Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-04

her seat near some Trends, her mother
had not gone to the rooms that night.
She looked very pale. The pretty rose
color had ali died out of the sweet round
cheeks.
care you faint?" he asked anxiouslv,
bending over her. care YOU tired
Shall | get you some water %
ono, no." she cried, shrinking away
from him. 81 am not faint-but look
at Mr.. Robert Stonor. have offended
him. He is angry because | danced
with you. Oh, what shall l do? He is
my cousin, and has ill-health, and he
must not be excited"
Robert Edbury turned, and saw stand
ing near him that other Robert, who
threatened to be-Or perhaps uas-no
mean rival. His i'll health was evident.
to still some pain there. and on his
handsome blonde face, which was
marked by unmistakable traces of con-
tirmed sickness, cloud Jealous anger
rested heavily.
The eyes of the two men met, and
each knew the other for rival.
A half smile of scorn as he looked
curled Robert Edbury's lips. In case
like this man has no pity for the all
ments of another. With grieved face
he took from his pocket the rosebud and
laid it in Miss Chassdane's lap.
Here is your rose," he said, quietly.
81 restore it to you at your wish. But
remember what said; and believe me,
time will prove me to be no false
prophet"
Without waiting for an answer, he
bowed and disappeared amid the throng
of dancers, seeking her no more that
night
us Miss Chassdane engaged to that
man?" he questioned Of his friend Nor
ton.
Il believe there is no positive engage
ment," was the reply. 'Mrs. Chass-
dane, it is said, objects to it."
con what score does she object?
Money!"
ooh, no; Stonor has a small, compact
estate close by, and is we'll Off On the
score Of his uncertain health. Also,
they are cousins
"What is it that is the matter with
him?"
"Some complication, connected with
| L
conclude, renders treatment difficult"
Odd you think Miss Chassdane cares
! for him?'
II don't think she loves him, Edbury
if that's what you mean. ltseems to
me that she likes him more as a brother.
When eligible attentions are paid to
girls they feel hattered you know, and
respond accordingly. Nine out of ten
of them understand nothing Of their
own feelings, and mistake friendship
for love. Robert Stonor and Miss Chass-
dane have grown up together-have
been like brother and sister"
Frequently they mot after that. 1t
was unusually gay season at Spatield,
and entertainments abounded accord
ingly. In the morning drinking the
water, or making believe to drink it; in
the afternoon sauntering in the gar
dens, or on the parade; IN the evening
at the rooms, or at private parties; two
or three times did Mr. Edbury and Miss
Chassdane meet, and linger together,
and converse with each other. Robert
Edburys time was his own, and he
stayed on. He could have stayed for
ever. The two or three weeks sojourn
he had intended had more than doubled
itself. For he had learned to love her
passionately; and all the world might
see it for aught he cared. She, too,
might see it if she chose; but whether
she did Or not, he could not tell judg-
ing from the grave and sweet dignity
with which she met and bore back his
eager attentions.
he was determined to put his fate to the
test; to go on in this uncertainty was
worse than torment. They had not been
much disturbed by Robert Stonor; a
paroxysm Of his complaint had con-
fined that gentleman to his own home.
And so Robert Edbury went up to
the old gabed house, before which his
horse had halted that first night, and
sought an interview with Miss Chass-
dane. She was quite alone. The long
French window by which she sat was
flung wide open, and the low, red sun
light, streaming in over her, lighted up
her fair, gold hair and the roses in her
dress.
GLOW beautiful she is p he thought,
as he took her hand to his. "What if
OLOIAIeA AIOI VIII ICI dlCCl oil DuU Will
make a hard fight for it."
Jessie looked up inquiringly into his
face. "You are very silent" she said;
and then, catching the earnest look in
his eyes, she blushed violently and drew
away her hand.
II love you," he passionately broke
forth in a low, tremulous tone, breaking
his emotional silence. "Ihave come to
you this evening to risk my fate by say
ing this, to win or lose all. Jessie, you
must know how love you; how have
loved you all along, from that very first
night that spoke to you, neither of us
knowing the other. Will you not give
me some hope Of love in return? Do
not send me from you an utterly broken
and discouraged man -
Jessie was silent for a monochrome
long, cruel nom ent to Robert Edbury-
then the small sweet face was turned