The Van Buren press., 1879-02-01

only p said Rose, half laughing
1t is all the same, of course" said
Charity, smiling; "Come up to my sit
ting room, Rose, If you have nothing
better to do. l want your advice on the
subject of my embroidery. Rose, hav-
ing, apparently, "nothing better to do"
accepted the invitation, and the two girls
walked away together, while Miss Doro
thy sat down to look over her budget of
letters.
"Auntie is really Wayne's aunt, no
mine" said Charity, as they went up
stairs, "She was his fathers only sis
did not get on we'll togs.ther, she was very
kind to poor mammas altcr MIR. Arnold
died. Before her second marriage nam
ma had grown SO fond of Miss Dorothy
that papa asked auntie to make her home
here, and |, of course, have never alter
ed the arrangements which he then made.
Poor auntie She idolizes Wayne, but he
is always doing something to disappoint
her. She has set her heart on his mar
rying Mildred Scott. just see if he
doesn't manage to fall in love with some
girl who hasn't penny. That is always
the way with him-make up your mind
in one direction, and he is certain to do
just the opposite thing
Flattering description How much he
would enjoy hearing it, laughed Rose as
she took up her work.
Wednesday evening came, and brought
with it Mr. Arnold, twenty four hours
before he was expected Rose, coming
into the library before dinner, found
there a gentleman calmly engaged in
reading the New York paper. At her
entrance he started forward, then paused,
half uncertain as to the identity of the
intruder. "Charity? Ii cannot be little
Charity p
Miss Atherton will he here in a few
momeuts,' said Miss Atherton number
two, preparing to retreat, but the gem
tleman stopped her way
Pray don't go-you are Miss Rose
Atherton, | am sure, Let me intro
duce myself as Charity's brother, Wayne.
Surely we must be some sort of cousins,
since you are an Athertonf" After all,
the much dreadad Mr. Arnold seemed in
clned to be friendly. Rose had enter
tanned some fears lest he should side with
Miss Dorothu, but, since he had made the
first advances, she was willing enough
"to make friends as the phrase is, She
was looking very pretty IN her soft white
muslin, with wild roses at her hair and
throat, and Wayne was quite aoIe to
appreciate the effect
Charity oopniufr IN Gva uInpta, t,t mr.
found them tete-a-tete, and chatting So
ciably.
We made capital trip, and, instead
of stopping in New York, | came on at
once; so was able to surprise you all
| came in about four clock, and found
that you were all out driving, so dressed
for dinner, came down here half an hour
ago, and have improved my time by ma
king Miss Atherton's acquaintance,
There is Aunt Dorothy in the hall
And Mr. Arnold vanished from the sight
of his sister and her friend
The evening that followed may have
been entertaining to some of the party,
but certainly it did not prove so to Rose,
Accordingly, she soon excused herself
under the plea of ga headache, and went
up stairs to her room Aunt Dorothy
was taking her afternoon.nap and while
Rose threw herself down on the floor,
and leaned her head against the sill of
the open window, Charity and Wayne
stepped on to the piazza, aud from there
soon stroled down the moonlight
walk.
"Oh, unlucky Rose! Truly, listeners,
even accidental ones, never hear any
good Of themselves, Charity asked
question, to which Rose paid no atten.
ton, but, IN an instant, she was aroused
by the sound Of her own name. Rose
Yes, Gather like the name; and, as to
the fair maiden herself she is quite pret
ty enough to flirt with during lazy sum
mer holiday"
Wayne, if | thought began Char
ity, Indignantly, but Rose heard no more,
for she retreated to the other end of the
room, and when she came to the window
again the brother and sister were out of
sight. ..
How was she to know that the words
had been spoken merely in careless
Jest?
Nevertheless, despite her indignation,
Rose allowed MOI hint of it to escape her
She intended to pay Wayne in his own
coln-so, at least, she assumed herself in |
The first heat of her her anger AT all
events, Mr.. Arnold found her very
and instead of flirting, discov-
cred, before two months had passed. |
that he had lost his heart. Charity had |
her suspicious, but Miss Dorothy re-
NAMED in blissful ignorance as to the
rue state of affairs.
The last Thursday in August was an
'ventful day for Rose. And old friend CT
Miss Dorothy's, travelling to the lakes,
stopped for flying visit at Ardeigh
Mrs. Somers (such was the lady's name
seemed much struck with Roses face,
md at last, an opportunity offering
tself; she drew the girl aside "Par-
lon me il seem inquisitiye. Are you
?"
+" came from Virginia, but my father
vas born in Deyonshire,' answered Rose,
n surprise,
81 thought so. Tell me, was your
name Rose-Rose Larrimer '''
"Undoubtedly,' replied Rose.
6" knew it, cried the lady, evidently
much excited. "Rose, your mother and
were old schoolmates and dear friends
'ears ago. was sure the moment saw
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