The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1881-01-09

him to come up.
al am smoking my cigar can't % he ar
swered,
shall come down." said a gay voice
and keep you from melancholy until yo'
finish IL %
II was Roselie.
Eyes, come" he said, and they walke
In the moonlight until all the others ba,
left the balcony. And when he slept thu
night 1t was the bright repartee and ring
ing laugh Of Roselle, not the gentler tones 8
Lydia Hamilton, that haunted his dreams
But that was Roselle's last hour.
standing arose the next morning with ,
nrm resolve to keep himself master of In,
situation,
~ will not comptomise myself here" h,
sMd; bis Very different from London. Their,
twas looked on as Irritation. Here IL woult
be thought TO he a betrothal, and l dom
want that idea to get out. can be polit,
and civil, and all that sort of thing, withou,
compromising mysef.'
Most Of his evenings after this were spen,
with Lydia Hamilton.
h, She never staftles-she Il never sfrik.
ihg," he said {, She is like the moonlight. -
One day Rpselle came down to stend the
day, according TO agreement. Hugh Hsinii.
ton and Standing came hoihe ffom two days
hunt, fnd foWrs her there, and Standing re-
l "@iIeu 10 lunCD.
Roselle had never looked better. Striking
she was always her rich coloring, her fine
figure, the general tout ensemble of the woman.
made her that; hut she seemed TO fascinate
and charm the gentle Lydia with her wit and
repartee, instead OF shocking her, as Stand
ing half expected.
Hugh was In fine spiiits aMd Ma laugh was
always ready If Roseile opened her lips. an.
ticipating a @iticisin.
Standing, who had been strangely nervous
when he first found himself in the presence
Of the two women, soon grew at ease, and
made himself delightfully."- entertaining.
81 think Miss Somers--or Roselle as YOU
call her--is charming" said Lydia the next
day to Standing. al like her dash and
sparkle, and she seems so genuine and SO
earnest"
Standing, who was easily swayed by the
opinions OF others, felt his heart thrill.
After all Roselle was charming.
He thought of her as he walked tip the
path in the starlight a few hours later. And,
as II in answer to his thoughts, he found her
sitting alone on the balcony enveloped in a
| white shawl.
he said, $50 will sit down here and finish
my cigar. May n"
Yes" she said, and let me help YOU"
She took the cigar with a graceful gesture
and gay laugh, and held it close beside her
lips. Would not make fine profile pic
ture now ?" she asked.
Just then window blind was opened, and
blaze of light enveloped them. She gave
back the cigar, and they fell to talking
lightly, while thousand tumultuous
thoughts surged through Standings brain.
10 the average man of the world, spice
oil abandon about the woman he knows to be
good is fascinating and attractive, whatever
| the world may say about it. Standing was
compelled to admit to himself that he enjoyed
| the bright changing variety of Roselle's
society better than he did the unexplaina-
Die sameness of Lydia Hamiltons demeanor.
And yet the world-the speech of people!
One night he sat in the commercial room
oil the inn reading the paper, and Hamilton
sat at little distance also reading.
Two strangers, sportsmen, from London,
were carrying on conversation. Suddenly |
the attention of Standing was called by their |
mentioning name.
Didn't see that dashing Miss Somers |
in the dining hall tonight p queried one. |
And the reply came
"Yes she is here--handsome and faster |
than ever, should Judge. saw her smok-
ing on the balcony with gentleman the
other night"
There was dead silence for second
Standing paled behind his newspaper, but
did not stir. Then, with 1.-the spring,
like young panther, Hugh Hamilton stood
before the last speaker.
You have lied and DETAINED friend of |
mine," he said in low, quiet voice. Ere
tract what you just said, or I'll knock your
teeth down your throat
I'll beg pardon" he said al didn't
suppose she was a friend of yours. only
spoke in jest"
~ would advise you not to make use of a
!ady's name in your jests hereafter" said
Hamilton, as he turned away.
The story of Hamiltons defense of her
name reached Roselle the next day. 1t had
spread through the inn, as such news will.
like wildfire.
The next time she saw the man alone she
tried to thank him, but her tears clicked her.
and she covered her face with her hands.
He took them both in his.
need no thanks" lie said, softly.
" What man would not defend the woman he
iovedf l love you, Roselle. Will you not
be my wife ?"
And she wore his diamond sol;t.ir. that
night.
Standing heard chance reference to the
romantic finale Of the sensation the next day.
A sudden sickness seemed to seize him. He /
grew cold and hot by turns, and was like n
man beside himself
His heart and soul all rallied and cried ,
out against another mans possessing this /
peerless creature, who had been his, vir- 1
tually, so long.
All, he would see her-he would talk to
her; he would tell her she must not make
TINS sacrifce-for a sacrifice II was
Roselle is romantic, f" he said "and she !
thinks she must give herself to repay this q
man for his defense of her. But II must !
not be: have been mad, blind, to let IL 20 G
30 far.' e0 :
IL was hours before he could see her alone. | I
Then he drew her aside into an alcoye.
"hoselle, he cried, fire in his dark eyes I
she had never seen there before--Roseile. s
what do i hear Are you betrothed to i
Hamilton promised to be his wife,. ="
:, les, she answered, very softly. 9
He seized her hand.
why did you do it +" he cried "Did \
you not know loved you-had loved Won
Tor q long time You are sacrificing your Il
!elf to romantic idea, Roselle, in marrying n
Hamilton. II must not be- T" q
ull in the eyes. 1
must be-" she said. 81 am not i
acrihcing myself to any idea. am going
o marry Hugh Hamilton because l love u
lim." WV -
lie heard her with sharper pain in his c.
gu, .hah ne mad ever supposed 1t possible s.
or him to suffer. b
had dreamed-I had fancied--" he o.
'egan and paused. a
les, know, she said. 81 had dreamed. I
that you could make me into a
nything high and true and noble that Won o.
'esifed but You did not try, and ! began h
study you-afterward to compare YOU fo
win Hugh Hamilton and / found him SO b.
much nobier that my heart has gone to him. N
i t#A h..... :