Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-04
She was not a moment too soon. Before

She was not moment too soon. Before
she had recovered from the fright and fiut-
ter of jacques visit, Reuben came limp
ing up the garden path.
"Ah how | wish he was more like
jacques |" she said to herself
Reuben sat talking; he was in gay
spirits, but Rose could not rally She was
by turns cross and fearful. and at last she
asked her lover to leave her to herself.
Every well; will 90 now. darling, but
I've no, said all I've got to say, my girl.
III come down and have talk in the
evening
Rose turned so white that Reuben no.
ticed her paeness.
Not tonight. Reuben please" she
said, more gently. MY mother wants
me all to herself
You're rather tyrant, my pet" he
said. "but | will do as you like-till to-
morrow morning. God bless you, my
darlingr' And he kissed her fondly.
As Reuben went away he saw Mrs.
Morrison coming back from the draw-well
at the other side of the garden. He went
across to her while Rose walked to the
gate.
MRS. Morrison" he said, eagerly. edo
spare Rose to me this evening for little.
Tell her | will meet her soon after nine
beside the quarry"
Mrs. Morrison nodded AS she and her
daughter stood at the gate looking after
Reuben, the mother noticed Roses pale
, tace
$50 and lie down, child" she said;
lyon look like ghost. and have prom
ised you will meet Reuben this evening
beside the quarry
1t was "A warm evening. Mrs. Ler had
been busy at the newly-furnished cottage
till late, so that she did not see how disap'
pointed and tired Reuben looked when he
came in after frui,less walk to the quar-
ry.
She sat down to supper with her son; it
was no longer so hard to give him up. tor
she felt that his heart was with Rose Nor
rison. All she could now hope for was to
gain the love of Rcuben's wife.
They had flashed supper. Mrs. Leir
stood folding her table-cloth when a
knock came at the door, and then, with
scarcely any pause. a voice
Mrs. Leir! Mrs. Leir! l want my
daughter! want Rose"
Reuben got to the door without his
stick. and opened it to Mrs. Morrison:
She Tried to smile when she saw him.
but she looked frightened
"Ah, Reuben, she said, 'you have
I given me u fright Where have you hid
den Rose?'
Reuben turned CHASTITY white.
Rose. what do you mean p he said,
hoarsely. IL have not seen her since l
left her with you at the gate!'
"Ah! mon Deu!" In her terror the
woman >hrieked out her words. And
she went out this evening to meet you.
she said-she checked herself suddenly,
and dropped trembling into chair.
I But Reuben saw her hesitation;
.Say all you know" He stood over her
sternly lis Jacques Gaspard in Hook
ton?n
Mrs. Leir stood wonder struck at her
sons strange vehemence.
Il heard he was there" said Roses
mother, feebly. land he is bad man,
) Reuben know he will not marry my
child"
But Reuben did not stay to listen. lie
felt no fatigue or lameness as he started
for the third time that day on the road to
Hookton Fortunately. a chance traveller
overlook him, and gave him seat in his
chase, or his strength could not have held
out The busy fishing village had gone to
sleep when he reached it, but some OF the
men were soon reused and helped Reuben
in his search.
Yes, Jacques Gaspard had appeared
that morning, and strange looking cut
ter had been lowering round the bay, bul
the Frenchman had gone away early, and
no one had seen Rose Morrison; and nc
one ever saw saucy, pretty Rose AGAIN
no one now expects to see her but Reuben
Lsir, and he, poor fellow, spends many a
weary day searching among the rocks and
caves for some trace of the girl he still
loves.
And his mother never says word
against Rase-Reuben's dutiiul tenderness
is her own again-but she would give it
all up if she could only see him happy,
without that seeking. unsatisfied look,
which will never leave his pale-blue eyes
again.