The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-31

lyOuTS. TOTElNc ulul my tdT-He CuIlnOl lOI-
give himself"
Rosalie's head dropped and her breast heav-
ed She had not thought before, absorbed in
her hearts sweet secret, her minds fever, how
negectful she had been OF Il chllds first duty
towards him-her only parent-Aow wanting
in confidence and love.
Heaven knows have no right to be proud
IA poor, obscure, country clergyman, dared
hope for no exalted lot for you, Rosalic lovely
as you are-the image of your lovely mother.
But-Mr. Ray is not your equal; and there
are other and worse reasons why he cannot
aspire to you"
Tell me all papa" she gaspcd,
Mr.. lIalcroit took her burning hands in his
and told a disgraceful tale. This young Bert
ram Ray was a gambler He had during
these few recent weeks of absence, been abroad
to where gamblers resort, and had won largely,
and was come back laden with his gains.
at is not true; / will never believe it, she
broke out with painful, passionate vchcmcnce.
1T Is quite true, Rosalie," answered the
Clergyman, sadly. you shall be convinced
Of it yourself, il you only will, In one respect
the young man Is honorable, for he is no liar :;
when taxed with 1t by one who had n right TO
question him, he allowed its truth My child,
you cannot marry gambler 1t is the worst
vice, save one, that man can acquire"
| mo, no; | cannot marry him." acquicsCcd
Resale, rising up with trembling limbs and
pallld face. Papa, fOryour sakc-ior all your
sakes--l renounce Bertram Ray"
SO Mr.. Ray and Miss IIalcroft met no more
except at church, where his eyes would
dwell on her pale face until it burned with
levcrish crimson beneath his gaze, though her
| look was turned away with resolulc avoidance I;
or when they encountered in the street, where
he fingered to meet her, and flushed and trcm
bled, but she passed on with cold bow. He
was too proud to plead, too remOrseful to re
sent, but she knew by intuition as she sat
weeping in her chamber, the passionate words
of explanation he wrote, and tore, and flung
away and never sent to her
"Rosalic, did it for you. won to win you:
| knew It was the surcst road to fortune, and
fortune sanctions love. Poor, could not adj
dress you; rich, might dare to ask | never
remembered 1t was a sin-l only remembered
your sweet words and lovely looks. ! never
thought of wrong, | only thought of you,
Resale"
Over and over again these or some such
words of excuse were gone over in her mind.
They were very near to the truth Only-hc
had not at first staked to win, but only out of
idlcness, only from example; when he found
he was indeed wilmington he had strange
and wonderful streak of luck IN the German
Itown-hc went on pursuing It, thinking only
of Resale.
But had he explained all this and sued for
pardon, what would it have awaited against
the mild horror of the Christian minister or
the fierce virtue Of the village gossips least
Of all the shocked pride of his beloved? To
her maidenly incXpcricnce the sin Of gambling
looked SO very dark and horrible. The Rev
Mr., IIalcroi, held an interview with the offend.
or and there and then cut the cord Of the past,
and with it the hearts life Of his daughter.
Poor Rosalic striving her best for outward
Icomposurc, could but weep and droop and
grow more listless day by day and wiring her
fathers heart with useless sorrow. At last,
dcspairng of his own treatment, and doubling
his knowledge Of woman's nature he wrote Il
long letter to his sister, Mrs Gray, begging
her to advise him what to do for his daughter
IN the case he described.
Mrs. Gray arrived herself in answer. A
handsome, rich, fashionable, prosperOusl y-mar
ried woman, with u talent for management
She came prmed with much excellent advice
but was startled at the first sight Of Rosalle's
beauty. The tlexilc graceful shape, the state
| ly little head, the oval face, with hair, eyes
brows and lashcs of the same rare shade, the
lips Of delicate red, the pretty smile and clear
pallor of complexion were all marked by her
keen eyes, and she fastened to charge herself
with the care of Rosalies future, and assure
her brother that, with proper education, his
daughter had all the requisites for making n
great sensation in society, and eventually a
splendid match; none the worse qualified by
this early experience of u foolish fever 1t
did not hinder girls prospects, she said, or
cause them to make less good wives.
She took Resale back with her to her home
IN town. Having no children of her own, the
charge was pleasant rather than otherwise.
Once there, she caused the girl to be provided
with the best of masters, and gave her herself
the best of trainng-for a fashionable life
Shortly after this, the Rev Mr.. Hacroft had
IA living given him quite Unexpectedly near
town, and removed to 1t, so that all associa-
tons with the old home were severed from
ROsalie
$50 much the better" SAID Mrs. Gray
Thus passed three years. AT nneteen Rosa.
lie was introduced into society by her aunt to
become ut once its lovelicst ornament, and
achieve all the success that had been promised
for her by vanquishing somewhat stern gen
tleman and great match, a Mr.. Russell who
had hitherto been held to be mpregnable
Accustomed to be courted-beset in fact-Ro.
sale's cold indifference piqued him-her rare
beauty charmed him-and he soon found HIM
self AS violently IN love as 1t was possible for a
man OF his temperament to be.
Left to herself, Miss Hacroit might have
declined him, for not an atom of love for HIM
touched her heart; but Mrs Gray was impcra-
tive and rs good rs settled things for her.
Decline Mr.. Russell the best match Of the
!" she exclaimed. mo, no. that would
never do" And Resale, who had learned to
appreciate the good things of this world that
the gods provide for lucky people, accepted
him. At twenty she became Mrs. Russell.
Then succeeded life of placid elegance, of
luxurious ease. For the first time IN her cx.
pcrience every exquisite taste could be delight
ed every delicate sense grattied, and all her
desires and wishes fulfilled. All? Was there
no yearnIng in her heart that her husbands
calm kindness could not satisfy? no chamber
in her soul that his selfcomplacent image
could not ill? Who knew what had become
Al. Il n