The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-06-07

before one day I made this latter state
ment to Violette Hanover, and she,
having heard it, bestowed on me her
most aristocratic stare, and asked me if
did not know that she had been en-
gagged to Mr.. Twentyplum for six long
months.
"And be married next week, Mr..
Markham" added she. $50 you see
you must be mistaken about fate"
"And you have only been flirting with
me9" said, bitterly. "Do you know
that you gave me reason to hope every
thing from you?" E..S I;slaI
II know it is time for me to dress
for drive" said she. $50 you must
say good-afternoon; and don't look SO
ridiculously tragic, Mr.. Markham. I
hate scenes" -. o..
And I felt that deserved it all, as I
went for the last time down the steps OF
the Hanover mansion.
In fortnight Violette was Mrs.
Twentyplum. In month Mr.. Han
mover was bankrupt one of those who
take a foreign trip with plenty of money
in their pockets, while others lie crushed
beneath the fragments Of their broken
branches at home. i. u ~ =.
My money went with bis: I had come
to London with moderate competence.
I had increased it by speculations until
I was absolutely wealthy. = Now I found
myself suddenly almost poor. =. T.: ~
There remained to me only the Moss
wood property, which must be turned
into farm, aud myself must leave my
hope of being one of the city million
aires behind me, and become plain
farmer-a man of thesame social status
as Rosebud 9 father, without his com
Portable knowledge Of money m=the
bank to comfort me.
However, with the bursting of the
bubble fortune, the circle which gather
cred about Hanover had been seeming
ly scattered to the winds, and people
knew that Miss Violette had jllted me
and also that my money was gone. The
city had lost many Of it's charms, and !
wrote to the old woman who had kept
the house at Mosswood for my father
until his death, to make itready.for my
return Then selling the furniture of
my bachelor rooms, and packing. my
smaller belongings in few trunks, l
started .homeward. "' --. 81 ''''
Imust 90 back to Mosswood and be-.
come 9. s.farmers I should find Rosebud
fading gradually away, sof course. and
yetISkneW She would be prettier than
ever. How she had loved mellow IN
grateful I had been for that love. Now
I would make amends. I would write
as many repentunt letters as were neces-
sary, and she would, of course, forgive
me- 2 No woman ever forgets or ceases
to loye.any.man she eyer has loved, you
know. Z Yes, after tittla maidenly- re-
sistance, Rosebud would bloom for me
again. Twas as sure ofithis as the train
bore me onward, as I 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 always in troops.
Often, of course, one brings the other.
In my case, the anxieties that had troop
ed SO thickly about me made me ner-
vous, and SO led to q severe accident. >
Having aighted at a certain station, I
delayed my return to the carriages until
they had started. remember running
after them, and then-what do l remem-
Der then2 Darkness, dreams, pain, an
awakening in little room, with white
curtains, and toilet table, and a vision
charmingly dressed. The same onesay-
ing, slowly: ~" :
)" Yes, yes, yes; I think he'll do" -
And understanding this was my old
friend, Hiram Roper, I asked 9 &
"How. did come here2" trying to sit
up, and failing in the attempt.
"Well,". said Hiram, .swife' and I
were at the station, and I saw you were
a good deal hurt, and we brought you
on. You know this is my house" !
married, and in practice, supposed"
eyes," said Roper. "Oh, yes; get
ting on famously. And you've had a
bad time, but you be on the right soon.
Come and tell. him he will, Rosebud"
And there-yes, there was Rose.
After I had ruminated on the fact few
minutes, felt that truth WAS stranger
than fiction.
"Are you better, Mr.. Markham p
said Rosebnd, bending towards me-. 80.
Here was a poetical story, being
worked out in Iour proper persons. A
wounded and repentant hero, I had been
sent back to Rosebud, to be nursed and
forgiven. Had she not forgiven me,
she never would :haye flown to my aid.
All that I could. do. Just then was to
squeeze her hand. 80, -.
She took it away rather quickly; but
that was natural. had not seen her
for three years. She did not know OF
my contrition. But she had not pined
or faded; she was, on the. contrary,
stouter and roster than ever.
Just then, DR.. Roper being present,
I said nothing, but afterwards, as the
evening shadows fell, she brought me
tea and toast; and then I took her
hand, and said .... go
"Dear Rosebud, how good of you"
And she answered: ~ - .. -.
"Oh, dear, no-don't mention it,"
'"You are an angel of. forgiveness, I
said. :" And I-oh, have always loved
you, Rosebud. 'Tis true, a siren laid her
spells upon !, me, but the ,halluoinasion
once over - HIT, T.
"I shall think you are wandering
again." said she, If you don't stop
talking. Do take your toast" H;2i.
@"No," 'said1, "no, not q meuthful,
Rosebud, until you assure me that you
will forget the past, and once more give
me the love-
"Mr. Markham" cried she.
"Cal me Henry" said 7. "Rose, if