The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-04-15
Rose Forrester's Escape.

Everybody envies Rose Forester. "
The pale girl, in gold colored silk,
lifted the broad lids from her clear eyes
for moment, as the speakers words
reached her ear; then she bent over the
photographs upon her lap again.
She handled the pictures with an en-
thusiastic appreciation of their worth,
so absorbed in their examination as to
be totally unconscious of the tall, fair
man who stood quite near, looking
down at her with an apparent suddenly
awakened interest.
Belonging to such nice family, an
heiress, and 80 beautiful!'
The continued words of the speaker
cached Howard Manley's ear, but evil
IDENTIFY Rose Forester did not hear
them. She turned with sparkling
smile to her hostess, and was still talk
ing with her of the photographs when
Mr.. Clinton brought Howard Manley
up for an introduction.
As she rose in the full light it revealed
that she was very young, scarcely
twenty, yet tall of stature, and with a
certain marked repose of manner.
Her beauty was not conspicuous-sh
was too pale; yet Manley saw how per-
fectly cit was every feature, how clear
the dark-gray eyes, how dark the curl
ing lashes. The ripe lips shut over lit
tie teeth as white as milk, and the con-
tour of the face was perfect oval.
The girls natural and spontaneous
naAper told that she gave the young
man, at first, no unusual attention. Lit
tie by little she observed him-the fair
hair shadowing the white forehead, the
dark blue, penetrating eyes, the unusual
grace of figure, the faultless dress.
Her manner was so cordial and
friendly, and Enthusiastically charming
that Manley racked his brains for the
chance of next. meeting, but was
obliged to abandon it when Miss For
rester was joined by her brother.
She left the room, but instantly he
thanked his good fortune at the finding
ofa ruby scarf.pin which he recognized
as hers. 1t was easy to decide the or
nament too valuable to be entrusted to
a messenger. 1t was a presumption
which he would manage with ease to
call upon and restore it.
Rose was not belle. She had too
much depth and passion of nature to
ever be q society woman; but she had
her admirers, and out of them she soon
chose Manley. ...~
She could not tell why, but his looks,
|kwords, every act, had a charm for her,
pd the eloquent. blood tinging her
bl cheek at his approach told him the
Dry of his power.
e was proud mamie mightSwell
been a happy one-but he often
all air of noticeable WEAKNESS and
eession. This, in answer to Roses
htle inquiries, he attributed to i'll
ealth.
- Spring was opening, with its vivid
sunshine, its balmy air, and Rose was
very happy. It seemed to her that il
was the pleasant influences of the sea-
son which made her daily ways SC
Light; the tender colors, sights and
sounds surrounding her daily walk with
Manley in the park, which made them
so enjoyable.
Perhaps they helped to make her
spirit strong so that she dared say to
herself, AZ love him!" and say it with.
out reservation or fear; for she knew
that it was but little while since she
had first met him, and of his past his.
tory and much of his present she knew
nothing.
No; she feared nothing for herself
To love and be surrounded with tender.
ness was happiness enough for her; she
asked for no more. Yet some instinct
or trace of worldly wisdom made hel
withfsd her confidence from hel
brother, who was her guardian; he knew
nothing of the intimacy.
From the night she had first met
Manley at Mrs. Clinton's party, she
never knew any one who knew him in
Itimately. He told her that he had nc
living female relatives-no home.
He evidently had means ut command
and procured for her, with an ingenuity
which was almost genius, the rarest and
most beautiful gifts. Her delighted re-
ception of them seemed mutual Joy
which prevented any possible feeling Of
obligation on her side. In truth, full Of
the passionate impulses of youth, she
was deaf, dumb and blind for anything
hat 4ha E,llnnss Of the nresant