The Van Buren press., 1876-10-24

Rose, fair, joyous, his, by her Are, OF
looking out for him, springing to NEE,
| him, the scene grew 20 real 1t seemed to
Roger he could feel her sweet breath on
his face, her warm arms about him; he
held her just one daring moment in this
waking dream, and then lie sat down up
on the step and hid his face in his hands
as if he would hide too the scalding tears
that must have way.
Two thousand dollars--he might jus
as well wish for silver mine just as ht
said the words to himself, soft clear ra
dance was yelling up over the dusky
garden, and as he raised his head again
after awhile, there came the moon softl,
floating up above the horizon Of the long
interval below. 1t cheered him iueHpli
cabiy, like an omen, PROMISE he stooe
up and struck one palm into another
II will have her yeti" he cried, and wen
in to his dreams
Cant you think of anything, Rose
where we can econemize p he said, nexl
day.
Economical she repeated. gayly
"For what In what II With what?''
So that we can raise two thousand
dollars" he answered, gravely
She sat down as suddenly as If some
gigantic hand had been laid on her head
and had crushed her into the seat.
1.-TWO thousand dollars! she gasped
1--WE couldn't economic it in two thou
sand years, for don't know where WI
waste a cent y
:" must get 1t in some way. then, II
have to go out saving wood after hours >
"Why, Rogerf'
For capital to go into business"
1.-The house would sell for five hun.
dred more than you want"
"The house T. he said. That is moi
mine.'
Rose stood up. moving one thing and
smother rervously about the table; her
lips tretnbled, and all at once she ran Out
of the room. 'Oh, he cares nothing for
me; he dispises me; he dsregards me
he would take nothing from me Because
it is mine, it is not his, and he wants
nothing of me-
She takes no interest in it; she doesn'
care whit whether 70 into business OF
not; it matters nothing to her. he sigh
ed She flashes out of the room and
about her business as indfierently as
though were the merest stranger at the
gate. Aud he janmed on his hat. and
went to lis work, head down, hands in
his pocket, and gloomy as the grave
All day long that rosy, dimpled face
fitting between him and every customer
all day long the awful figures, $4,000,
writing themselves on the wall before
him like Meme. meme, tekei upharsia
and when, late in the day, a cloud slowly
rns. and d hpno I'm tcyywahp pdf| DDS and marsh,
| land was il shadow, and low thnnders
begun to growl in its breast, and sharI
lightnings leap from it. it seemed To Rog
er only something in accord with his
feelings, for il beftted nature to be as dark
as his outlook.
1t was a terrible storm, though, before
another hour had passed Peal after
peal the thunder crashed over the little
village, aud tumtled its deafening bolt.
among the bills fash after fash the light
nings cracked and unrolled, and from
moment to moment wrapped the place in
sheets of flame; and after one repor.
when the heavens seemed to shriyel like
bit of burning parchment, the bark ol
the century old elm, in the square where
the little band played on summer nights
had been torn off in one long spiral iron
top to bottom, and the tree had answer
ed the bolt in pillar Of fire As th'
storm increased, Roger remembered
Roses fear of thunder, and plunged on
into it. determined that she should no
be alone in such a moment of absolut,
terror. The rain met him half way
worse than any lightning" gray, stihin.
draw his breath, and his only refuge wa
to take to his heels and run as fast as cv
er any Lampad ran race.
She must have seen him coming, 70
she set open the door, though she stooc
behind it. What made you leave shel
ter in such storm as this p she cried
and Just then there came on overwhelm
ing fash, the FIRE OF which seemed to pen
citrate her brain. She clapped her hand
to her face with a shrek, the house rock
ed and the door swung and slammed
and she fell fainting upon the floor
When Rose came to herself, she wa
! lying on the lounge where Roger ha'
placed her, and the storm was slowl.
rolling off below the horizon, with no'
and then smothered growl, and the raj
was pattering only in thin showers, whicl
the freshened breeze shook from til
vines and boughs. She sat up directly
and presently, as soon as she found he
feet, went to the window to look about
The whole world seemed sweet and ricI
and glistening in the sunset, with a sor
Of delicious underlight, and the birds wer
wild with music. Roger stood bcsid
her at the window, looking out into th
enchanted atmosphere. They we're boil
silent and just then good Mrs Vanc
came up the garden walk from her owl
adjoining one, fearing Rose was alone
and not having dared herself to come be
fore: and she staid to tea, and wanted
game of cribbage in the evening; an'
: when Roger came back from escort dut
to old Mrs. Vance, Rose just lifted tn
candle flame between her face and his
and saying good night, hurridly, wa
away to her slumbers.
Roger went to his, that is to say to hi
room. Sleep he could not His thought
were whirllng at such rate. with hi
emotions that he was wider awake tha
; ever before He stepped out on the ol
broken balcony Of his window and watch
I oa ,b. slow yyhpeliuc of he cOnstp lat ion,