The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-12-26
OUR STORY TELLER.
LITTLE ROSETTA.

"a woman to see me, Jane? Do you
know who she wasp
"No, ma am, she was never here be-
fore. She looked very much disap-
pointed when | told her you were out,
and said she would call again to-mor-
row, at the same hour"
No messageT
4" No, ma'am She said her business
was very important, but she must see
you, and could not leave any mes
sage"
"Take my cloak and bonnet to my
room, Jane. / will lie down a while on |
the sofa here; lam tired, and my head |
aches"
But when the servant left the room,
Helen Raymond did not lie down. The
spirit of restlessness seemed to possess
her, for she paced up and down the floor,
pressing her hand upon her burning,
aching forehead, and trying in vain to
still her unquiet thoughts.
Two days ago, had you asked this
young wife where perfect happiness
could be found, she would have answered
that it rested upon her own heart One
year before, she had married the man
she loved, believing her deep, pure af-
fection was fully returned. John Ray
mond was older than his gentle, beauti-
full wife by some fifteen years; but he
was a man whose love might crown any
woman's life with blessing. He was a
merchant of high standing and ample
means, and he had made it the study of
this year of welded life to add by every
means within his power to Helen's Zap
piness. They had been abroad, and the
girlish enthusiasm of the beautiful
bride had stimulated the husband to
many a ramble after the picturesque,
many an hour spent in historical re-
search, and many long drive or ride
over grounds filled with historic or
artistic associations. Only one little
week had they been in their ewn home,
where taste and affection had dictated
the expenditure of wealth, and where
there seemed nothing wanting to make
true home Of elegance, comfort and
happiness.
To say that Helen Raymond loved her
husband with her whole heart gives no
exaggerated idea of her affection. She
had just been emancipated from school
life when she met him, so noble, so true,
and so good, respected in society, and
standing high among merchants. Her
father was his lawyer, and troublesome
lawsuit was in progress, requiring the
client to call often upon his professional
adviser. So the grave man of business
met the fresh young girl with her un
formed mind and untried heart, and he
grew to love her, to look upon her sweet
innocent face with the feeling of delight
one feels in contemplating some fresf
mountain flower in a hot house. Joh1
Raymond was no novice in the world
ways. More than one fair damsel in tn,
full paraphernalia of fashionable "trip
perry had let him see that she would b,
willing to accept his name and wealth il
exchange for as much of her heart a
two or three seasons of flirting had lef
her. He had passed by so many of these
that the voice of society prophesied
life Of celibacy for him.
But sweet Helen crept into his hear
by no suoh portal as these had tried t,
force. She gave him at first the respec
due to a man older than herself, an,
whom she believed far superior to al
her other gentlemen friends in intellec
and moral wealth, and he gave her tn
protecting fondness he would have &C
corded to pretty child. How thes
emotions grew fuller and more perfect
till they stood upon the equal ground Q
strong, mutual love, it were too long
tale to record. 1t was an instance @
true love whose course ran perfectl
smooth. Relatives and friends on bot
sides were delighted, all agreeing as t
the merits of bride and groom. Socis
standing, wealth, all things in keeping
and love being added, there SCENE
nothing to cloud the sky matrimonial.
One year of married life had bu
united the two more closely; for, Will
Helen's character developed, her min
expanded, and her intellect fed upo
stronger food than it had ever before n
ceived, she lost nothing of her swee
ness of disposition or that gentleness an
frankness that had first won her hu
bands heart.
And, now, pacing up and down I'll
little sitting-room fitted up for he
especial use, what is the bitter grief tn,
clouds all the felicity of her life? Onl
few words spoken in sleep. Whe
John Raymond, two mornings befor
had kissed his wife's lips, and remarke
upon their pallor, he had no idea wb,
his own lips had betrayed in the sti
hours of the night. Only one sentent
had escaped them, as he turned uneasil
in his sleep, but that sentence hs
been like dagger thrust to Il
heart of the wife who loved him 80 fe
vently. 1t was, Rosetta, NV poor d
s,rted darlingp
Over and over again, in the two mi
cradle days that followed, did Helt
Raymond repeat the phrase. Who W
RosettaY Was she deserted for h
sake? 1t was some one John loved: Il
tender infections of his voice prov,
that. No relative of whom Hell,
had ever heard bore the singular nam
Somewhere, she knew not where, the
was deserted Rosetta for whom h
husband mourned.
And, now, with this fact before b,
Helen began to recall other facts
equal significance. She remember
hours of sadness passed by her husbaI
even in their honeymoon there We
letters, too, sent from abroad, WHIT
address she was not allowed to see, a
some received whose contents were I
impaired to her. All had seemed rig
when she was happy and trustful,
lieving in her husbands love, but h
dark it all looked now! And, while
heart was so torn and troubled, here v
mysterious woman, who would ]
leave her name or errand, wishing to
her.
No wonder that her face was pale a
haggard when she arose the next mo
ing after a sleeplness night, and
smile wan and feeble when her husba
commented upon it.
Indeed, 1 am quite well John,"
said, a. he pressed loving kiss VI
I,ar fec. ood e, bor 1oo-@ IL ...... 4 !.