The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-03-22

and she, having heard it, bestowed on
me her most aristocratic stare, and asked
me if did not know that she had been
engaged to Mr.. Twentyplum for six
long months.
"And will be married next week, Mr..
Markham" added she. $50 you see
you must be mistaken as to your fate"
"And you have only been flirting
with meT l said bitterly. "Do you
know you gave me reason to hope every
thing from your
81 do know that it is time for me to
dress for drive" said she. $50 you
must say good afternoon and don't
look so ridley Dusty tragic, Mr.. Mark
ham. l hate Scenes"
And felt that deserved it all, as /
went for the last time down the steps of
the Hanover mansion.
In fortnight Violette was Mrs.
Twentyplum. In month Mr.. Hanno-
yer was a bankrupt-ono CT 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.
My money went with his. I had come
to London with moderate competence.
l had increased it by speculation until
I was absolutely wealthy. Now 1 found
myself almost poor.
There remained to me only the Moss
wood property, which must be turned
into farm, and myself must leave my
hope of being one of the city million.
airs behind me, and become plain far
mer-a man of the same social status as
Rosebud's father, without his comforta-
BILE knowledge of money in the bank to
comfort me.
However, with the bursting of the
bubble fortune, the circle which had
gathered about Hanover had been
seemingly scattered 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 belongings in few
small trunks, l started homeward.
Unjust 60 back to Mosswood and be.
come farmer. / should find Rosebud
fading gradually away, of course, and
you know she would be prettier than
ever. How she had loved mellow un-
grateful had been for that love. Now
would make amends. Iwould write as
many letters as were necessary, and she
would, of course, forget me. No woman
ever forgets or ceases to love any man
she has ever loved, you know. Yes,
after little maidenly resistance. Rose
bud would bloom for me again. / was
as sure of this a. the train bore me on
ward, 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 in troops. Often, of
ceurse, one brings the other. In my
case, the anxieties th:t had trooped so
thickly about me made me nervous, and
so led too severe accident.
Having alighted at certain station,
delayed my return to the carriage until
they had started. remember running
after them, and then-what do l remem-
Der then? Darkness, dreams, pain, an
awakening in little room, with white
curtains and toilet table, and vision
charmingly dressed. The same one say
ing slowly: ,
"Yes, yes, yes; think he'll do"
And understanding this was my old
friend Roper, I asked:
"How did you 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."
"Yours ?" said ]. "And you are
married and in practice l suppose?"
"Yes," said Roper. "Oh, yes; getting
on famously. And you've had bad
time, but you'll be on the right soon.
Come and tell him he will, Rosebud"
And there-yes, there was Rose. After
had ruminated on the facts few min
utes, felt that truth was stranger than
fiction.
care you better, Mr.. Markham ?"
said Rosebud, bending toward me.
Here was a poetical story worked out
in our proper persons. A wounded and
repentant hero, ! had been sent back to
Rosebud, to be nursed and forgiven.
Had she not forgiven me, che never
would have flown to my aid. All could
do Just then, was to squeeze her hand.
She took it away very quietly; but
that was very natural. l had not seen
her for three years. She did not know
my contrition. But she had not pined
or faded; she was, on the contrary,
roster than ever.
Just then DR.. Roper being present I
said nothing, but afterwards, as the even
ing shadows fell, she brought me tea
and toast; and then took her hand and
said:
"Dear Rosebud, how do you doF
And she answered; go, dear. no
don't mention it,"
"You are an angel of forgiveness" I
said. "And II have always loved you,
Rosebud. 'Tis true, siren laid her
spells upon me, but the hallucination is
over"
81 shall think you are wandering
again." said she, if you don't stop talk.
ing so. Do take your toast"
"No," said /, "no, not a mouthful,
Rosebud, until you will assure me that
you will forget the past, and once more
give me the love-"
"Mr. Markham! |" cried she.
"Call me Henry" said 1. Rose, il
you had hated me, would you be here 30
kindly ministering to my wantsT'
4" Here ?' said she. Where shoald
be but in my own house? Pm sure I've
nothing to forgive you, either. Since
you allude to our Irritation of three years
ago, and since you will talk of it, tell
you, once for all, that don't think that
we ever should have been happy together.
And i always liked Hiram the best, on
ly he was 30 sly. And, my goodness, we
we're married as soon as he got his di.
ploma."
"Married p cried /.
"Why, yes" said Rosebud. "Hov
else should I be here? You know this il
DR.. Roper's house, Didn't you know
was his wife before? Dear old fellow h,
is-the best husband woman ever had
Pm sure, and Mr.. Markham, know nov
that l never really loved you."