The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-25

and picked up a rosebud that mad lallen, anu
then held it triumphantly before the flushed
and startled face by his side.
''Seep' he said, gayly; II saved it from be.
ing crushed under foot. VIII you not give IL
to me?"
But she reached out her hand impulsively,
81 Il never give roses to strangers" she re-
piled, with cold, frightened, angry air.
''They are Mr.. Robert Stonor's roses. Give
it back to me, if you please"
"My name is Robert, toO," he said, in the
same gayly tender voice, though his dark face
changed little at her frank confession. MY
name is Robert, too, Miss Chassdane. There
fore, may not claim the rose %
The soft blue eyes, filed with tears, flew
I'D and met his. She knew him then. Fright
ened and ashamed, and trembling from head
to foot, she rose impulsively to her feet. He
took step backward, and they stood SO, fac
ing each other moment in the gay, unheed-
ing crowd.
81 know you now," gasped Jessie. elbow
dare you speak to me again-you are very
presuming, Sir. will not bear it. Give me
back my flower and leave me-"
"Nay," he said gently, but in the tone OF a
master, "is there cause for angerW And in
low, reasoning, persuasive voice he spoke
to her for some moments, and the rising spir-
it was Gained. In spite OF herself and against
her will she was becoming irresistiby at
tracted to this man.
'Give me this one waltz, Miss Chassdane.
and then will give you back your rose. 1t
will be fair exchange. But mind what
tell you, as sure as there is a heaven above
us the day is coming when you will offer me
rose unasked. Comep'
The old rose-red flush drifted over the
young girls face; his words, and more than
all, his manner, impressed her as he meant
they should. He stood, with profered arm,
courteously, still beside her, and, though pro-
testing inwardly with all her might that she
would not dance, she gave him her hand, and
in moment they were floating deliciously
together to the strains of the seductive music.
When it was over Robert led her to her
seat near some friends; her mother had not
gone to the rooms that night She looked
very pale. The pretty rose color had all died
out of the sweet round cheeks.
care you faintp" he asked anxiously,
bending over her. "Are you tired? Shall
get you some water?"
mo, mop she cried, shrinking away from
him. 81 am not faint-but look at Mr.. Rob-
ert Stoner. / have offended him. He is
| angry because danced with you. Oh, what
shall I do? He is my cousin, and has ill
health, and he must not be excited"
Robert Edbury turned and saw standing
near him that other Robert, who threatened
to be-or perhaps was-no mean rival. His
ill-bealth was evident. One hand was
pressed to his side as if to still some pain
there, and on his handsome blonde face,
which was marked by unmistakable traces Of
confirmed sickness, a cloud of jealous anger
rested heavily.
The eyes Of the two met, and each knew
the other for rival.
A half smile of scorn as he looked curled
Robert Edbury's lips. In case like this a
man has no pity for the ailments of another.
With a grave face he took from his pocket
the rosebud and laid it in Miss Chassdane's
lap.
"Here is your rose," he said, quietly. 81
restore it to you at your wish. But remem-
Der what said; and believe me, time will
prove me to be no mean prophet"
Without waiting for an answer he bowed
and disappeared amid the throng of dancers,
seeking her no more that night.
SIS Miss Chassdane engaged to that man ?''
he questioned of his friend Norton.
81 believe there is no positive engagement"
was the reply. "Mrs. Chassdane, it is said,
objects to it"
son what score does she object? Money ?'
"Oh, no, Stonor has small, compact es-
| tate close by, and is well off. On the score
of his uncertain health. Also, they are
| cousins.''
'What is it that is the matter with him ?''
"Some complication, connected with both
the lungs and the heart, which, conclude,
| renders treatment difficult"
''Do you think Miss Chassdane cares 70,
him ?''
81 don't think she loves him, Edbury-il
that's what you mean. 1t seems to me that
she likes him more as brother. When
eligible attentions are paid to girls they feel
| battered, you know, and respond accordingly.
| Nine out OF ten OF them understand nothing
of their own feelings, and mistake friendship
for love. Robert Stonor and Miss Chessdane
| have grown up together-have been like
brother and sister,"
frequently they met after that. 1t was an
| unusually gay season at Spafeld, and enter
tainments abounded accordingly. In the
morning drinking the water, or making be.
lieve to drink it; in the afternoon sauntering
in the garden, or on the parade; in the even,
ing at the rooms, or at private parties; two
or three times did Mr.. Edbury and Miss
Chassdane meet, and linger together, and
converse with each other. Robert Edbury's
time was his own aud he staid on. He could
have staid forever. The two or three weeks
| sojourn he had intended had more than
doubled itself. For he had learned to love
her passionately; and all the world might sec
for aught he cared. She, too, might see it il
she chose; but whether she did or not he
could not tell, judging from the grave and
sweet dignity with which she met and bore
back his eager attentions.
At length there came an evening when he
was determined to put his fate to the test; to
| 60 on in this uncertainty was worse than
| torment. They had not been much disturbed
by Robert Stonor; paroxysm of his com.
plant had confined that gentleman to his
| own home.
And so Robert Edbury went up TO the low
| gabled house, before which his horse bad
| halted that first night, and sought an inter
| view with Miss Chassdane. She was quite
alone. The long French window by which
she sat was flung wide open, and the low red
sunlight, streaming in over her, lighted up
her fair gold hair and the roses in her dress,
"How beautiful she is" he thought, as he
| took her hand in his. sWhat if should not
| win her after all? But 1 will make hard
| fight for it,
| Jessie looked up inquiringly into his face
"1ou are very SILENT" she said; and then,
catching the earnest look in his eyes, she
blushed violently and drew away her hand.
| II love you," he passionately broke forth
in a low, tremulous tone, breaking his emo
tional silence. 81 have come to you this
evening to risk my fate by saying this, to win
or lose all. Jessie, you must know how
| love you; how have loved you all along
| from that very first night that spoke to YOU
L ANAeASA VI 40 hhoWid3 VIC OtACls w Ill yOu
| give me some hope of love in return? Do moi
send me from you an utterly broken and dis.
couraged manV
Jessie was silent for monochrome long,
cruel moment to Robert Edbury-then the
small, sweet face was turned to him with
gentle dignity. He knew his doom before.
hand, ere she spoke the words.
"You must know how useless it was to
speak to me of this" she said. "You knew
surely you must have known, that I was
engaged to my cousin, Robert Stoner?"
Engaged to him?"
YES. We are engaged"
Neither spoke for time. The scent of
the flowers, blooming in the lonely grounds
on this side of the house, away from the
dusty and busy highway. seemed to mock
them with its sweetness; the clustering
shrubs and trees waved gently in the summer
evening breeze.
He could not speak at once; the sense of
his bitter loss was too great. The setting
sun streamed in upon him, lighting up his
| distressed face. 1t seemed to him that the
great old-fashioned clock in the hal licked
| out the jeering words