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

Hush !" cried Jessie. do not speak
like that again 1t would kill him
You do not know what you are say
ing"
"Kill him -
"If be heard it, | meant. He says he
trusts me-"
"And you are sacrificing yourself for
him for a fancy Hear the truth,
Jessie. You care not for Mr.. Stonor.
except as cousin or brother. Ex-
anime your own heart, and it will tell
you that you do not. You care for me.
You love me. Many half word, half
look has betrayed it to me. Yes, my
darling, it is Robert Edbury you have
learned to love, not Robert Stonor.
Your bushes, my love, are betraying it
now. YOU"
What was that ?" 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
a lifetime. Before either could rush
out Robert StOnOr stood in the open
ing.
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. !se, that you are !" broke at
length from his bloodless lips, as he
seizod 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 a fright
full shiver 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
assistance.
'Robert Stonor here !" cried the be-
wildered Mrs. Chassdane. II thought
he was confined to his chamber at
home"
He had been confined to his chamber
but alas, he had crept out of it that
evening, and come up to the house to
see Jessie. With the fond hope of sur
prising her in the usual evening room,
he had gone around the shrubbery, in
tending to enter by the window, and
had heard all.
On the floor, there as be 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 the sick bed
to which this shock of sudden death
had brought her. that Robert Edbury
came to say farewell to Miss Chass-
dane
The interview was brief, studedly
brief, for. with the shadow of that dead
man lying between them, speech was
difficult to both
''Good-bye," she cried, reaching out
to him an attenuated hand. II hope
you may find happiness and peace"
':But we shall meet again." cried Rob-
ert eagerly, "Surely-surely-
time in the future | may come to
your"
"Hush" she cried the tears rolling
piteously down her cheeks. You must
not speak of that, Roberts shadow
would always come between US, as he
fell there on the floor. We killed him,
We killed himW and she wrung her
pale hands together in strong excite
m ent.
"Stop" 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 mercfully found
peace in the rest of DEATH"
He stood for a moment looking with
fond longing into the small, sweet face
from which the summer roses had fled.
Then taking from his pocket fragile
gold and crystal circlet, he held it out
to her. 1t was the bracelet she lost that
first night of their meeting.
~ found it under your window that
night with the violets," he said. cit
fell from your arm. Will you take it
back now ?"
A faint lovely tinge Of red fickered
into her cheeks once more.
NO." she answered, looking into his
dark face with tender, gentle wistful-
ness; Il 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 ,remem-
Der me-"
A year went by, and no message
came. The second year ne said to
himself: "Surely she will send for me
nowW But May and June crept by, and
July came; but not one word came from
Jessie Chassdane. He was growing
sick with wild and helpless despair,
for he felt how worse than useless it
would be to go uncalled, when one
day a letter came futtering like a
white bird to his heart.
"The roses are in bloom and there is
one for your A1yosy.
A NEW and useful application of cleo
tricity has been made by an American