would depend his entertainment, espe
ciaIly during the evening, as she was
: with the exception OF Richard, the only
one at all acquainted with him.
Clare secretly rejoiced at his coming,
n for she knew that Constance, with true
! politeness, would devote herself to his
entertainment for Katie Burke's sake,
and it became the foundation OF another
v well laid plan during the day, which, ii
carried out, would make her success
doubly sure.
"O6, Constance, will you do me a
fayorfv said Clare, entering the formers
, room as she was dressing, Il have with
me a. diamond ring of great value, be.
!, longing to friend OF mine, who wished
/ IL r. . 4, NJ. -.