The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-06-01
not know that she had been engaged tc
Mr.. Twentyplum for six long months.

|
Mr.. Twentyplum for six long months.
And be married next week, Mr. Mark
ham," added she. $50 you see you mus
| be mistaken about fate"
And you have only been flirting witt
me?" l said, bitterly. "Do you know
that you gave me reason to hope every
thing from you:"
AZ know it is time for me to dress for
drive" said she. 80 you must say goot
afternoon; and don't look so ridiculousl,
tragic, Mr. Markham. hate scenes"
And | felt that / deserved it all, as
went for the last time down the steps 0
the Hanover mansion.
In fortnight Violette was Mrs. Twenty
plum. In month Mr.. Hanover was
bankrupt-one of those who take
foreign trip with plenty of money in theil
pockets, while others lie crushed beneath
the fragments of their broken branches a
heme.
Ny money went with his. l had comt
to London with moderate competence
had increased it by speculation until
was absolutely wealthy. Now l founG
myself almost poor.
There remained to me only the Moss
wood property, which must be turned in
to farm, and myself must leave my
hope of being one of the city miliona;res
behind me, and become plain farmer
a man of the same social status as Rose
buds father, without shis comfortable
knowledge of money in the bank to com
Fort me.
However, with the bursting of the bub.
BILE fortune, the circle which had gathered
about Hanover had been seemingly scat
tered to the winds, and people knew that
Miss Violette had Tilted me, and also
that my money was gone. The city had
lost many Of its charms, and wrote to
the old woman who had kept the house
at Mosswood for my father until his
death to make it ready for my return.
Then selling the furniture of my bachelor
rooms, and packing my smaller belong.
ings in few trunks, started homeward
I must go back to Mosswood and be-
come farmer. | should find Rosebud
fading gradually away, of course, and
yet knew she would be prettier than
ever. How she had loved mellow un-
grateful had been for that love. Now
would make amends. | would write as
many repentant letters as were necessary,
and she would, of course, forgive me.
No woman ever forgets or ceases to love
any man she has ever loved, you know.
Yes, after a little 1naidenly resistance,
Rosebud would bloom for me again. |
was as sure of this as the train bore me
onward, as was that the moon would
rise that night.
There is no adage more true than the
one that declares that misfortunes never
come alone, but in troops. Often, of
course, one brings the other. In my case,
the anxieties that had trooped so thickly
about me made me nervous, and SO led to
severe accident.
Having alighted at a certain station, I
delayed my return to the carriages until
they had started, | remember running
after them, and then-what do 1 remem-
Der then? Darkness, dreams, pain, an
awakening in little room, with white
@ curtains and datts2saldt tt2aldft table and vision
slowly: 'i'e oiie say III
"Yes, yes, yes; think he'll do"
And understanding this was my old
friend Hiram Roper, | asked
"How did l come here" trying TO sit
up, and failing in the attempt.
WELL" said Hiram, ''wife and |
were at the station, and saw you were
a good deal hurt, and we brought you on
You know this is my house"
"Yoursgn said l. "And you are mar
ried and in practice, | suppose?"
"Yes," said Roper. "Oh, yes; get
ting on famously. And you've had {
bad time, but you'll be on the righ
soon. Come and tell bim he will Rose
bud"
And there-yes, there was Rose. Afte,
had ruminated on the fact few min
utes, | felt that truth was stranger thai
fiction.
care you better, Mr.. Markham" sale
Rosebud, bending toward me.
Here was a poetical story worked on
in our proper persons. A wounded ant
repentant hero, | had been sent back t
Rosebud, to be nursed and forgiven
Had she not forgiven me, she neye
would have flown to my aid. All tina
l could do just then, was to squeeze he
hand.
She took it away rather quickly; bu
that was very natural. Ihad not seen he
for three years. She did not know Of m
contrition. But she had not pined G
faded; she was, on the contrary, stoute
and roster than ever.
Just then, DR.. Roper being present,
said nothing, but afterward, as the ever
ing shadows fell, she brought me tea an
toast; and then | took her hand and said
Dear Rosebud, how good Of you"
And she answered:
90, dear, no-don't mention it."
"You are an angel Of forgiveness,
said. "And II, have always love
you, Rosebud. 'Tis true, a siren laid hi
spells upon me, but the hallucination
over"
81 shall think you are wanderir
again." said she, {" if you don't stop tall
ing so. Do take your toast"
"No," said /, ono, not a mouthfu
Rosebud, until you will assure me tn
you will forget the past, and once mo
give me the love-"
"Mr. Mark kham," cried she.
"Call me Henry" said |. "Rose
you had hated me, would you be here
kindly ministering to my wants"
Here?" said she. "Where should
be but in my own house? I'm sure T.
nothing to forgive you, either. Since yt
allude to our Irritation of three years ag
and since you will talk Of it, will tt
you, once for all, that don't think tn
we ever should have been happy togethe
And l always liked Hiram the best, on
he was so shy. And, my goodness,
were married as soon as he got his
ploma."
Marriedw cried l.
"Why, yes" said Rosebud. " He
else should l be here? You know this
DR.. Roper's house? Didn't you know
was his wife before? Dear old fellow
is-the best husband woman ever ha
Pm sure, and, Mr.. Markham, know NJ
that l never really loved you."
don't know whether that was true
not; but that did not matter. She did
love me then, and does not now, and