Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-02-21

silk, with soft tulle vail covering the
whole of the little figure, and enhancing,
without concealing, the beauty of the
fair girlish face with its innocent and
childlike sweetness.
A great many tears were shed at part
ing, and Frances was the last to kiss the
bride, who could not bear to leave her.
At length Philip advanced, and Frances
held out her hand to say goodbye. He
took it in trembling clasp, and then
May I, Frances - my cousin
Frances?" he asked, imploringly, plac-
ing his arm round her. She started
back, her face flushing crimson.
Kiss him, Frances ?" said Rose.
The girl hesitated but, unwilling to
vex Rose on her wedding-day, she SUBJ
mitted to the embrace. AS his trembling
lips touched hers she turned as pale as
death. apd. tried :, to withdraw herself
"Forgive me,' he whispered, and
turning to Rose, placed her little hand
on his arm and passed out of the house
to the carriage without word.
So in the lovely month of roses Philip
and his fair little bride left the shores
of America and her aunt and cousin
missed the bright young creature who
had been the sunshine of their home.
They heard often from the travellers,
and Roses letters were tilled with praises
of Philip, but her happiness was not
complete without Frances.
At length the letters ceased, and
Frances became alarmed lest Rose
should be ill, when Philip wrote, late
in October, begging Mrs. Fleming and
her daughter to start at once for Rome
Rose was i'll, having caught cod in
crossing the Simplon en- route to Italy.
Frances was all impatience to leave.
She knew that Philip would not have
been 30 urgent for their presence If he
had not been alarmed. "Oh, my Rose
bud, you will never see home again, +"
she thought, as she assisted her mother
to pack the few belongings they in
tended to take. Mrs. Fleming was
aghast at the idea OF going to Europe
without a gentleman, but was some
what reassured as she remembered the
energy and self-reliance of her daughter
in cases of emergency; and they were
soon on their way to Rome, which city
they reached in December, and found
the Lindsays settled in a hotel on the
Piazza di Spagna.
But ah ! what a change had come
over their blooming Rosebud, who lay
back upon her pillows 81 sping for
breath, the round young form wasted to
a shadow, while a bright hectic spot
burned on one thin cheek, and her sweet
blue eyes glittered with feverish luster.
Poor little Rose her short life was
nearly ended now. The severe colo
caught on the mountains had terminated
in rapid decline, her lungs being weak
from consumption inherited from hel
mother
Philip was haggard and worn with
resIffm ~nls rEats' aJ Jne signt o1 the
relatives from whom he had taken theil
fioweret in all its bright Young bloom
And Rose Her happiness was com
plete now that Frances had come. Sht
was perfectly resigned to die, and SPOKE
of her departure with the utmost com
posure.
Ct have had my share of happiness,
she said to Frances, who hung over he
in mute despair. "My short life ha
been without cloud. If had Lives
longer Philip might have died, or you
and then I could not have borne to liv
after you. Comfort Philip, Frances
) when I am gone. He has been so kind
, so lenient to all my ia Its and follies
, Tell him that he made me very happy
! but he must not grieve for me. 1t
better as it is"
And so the little Rosebud faded fro I
o earth to bloom perfect flower in tn
. | IL D,1t ~ hor1 4
/. give her up and to carry home he
r senseless clay to the land from whenc
n only nine months before she had sc
e forth radiant, happy bride.
n Philip mourned for his fair youn
a W fe, whom he had tenderly loved, an
# the thought that he had done his dut
Il by her and never permitted her to gue'
Is his love for Frances, comforted him no
,r in his bereavement. He returned
g New York after the death of Rose al
n threw himself with ardor into the stuc
70 of law, writing occasional letters to Mr.
ar Fleming, which were answered by h
Of daughter in rather constrained styl
If But Philip was biding his time, 81
tv kept himself acquainted with all lh
= happened in Baltimore.
~ On the eve of the fourteenth of Fe
,n ruary, two years afterward, Frances W
"a seated alone in the parlor, her moth
q having retired with q headache. S
"a was even more beautiful than when '
first saw her; all her haughtiness
40 manner having given place to q tend'
be melancholy grace, and her dark ey
In we're full of softness which told of I
shed tears.
ed She was very lonely tonight, think
ch of poor little Rose, and wondering W
of all that beauty and brightness were p
mitted to gladden. the earth for so sh
,es time.
And yet Rose was happy; she hi
!, % like Thecla, tasted all the bliss that
ID can offer-she had lived and Low,
no "Am never to know it ? Am to p
to through life unloved ?" murmured FIR
ire ceS.
20 AT this moment the bell rang, ant
~ few moments afterward she heard
iss voice of Philip Lindsay in the h
ito How her heart beat as he entered, {
how her voice trembled as she gave
led greeting.
;ou But Philip was very composed as
,ur shook hands and inquired after
health of Mrs. Fleming.
, "I suppose you are surprised to
N me ?" he asked, as they seated thu
no selves.
aoe "Yes I had no idea yon were
town."
ad. "I came over for a short time on !
5ue ticular business in fact, and he d
oon his chair nearer to hers, E" l have st
lnd to tell you, Frances. 1t will not be
9th long; l will go back no further than
ifill day three years ago."
,elp She started, but remained silent.
~ ~ -aL Rono,a ualantina . he u