Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-11-09

ROSA'S REVENGE.

"But do you really mean it, Mr.
Brabazon %
Rosa Dale was standing in the illu-
minated archway of the autumn
woods, her bright braids of hair pierced
by one or two wandering sunbeams,
her dimpled child-face framed in, as it
were, by sprays of red-veined autumn
leaves, while her apron was full of the
glistening brown chestnVts which she
had picked up.
John Brabazon leaned against the
tall, smooth trunk of the birch tree
and looked at her with lazy, luxu-
rious sense of artistic beauty entering
into his mind as he gazed.
"Of course 1 mean it." said he.
"But am only twelve years old, ("
cried Rosa, flinging back the sunny
tendrils of hair that hung over her
forehead.
You are exactly twelve times as
lovely as any of the city bellies that
congregate hereabouts," said Mr.. Bra
bacon, striving to conceal yawn.
"And if they think 1 am engaged
don't you see?-there will be some
probability of their leaving off perse-
cutting me-"
"Wellr' said Rosa, every dimple
coming shyly out on lip and cheek as
she stood there.
"It is to be compact, ehP p said Mr..
Brabazon.
Rosa nodded her fair little head.
"But," she questioned, rather dubi-
ously, where is the ring?"
"The-what?" ?"
Encouragement ring, Mr.. Braba-
zon," exclaimed Rosa, reproachfully.
"Don't you know there's always ring
inthe novels? And most generally it's
diamond"
IF you'll believe me-" said Mr..
Brabazon, tragically, +" never thought
of the ring. But here's little opal
that used to be my mothers, hanging,
onmy watch chain. Won't that do?"
Rosa held out her brown finger
while he fitted it on.
You-you haven't kissed me yet p
she said, when this ceremony was COM
plete Lovers always kiss their fan
cesP
Mr.. Brabazon laughed.
"Come," said he, "this is getting
serious. But here's the kiss, before
the rest Of the chestnut party get back.
And, mind, this is to be a profound
secret between you and me-"
Rosa ran back home with vague
sensation of mysterious delight, and
thought how nice Mr.. Brabazon looked,
all the time she was munching her
roasted chestnuts and Mr.. Brabazon
himself took advantage Of the little
joke to proclaim himself an engaged
man. Nor is it an exaggeratjon to say
that the young ladies were genuinely
disappointed.
ut must be recent thing" said
Kate Kennedy, tossing her head.
aOh, quite recent" acknowledged
Mr.. Brabazon.
"Love at first sights" asked Miss
Day.
"N-no, not exactly" said Brabazon.
"In fact, I may say that 1 have adj
mired the young lady since her in
fancy"
"What delightful enigma r said
Belle Vernon, looking anything but
delighted. "But Of course, Mr..
Brabazon, you'll tell rs her name?"
II am pledged to secrecy" said the
engaged man, solemnly.
And when he left the mountain
notch in the late autumn, and forgot
all about the wild little woodland
sprite who climbed trees and pelted
him with chestnuts, waded with brown,
dimpled feet in the eoamy waters Of
the glen torrent, and conducted him 50
mysteriously to the barn chambers to
show him her empty birds nests, butter
fly wings and diamond bright pebbles,
how was he to know that she remem-
bered the episode under the. yellow
leaved chestnut trees as Il red letter
day in her calendar?
"He ought to write to me- said
Rosa, gloomily, as the weeks and
months glided by, and no epistle came.
"I do hope he isn't going to turn out
false, like the wicked cavaliers in story
books"
And when Mr.. Brabazon bought a
huge wax doll, with its miniature
Saratoga trunk and complete outfit Of
elegantly y-made dresses, at Christmas,
Rosa few into passion.
cas- if I were baby r said she.
I" A doll, indeed, and twelve years old
In October i wonder lie he takes me