The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-12-27
lair, You may 60 to bed again direct


said, "but 1, of course, refused him.
like him best, but he cannot make me
my lady, nor give me pearls and emer-
aids. hope Phil won't shoot himself
for me. He was in despair. How
long you are in unlacing this bodice.
Don't pull my hair. 1 am very cross.
Phil says that l have Tilted him, and 50
l have"
For nearly an hour the belle torment
ed poor Rose with her boasts and her
remorse, and went off at last without
saying goodnight.
Ann did not come again, but all the
children as they went to bed, led on by
Wellington and Nelson, thumped and
kicked at Rose Moss door, and Well
ington shouted through the key-hole,
won't you catch it tomorrow, miss
I rather think you will. Mall pitch in
to you, and no mistake"
CHAPTER ia SURPRISE.
The morrow came. Rose had long
been promised holiday on the LIST Of
January. She had engaged to spend
it with an old schoolfellow living at
Chaplain, and newly-married. It was
= love-match. The young couple were
very poor, but very kind to Rose, and
she looked forward to the "dinner OF
herbs where love was" Added to this,
she longed to get away. She could not
calmly meet the man she loved as the
afiianced of another.
Mrs. Pomfret sent for Miss Moss be-
fore breakfast. Rose was already
dressed for her excursion.
II cannot spare You to-day" she
said. "YOu must put off your holi-
day. Any day will do quite as well for
you."
mot so, Mrs. Pomfret," said Rose;
"my friends expect me-"
"Then they will enjoy the pleasures
of expectation-the greatest of all pleas
ures, the moralists tell us. l require
your services to-day. pay for them.
Added to which, Sir Harry, through
whose kind intercssion you are lodged,
boarded and salaried in this elegant
and happy home, is expected to dinner
here to-day. Mr.. Pomfret wishes you
to dine at table, to meet him. Your
absence would be ungrateful and dis
respectful, particularly as he comes
among us in the new and interesting
character of Miss Domvile's bridegroom
elect. Pray doff your mourning on this
joyful occasion. You have q white
muslin dress, 1 know-I mean that In
dian muslin, with the gold fringes and
gold Circassian belt, Sir Harry sent you
when he sent us all such lovely things;
l request you to wear it at dinner. The
children have holiday, but, as have
told you before, my high-spirited darl-
ings require as much attention during
their play hours as during their stud
ies.''
The ladies were dressing for dinner
at least, Mrs. Pomfret and Miss DOM
vile were. The latter was under the
hands of her hair-dresser. A golden
mass-bows, plaits, coils, real and
sham-was the result. She wore the
emerald velvet and white satin, the
rich lace and the jewels. But, no; she
would leave her white neck and arms
unadorned, waiting his New Years
gift.
Rose had performed all her thank
less, wearisOme tasks. Her tormentOrs
were Embarrassed and were in the draw
ing-room. Rose, in her white India
muslin, soft. ample and flowing, with
a demi-train with hanging sleeves,
trimmed with gold fringe, a gold Cir
cassian belt setting off her slender
waist, and gold comb in her fine
black hair, sat in the deserted school
room, very sad; but yet her eyes were
bright and her cheeks flushed with the
fever of her spirit. She was lovely that
evening in the dress Sir Harry had sent
her from India.
A carriage drove up to the door. Mr..
Pomfret rushed out to welcome his
long-absent brother. He led him into
the library. After some talk on other
matters, Sir Harry said: 1.-THE darling
girl is here, h0pe?''
"She is" was the reply.
"She expects and accepts meP''
"She does. She refused q good offer
last evening for your sake, Harry"
II have refused a dozen for hers
said Sir Harry, laughing. "ln my
part of the world ladies propose. Tom,
l shall settle a thousand a year on her. -
"Not exclusive of her own fortune,
presume Harry?'' said Mr.. Pomfret.
"Her own fortune! What do you
mean, TomP''
"Why, Della Domvile has at least
"Delia-or, rather Dahlia Domvile
What has that gaudy, artificial flirt te
do with it3''
"Why, Harry she is the belle Of
Bloomsbury"
lis she, indeed? She the belle! Not
in my eyes. nor in those of any man o1
taste or feeling. The only belle Of
Bloomsbury, and of the whole world. tt
my mind, is Rose-divine Rose-Rost
Moss-or, rather, Moss Rose! Who
could ever compare that scentless, arti
fetal, gaudy Dahlia with the sweetes
Moss Rose that ever charmed the ey,
and embalmed the air? No, indeed
Rose is the idol of my heart. / hav,
long loved her in secret, and hav'
fancied sometimes that she might low,
me-"
Harry" said Mr.. Pomfret, shakin,
hands with him, "rm glad of this.
wish you Joy, my boy! Rose is a goo'
girl-she'd make an excellent wife
Now listen; she's in the schoOl-rO0m
/ 0VOOuu AOVA AAOAVs OO yOu O0hV tnSs
candle and 60 quickly up stairs to her
l must nerve myself and go and breal
the news to my wife and poor Dahlis
who is getting ready to receive you a
her intended"
Before Mr.. Pomfret had quite done
Sir Harry was of.
A timid knock at the school-roor
door was followed by gentle Com
in" A cry, q woman's cry, . cry {
| Joy from her Utmost heart, followed.
word, a glance, a kiss of love explaine
the misunderstanding that had all br
broken poor Roses heart. How rapit
ly hearts can mend with such rivets 9
Harry had to offer! While he folde
her in his arms, and called her his low
his bride, his wife, she wept ON hi
shoulder, and murmured:
dearest, how / do love you-how
will try to make you happy?'
A very shrill and angry cry issue
from Mrs. Pomfret's room, where M
Pomfret had undeceived her. She W.
; furious.
"That pale, homeless, dowdv paupe