New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-24
CHAPTER XXXIV-CoNrINUEp.


What was there to be asitated ahoutY Once or
twice the girl wildly stirred in her own limited
being, full of ignorant desperation bOdness and
terror, and ut the same time cold creepinGs of doubt
and sci tdlsapproval, came pressing close to her
mothers side. with kind of dumb overture of con-
fdence. But Mrs. Mountiord could not understand
that there anything to tell. If there had been
u lover at hand. If Heathcote had shown his former
admiration las she understood it, for Rose,
IL he had been coming daily to visit them, she
might have been curious interested reused to the
possibility that there was u secret to tell But
what could Rose find of IA nature to be continental
about IN funston. The thing was Incredible so
Mrs. MOunttord had said with a little Impotence.
Can't you find a seat, my dearY l want my foot
stool to myself, when the child came to her feet
girls IN the habit of doing. Rose felt herself
tenance rcpulsed her still more completely. 1t
frightened her TO think that she had been venturing
in her sisters affairs. What would Anne say Her
panic when she thought OF tins was uncomfortable.
1T was not passion OF fright like that with
which her own possible loss had filled her, but
u was terror that put wings to her icGt,
that gave her that impulse of instant flight
and seii-concealment which is the first thought
OF terror. Thus the poor Ittle undoveloped
nature became the plaything of desperate emotions
while yet all incapable of bearing Them and not
understanding what they were. She was capable
of DONG deadly harm to others on one side and
almost of dong deadly harm to herself on the other,
out OF her extremity oi fear.
Cosmos letter. however, a dash of cold
water in Roses face. Its momentary effect
one of relief. He would not dO what she wanted,
therefore lie never. never was likely to betray t.
Anne that she had interlercd and at the same time
his refusal eased her sense of wrong.do.np: but
after the first mOmentary relief other sensations
much less agreeable came INTO her mind. Her pro-
perry her property! Thus she stood, prey to all
The unoertalntleS-nay, more than tins. almost sure
that there no uncertainty, that danger
over for Anne that she herself was the victim, the
deceived one. cruelty betrayed ana deserted 10y her
Father who had raised her high only to abase her
the lower-and even b. Anne. who had-what had
Anne done Was 1t certain, hose asked herself,
that Anne had not herself privately read that fatal
letter, and acted upon It, though she had pretended
10 Je So much shocked when hose touched 1t. That
must have been ut the bottom of it all Yes no
hOubt that was how 1t was; most likely ii all
plot-a conspiracy! Anne knew; and had put
CoSmo &sde-ordt red hun. perhaps, to pretend to
like Rose best bound him Ia wait till the three
years and Rose dcspoiled, and all secure,
when the whole thing would come on again, and
they would marry. aud cheat poor papa IN his grave
and rob Rose OF her fortune! She became Wild
with passion as this gradually upon her as the
thing most likey-nay, more than likely, certain
Only this could have warranted the tone i'll which
Cosmo wrote. His letter was dreadful: it was I'M
kind. it hooking. it insolent Yes. that
VAS the wOrd-insOent insulting, was what 1t was.
Why, he pretended to propose to hor!-tO her!
Rose. after beng engaged to her sister! When
Rose read 1t over again and perceived what even
her somewhat Obtuse faculties could not mSs-the
stamped her feet with rage and despite. Her pas
sion too much for her. She clenched her hands
tight and cried for anger her checks flaming. her
httie feet stamping i'll fury. And tins the sight
which keziah SAW when she came into the room-a
Eight very alarming to that poor lii tie woman and
Indeed, dangerous III the state oi health III which she
was.
oh. Miss Rose, Miss Rose she said, with
violent start (which bad for herr Wv hat is
1t what Is the matterY
Rose was i'll degree brought to herself by the
appearance of a spectators aud at the same time il
was comfort TO relieve hcI burdcned soul by
speaking To someone.
Kezah,' she said, in great flush of agitation
pnd resentment; IL lS-It Is u gentleman that has
been unClVll TO mep
Oh, Miss Rosep old Saymores wife cried out
with excitement, attaching much more practical
meaning TO the words than lose had any nsi Iht
into. Oh. Miss Rose! Ill our house! Who is ii Z
who Is it Only tell me. and Mr. SaymOre Will turn
him out of doors II 1t was the best customer We
have"
/ Of hon
DETERMINATION to avenge II, brought Rose stll more
thoroughly to herself.
oh! il not anyone here. 1t is gentleman in
"a letter. Rose said and this subdued her 1t is
not any thing Saymore can help me about, nor you,
We are only poor folks Miss Rose said Kcziah.
but for Il real interest and wishing you well,
there's none. if it the Queen herself--
The righteousness of the comparison struck Rose
but struck her not mrthfull y-dOleiully.
1t Is noi much that the Queen can care she said
ANNE Was presented, but was never presented.
Nobody cares! " hat was | when Anne was there 2
Always tn little one-the one that nobody
But Vi s. Rose 4! Miss Rose!
KezIah did not know how to put the consola ton
she wished to give, for indeed She, like everybody
must condone and accept If She adopted the first
suggestion OF her sympathy.
You know she said. with little gasp over the
renegade nature of the speech: you know that
Miss Anne Is nobody now, and you are the one that
Keziah drew her breath hard after this and
stopped short, more ashamed of her own turncoat
ntterhncc than could have been supposed for i'll
sDeciOu>ncSs of reasoning, though Miss Anne was
the one tiat everybody thought of she herself had
always thought most of Miss Rose, who was not a
bit proud, hut always ready 10 talk and tell YOU
anything aud had liked her best.
All crird Rose, shaking her head, 9 if that were
always To last" and then She stopped herself sud-
denly, and looked at Kcziah as if there was some
thing TO TELL a. If considering whether she should
tell something. But Rose WAS NOT without uri-
dence, and she was able to restrain herself.
= 1t does not matter. 1t does not matter. Kezah ,
she cried with that air OF injured superiority which
Is always 80 cOnSenal TO Nouth. There are some
people who never get justice whatever they may do
Little Mrs Saym0re was more bcwlldored than
words could say II there was fortunate person
Ill the world, was it not Miss Rose SO suddenly
enriched chosen instead of Miss Anne to have Miss
AnneS fortune, and all the world at her feet
Kcziah did not know what to make of it, But
Rose, who had no foolish consideration for other
ton
You may go now she said with little wave of
her hand / don't want anything L want only to
he left alone.
: am sure. Miss Rose said Keziah offended |
didn't mean TO intrude upon YOU. | wanted TO saw
as all the things has come home and If Won would
like to look at them I've land them all out in the
best room, and they do look sweet, said the little
cXpectant mother.
Rose had taken great deal Of interest in the
things. and had aided in various small pieces
OF needleWOrk-a cOndescension which Mrs. Mount
ford did not approve. But today she i'll no
MOOD for this inspection. She shook her head and
waved her hand with a mixture of majesty and des-
pondency.
Not to-day. / have other things to think of,
keziah. couldn't look at them to day
This maize keziah take abrupt leave, with
offence which swallowed up her sympathy. After
ward sympathy had the better of her rescntmen t..
She went and reviewed her little show by herself,
and felt sorry for Miss Rose. 1t must be iron Bile
indeed which could not be consoled by a sight of
the things with all their little frills pofered and
little laees SO neatly roned, laid out in sets upon
the best bed.
When. however. Keziah had withdrawn the want
OF anyone to speak To became ntoerable to Rose
he mi of