Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-12-05

see MN; ana taxing the V1Ofets~ out -Ot
his pocket, ne kissed them tenderly. It
was most absurdly silly of him to do it;
but who Of us does not do silly things
! IN the heyday of our youths morning :?
silly things that we blush for after
ward, perhaps, just as Robert Edbury
blushed when putting the yiolets again
quickly away.
Scepter and crown. I'll fling them down,
If | might"
But his song got no further than that;
it died away in thought.
Passing arm-in-arm down the crowd
ed dancing room of the Spa the next
evening, with his friend Norton, Robert
Edbury's quick ear was caught by a
note which at once arrested his atten-
ton. He had said that he should
know that divine voice again. hear it
wherever or whenever he. might, and he
was not mistaken. A certain remone
STRANGE lay in its tones; not to say dis
/ belief. .AfE =. ~ S.|lfk8 -
"Rut who could ithave been, Robert,
/ if it was not you? 1t frightens me to
! think of it. Tit was somebody of
your height and figure. 1t must have
been yourself, Robert"
But [ tell you it was not, Jessie. [
should like to know who it was"
lie was a gentleman, [ am sure
with a stress upon the word. You
need not be put out, Robert"
| Robert Edbury turned and saw close
beside him, a young girl surprisingly
beautiful. Roses mingled with the
bright gold of her hair, shone in the
bosom of her dress, and a bunch of
them was somehow intertwined with
/ the slender gold wrist-c chain attached to
| her fan.
Mr.. Edbury caught his breath, as
turning her face, the girls soft violet
| blue eyes rested for a moment unrecog-
nizingly on his.
Who is she?" he whispered eagerly
to his friend. "How lovely she is!
What is her name? By heaven! /
never believed in divine loneliness be-
fore; but here it is, pure and undefiled.
What is her name?' ...........
:" 1t is Miss Chasshane," was the an
swer. "She and her mother live at the
Grove, half mile out of town."
"A farm house." remarked Robert.
"No, it is not. It looks not unlike
one. They are people of property.
Yes, she is very pretty. I'll introduce
you if you like"
Half an hour later Robert Edbury
was bending over the young lady'S hand
in the pretty secluded gloom of a vine
wreathed window. They were as much
alone as it is possible for one to be in
the heart of d busy, unheeding crowd.
The first notes of a Strauss waltz were
beckoning the dancers, and gay couples
went laughing, hurrying by.
You are not engaged for this naltz?"
said Robert eagerly.
Some remembered cadence Of his
voice struck the young girls memory,
and, forgetting to answer him, she
looked at him doubtfully, while rosy
blush swept over her forehead. She
half knew him and half did not.
"Will you let me look at your card?"
he pursued, as with perfect courtesy in
his voice and manner, he took the bit of
gilt and enameled pasteboard which she
had tucked away amid the roses at her
wrist.
CT half promised this dance to
Robert, " she stammered, finging quick
glance over her shoulder into the sway
ing crowd.
"Then shall claim it." answered the
other Robert with an audacious smile.
He stopped and picked up rosebud
that had fallen, and then held it trium-
phantly before the flushed and startled
face by his side.
"Seey" he said, gayly; 81 saved it
from being crushed under foot VIII
you not give it to me!'
But she reached out her hand impul-
siyely. CT never give roses to
strangers" she replied, with a cold,
frightened, angry air. "They are Mr..
Robert Stonor's roses. Give it back to
me, If you please"
"My name is Robert, too" he said, in
the same gayly tender voice, though his
dark face changed little at her frank
confession. "My name is Robert, too,
Miss Chassdane. Therefore, may L not
claim the rose?
The soft blue eyes, filled with tears,
flew up and met his. She knew him
then. frightened and ashamed, and
trembling from head to foot, she rose
impulsively to her feet. He took a
step backward, and they stood SO, fac
ing each other moment in the gay, I'm,
needing crowd.
F." know you now,"'- gasped Jessie.
Chow dare you speak to me again-you
are very presuming, sir. Twill not bear
it. Give me back my flower and leave
me-"
"Nay," he said gently, but in the tone
of a master, els there cause for anger?'
And in low, reasoning, persuasive
voice he spoke to her for some mo-
ments, and the rising spirit was Gained.
In spite Of herself and against her will
she was becoming irresistibly attracted
to this man.
"Give me this one waltz, Miss Chass-
dane, and then | will give you back
your rose. 1t will be fair exchange.
But mind what tell you, as sure as
there is a heaven above us the day is
coming when you will offer me a rose
unasked. Come"
The old rose-red flush drifted over
the young girls face; his words, and,
more than all, his manner, impressed
her as he meant they should. Hestood,
with proffered arm, courteously still be-
side her, and, though protesting inward
ly with all her might that she would not
dance, she gave him her hand and in
another moment they were floating de-
liciously together to the strains of the
seductive music. s-...-r.
When it was over Robert led her to
her seat near some friends; her mother
had not gone to the rooms that night.
She looked vary pale. The pretty rose
color had all died out of the sweetround
cheeks.