Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-12

that love Now would make amends.
would write as many repentant letters as
were necessary, and she would OF course
forgive me. No woman ever forgets or
ceases to love any man she has ever loved,
you know. Yes, after little maidenly re-
sistance, Rosebud would bloom again for
me. was as sure of this as the train bore
me onward, as was sure that the moon
would rise that night. ~. ~.
There is no adage more true than the one
that declares that misfortunes never come
Alone but always in troops. Often, of course,
one brings the other. In my case, the anxi-
eties that had trooped so thickly about me
made me nervous, and so led to severe
accident.
Having alighted at certain station l de-
layed my return to the carriages until they
had started. ] remember running after
them, and then-what do | remember then
Darkness, dreams, pain, and awakening in a
little room, with white curtains and toilet
table, and vision charmingly dressed
Then some one saying
Eyes yes, yes think he'll do"
And understanding this was my FRIEND
Hiram Roper asked
"IIow did come here ?" trying to sit up
and failing in the attempt
"Well," said Hiram, "wife and were at
the station, and l saw you were good deal
hurt, and we brought you on. You know
this is my house."
"Yoursl" said l. "And you are married
and in practice, / suppose 2"
"Yes," said Roper. "Oh, yes; getting on
famously. And you've had bad time, but
you'll be all right soon. Come and tell him
he will, Rosebud"
And there-yes, there was Rose. After
had ruminated on the fact few minutes,
felt that truth was stranger than fiction.
I" Are you better, Mr.. Markham 7" said
Rosebud, bending toward me.
Here was a most poetical story being
worked out in our proper persons. A wounded
and repentant hero, had been sent back TO
Rosebud, to be nursed and forgiven. Had
she not forgiven me, she never would have
flown to my aid. All that could do was to
squeeze her hand. She took it away rather
quickly, but that was very natural. had
not seen her for three years. She did not
know my contrition. But she was not
| pined nor faded; she was, en- the contrary,
,touter and roster than ever. Just then, DR..
Roper being present, said nothing, but af-
| terwards, as the evening shadows fell, she
| brought me tea and toast, and then | took
her hand and said
"Dear Rosebud, how good of you.'
| And she answered.
ooh, dear no; don't mention it,
"You are an angel of forgiveness" | said.
And I-oh, have always loved you, Rose
bud. 'Tis true syren laid her spells upon
me- but the hallucination once over"
al shall think you are wandering again.
said she, I" if you don't stop talking SO. Do
take your toast"
"No," said |, "not mouthful, Rosebud,
until you will assure me that you will forget
the past, and once more give me the love-
"Mr. Markham " she cried.
"Call me Henry" said |. "Rose, if you
had hated me, would you be here so kindly
ministering TO my wants ?"
"Here ?" said she. "Where should be
but in my own house I'm sure I've moth.
ing to forgive you, either Since you allude
to our Irritation of three years ago, and since
you talk of it, | will tell you once for all,
that | don't think we ever should have been
happy together. And always liked Hiram
the best, only he was so shy. Aud my good
ness we were married as soon as he got his
diploma
"Married |" cried.
"Why, yes" said Rosebud show else
should be here You know this is DIR.
Roper's house. Didn't you know | was his
wife before? Dear old fellow, he is the
best husband woman ever had, I'm sure,
and, Mr. Markham, | know now that never
really loved you"
| | don't know whether that was true or not,
but it did not matter. She did not love me
then, and did not now, and had lost her
and Roper had won her.
| | live alone at Mosswood now, an old
bachelor with limp and the dyspepsia, and
she and a bouquet of little blossoms flourish
over the way at DR.. Roper's.
| Somatima parhaps | NAV fnarry-\fiaa
Flint would have me- and so would the
widow Virgins; but whatever may gather
to wear over my heart, it will not be a
Rosebud. | threw that away long ago, and
Roper picked it up and it makes his life
fragrant.-Selected.