The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-28

1t. But engagements, where no love is,
have been broken many times before
nown
"Hushr' cried Jessie. "Do not
speak like that again. 1t would kill
him! You do not know what you are
saying"
kill himr'
If he heard it, meant He says
he trusts me-
"And you are sacrificing yourself
for him!-for fancy! Hear the truth,
Jessie. You care not for Mr.. Stonor,
except as cousin or brother. En-
anime your own heart, and it will tell
you that you do not. You care for me.
You love me. Many half-word, a
half-look has betrayed it to me. Yes,
my darling, it is Robert Edbury you
have learned to love, not Robert Sto-
nor. Your bushes, my love, are be-
traying itnow You"
"What was that?n shrieked Jessie.
A low, smothered sound, half-groan,
half-cry, had come in from the open
window. 1t was so full of pain that a
man would not care to hear it twice in
life time. Before either could rush
out Robert Stonor stood in the opening
1t was figure never to be forgotten.
His handsome, fair face was distorted
with either pain or anger; his pale lips
trembled; his left hand was pressed,
with the old familiar gesture, upon his
heart.
"False, false that you aren' broke at
length from his bloodless lips, as he
seized Jessie with his right hand. . You
told me you did not care for Robert Ed
bury! You told me-"
A pause, a stagger, and with fright
full SILVER he fell on the carpet. Robert
Edbury broke the fall partially, but was
not quick enough to quite save him
from it, Jessie flew from the room for
ASST stance.
Robert Stonor herer cried the be-
wildered Mrs. Chassdane. 81 thought
he was confined to his chamber al
home"
He had been confined to his cham
Der; but, also, he had crept out of ii
that evening, and come up to the house
to see Jessie. With the fond hope OF
surprising her in the usual evening
room, he had gone round the shrub
berry, intending to enter by the window,
ana had heard all.
On the floor, there as he lay, his head
raised on cushion by the hands OF
Robert Edbury, he died. The medical
men said he could not, in any case,
have lived many months, if weeks, but
that the agitation had killed him.
1t was many long days after that,
when she had risen from her sick bed,
to which this shock of sudden death
J had brought her, that Robert Edbury
came to say farewell to Miss Chass-
dane.
} The interview was brief, studiedly
brief, for, with the shadow of that dead
} man lying between them, speech was
difficult to both.
Good-by," she cried, reaching out
: to him an attenuated hand. Il hope
} you may find happiness and peacem
) But we shall meet again." cried
Robert, eagerly. Surely surely
some time in the future L may come to
you"
"Hushn' she cried, the tears rolling
piteously down her cheeks. "You
, must not speak of that. Robert S
shadow would always come between
us, as he fell there on the floor. We
!. killed him We killed him. and she
wrung her pale hands together in
) strong excitement.
"Stopr' said Robert Edbury, quite
sternly. "You are taking an altogether
mistaken view of the truth. Ask your
mother; ask any one. But you are weak
and i'll yet, Jessie, and the time has not
come for me to insist on this. Let us
think of him, poor fellow, as one who
must, had he Lived, have suffered much,
and who has mercifully found peace in
the rest of DEATH
He stood for moment looking with
a fond longing into the small, sweet
face from which the summer roses had
fled with grudging haste. Then taking
from his pocket a fragile gold and crys-
tai circlet, he held it out to her. 1t was
the bracelet she lost that first night OF
; their meeting.
= q found it under your window that
night with the violets," he said. at
fell from your arm. VIII you take it
back now?"
A faint lovely tinge of red flickered
: into her cheeks once more.
Mop she answered, looking into
his dark face with tender, gentle visit
: fulness- "I-I don't want to recall that
night, or anything connected with it.
You may keep it if you like
So he kissed her hand and said fare.
well. But he left whisper behind him.
"When the roses bloom again, re-
member me-"
A year went by, and no message
came. The second year he said to him.
; self, Surely she will 'send for me
! nowr But May and June crept by,
and July came; but not one word came
from Jessie Chessdane.. He was grow
ing sick with wild and hopeless de.
: spair, for he felt how worse than use
less it would be to go, uncalled; when
one day letter came tluttering like 8
white bird to his heart.
1.-THE roses are in bloom and there is
one for your ArqOSy.