The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-23

your engagement with Miss Ashley.
Gou have wen q rare gem"
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Lyon, but !
think you are lab0ring nnderR 2 mistake,
I am not engaged to Miss Ashley, but to
an intimate friend of hers"
"Excuse me-" said Donald. 81 have
been misinformed."
$50, Glare Whaitley, you have de-
eeived me. 1t remains tor me to find
out how much," said Donald to himself,
as he packed his valise preparatory to
leaving in the night train.
81 start for home this evening, Miss
Whaitiey,1 he said to Clare, as they met
AT dinner., Hare you any word to send
to Villa Doane2 BY the way, met Mr..
Bradley, to-day" be added, looking di-
rectly into Clare's face.
Glare turned ashy pale. She knew
Donald had found out a part OF her
deception, at least.
81 do not think Of any message to
send" she said.
Donald politely bade her adieu, and
was soon on his homeward journey.
All night, as the train rushed on, he 4
was busy with perplexing thought.
That Clare had told him deliberate
faisehood concerning the diamond ring,
be had no doubt; but that she had any
thing to do with the white rose did not
occur to him.
Before his journey was half completed
he had decided that although Constance
was not engaged to Mr.. Bradley, yet she
did not care Tor him. II may retain her
for friend, although may not hope for
more than this" thought he.
Constance Ashley sat alone In the Ii
brary. Mr.. and Mrs. Doane were spend
ing the night IN the city. While her
hands were busy, her thoughts were
buster. Why had she not heard from
Donald Lyon? lie must be i'll In New
York. He ought not to have gone while
be was sick.
In her hair, Constance wore ared rose
she seemed to prefer red roses lately
but none bat herself knew why.
The sound OF bells and the rapid com
ing of a sleigh along the avenue, caused
her to start and listen. A moment later
and Donald Lyon stood before her.
II am so glad to see you," she said;
81 feared you were ILL.,"
81 have just returned from New
York." he said, ''and being impatient to
see you all, drove over Immediately af-
ter dinner.n
AS he spoke, he glanced at her hand, on
which was no diamond rins-then at the
rose in her hair.
"Where are Richard and your sis.
ter,"' he asked, as ne seated himself by
the fire.
"They are in the city, at friend OF
Richards, for the night"
"Will you allow me, Miss Ashley, to
see the diamond ring you have beenWear-
ing lateIya l have heard it was very ell
egant."
"Oh, that was Clare's, or rather it be-
longed to a friend OF hers. l wore it
one evening for safe keeping at her re-
quest"
aAh! then it was not an engagement
ring given you by Mr.. Bradley, as was
| informed. / supposed il was"
'tWhy, how could you, Mr.. Lyon, when
| you saw-y0u could not have supposed
me SO unwomanly as to-" faltered
Constance, turning crimson and leaving
her sentence. unfinished.
"Wnen saw aohat, Miss Ashley? Do
you mean the white rose in your hair p"
| "WhHe rose, in my hair, Mr.. Lyon?"
said Constance in unfeigned astonish-
ment.
"Yes; did you not wear white rose
the night Of the party?
| "Excuse me, Mr.. Lyon. do not un-
derstand you. l think we will not talk
| of roses any more"
"Excuse me, Miss Ashley, but / think
we will talk OF roses. Be SO good, beg of
you, as to tell me if you did not place a
white rose in your hair"
81 did not"
"You wore one. Some one must have
placed it thereW
s,No. Glare Whaitley rearranged the
flowers for me-"
sAh, Glare Whaitley. She it was who
told me oil your engagement TO Mr.. Brad
ley. The mystery is solved. She must
have seen the note sent you, and, when
she rearranged the flowers, substituted
white for red. Was it red, Constance,
my darling" said Donald, rising and
looking down into her lair, bIushing face.
ssrell me, is the color you wear tonight
! what YOU meant to wear that night
Take it out, ii it is not" he added,
The red rose nestled undisturbed- in
the bright hair which Donald stroked al.
most reyerentially in his great happi
ness.
| "We can afford to forgive Clare" said
Donald. "PoOr girl, she played des
perate game, but the red rose won, didi
notW
4, Eyes, we are too happy not to for
give" said Constance.
/, Three months after the engagement o
Donald and Constance, the marriage O
Clare Whaitley and CHARLES KlngsIe,
appeared in the papers.
81 wonder what Mr.. Kingsley would
say if he Knew the story OF the diamond
rlng?" said Donald.
The next fall found Constance in
. stalled the honored and beloved mis-
tress OF The Oaks, where roses red ant
roses white bloomed the year round.
THE End.