Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-19
The Sturg Teler.
THE FALSE LOVER.

ssBut do you really mean it, Mr.. Brabazon =.
Rosa Dale was standing in the illuminated
archway of the autumn woods, her bright
braids of hair pierced by one or two wander:
ing sunbeams, her dimpled child-face framed
in. as it were, by sprays of red veined autumn
leaves while her apron was full OF the gllsten'
ing brown chestnuts which she had picked up.
John Brabazon leaned against the tall,
smooth trunk of the birch tree, and looked at
her with lazy, luxurious sense of artistic
"Of course mean it" said he.
stBut am only twelve years DID," cried
Rosa, flinging back the sunny tendrils OF halr
that hung over her forehead.
''Your are exactly twelve times as lovely as
any of the city bellies that congregate here
abouts,'' said Mr.. Brabazon, striving to con-
ceal yawn stAnd if they think am enga-
ged-dont you see ?-there will be some
probability Of their leaving off prosecuting
me-"
2. ssWell % said Rosa, every dimple coming
shyly out on lip and cheek as ne stood there;
ats to be a compact, eh ?" said said Mr..
Brabazon.
Rosa nodded her fair little head.
''But," she questioned, rather dubuiosly,
"where is the ring 20
'sThe-what ?'
1.-The engagement-ring, Mr.. Brabazon," ex-
planned Rosa, reproachfully. Don't you
know there's always ring in the novels
And most generally it's diamond.n
ssIf you'll believe me- said Mr.. Brabazon,
tragically, 81 never thought of the ring. But
here's little opal that used to be my mother's,
do p
Rosa held out her brown finger, while he
fitted it on.
s'You-haven't kissed me yetn' she said,
when this ceremony was complete. "Lovers
always kiss their .fancees!''
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 profound secret between you and
me.''
Rosa ran back home with vague sensa-
tion of mysterious delight, and thought now
nice Mr. Brabazon looked, at 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 exaggeration to say that the
young ladies were genuinely disappointed.
st must be a recent thing" said Kate Ken
nedy, tossing her head.
"Oh, quite recent" acknowledged Mr.. Bra
bacon.
Glove at first sight ?" asked Miss Day.
s.N-no. not exactly" said Brabazon. "ln
fact, may say that have admired the young
lady since her infancy"
':What d delightful enigma - said Belle
Vernon, looking anything but delighted. but
of course, Mr.. Brabazon, you'll tell us her
name ?"
~ 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 ehestnuts, waded with brown,
dimpled feet in the foamy waters OF the glen
torrent, and conducted him so mysteriously
to the barn-chamber to show him her empty
birds nests, butterfly wings and diamond
bright pebbles, how was he to know the cpl
sode under the yellow-leayed chestnut-trees as
a red-letter day in her calendar
"He ought to write to me, y said Rosa gloom
ily, as the weeks and months gided by, and
no epistle came ''I do hope he isn't going to
turn out false like the wicked cavaliers III the
story books"
And when Mr.. Brabazon sent her a huge
wax doll, with it's miniature Saratoga trunk
and complete outfit of elegantly-made dresses,
at Christmas, Rosa flew into passion.
GAS if were baby ~ said she. "a doll,
indeed, and twelve years old in October l
wonder if he takes me for child ? Who ever
heard of gentleman sending adolf to the young
lady he was engaged to ~ -
siMy dear Rosa said her mother, half
vexed, half amused, 'what nonsense you are
talking.''
"We are engaged !''>said Rosa. ''see the
ringp'
And she slyly pulled it out from the bosom
of her dress.
1T was only Joke" said Mrs Dale.
cit was sober earnestn' flashed out Rosa.
''My DEAR" said Mrs. Dale, 'haven't you
heard? Mr.. Brabazon is to be married to
Lady Helen Hartford, Mrs. Pailleton's Eng
lish niece. next month. The cards are already
out.''
ssWhat ~ cried Rosa, her sapphire-blue eyes
blazing, her rosy lips apart. "To be mar
ried !-and he engaged to men'
And then Rosa rushed away into the barn
chamber, and hid herself for full two hours,
to sob out the current of her childish grief.
Mrs. Dale smiled and sighed.
"Who would think the child would nave
attached so much Importance to piece OF
nonsense like that 20 said she. "Really, Pm
afraid have made mistake in allowing her
to read so many novels. But she was always
an impetuous little creature"
Rosa wrote several narrowing letters to MI.
Brabazon, all of which she finally tore up,
and when she saw the marriage proclaimed IN
the papers she gave the big waX-doll to little
girl who was only eleven years and SIX months
old.
s'She won't have any associations connected
with it ~ sighed Rosa.
And about that time she was promoted to a
higher grade in school, began lessons on the
guitar, and put her unhappy love affair out OF
her mind.
It could not have been more than eight
years subsequently that the collision occurred
on the Grand Canal at Venice, in which one
of the gondolas capsized, and beautiful
= young American lady, niece of the then Uni
ted States consul, received an involuntary
ducking.
Perhaps the romantically dressed gondoliers
were intoxicated perhaps Miss Barony had,
as they asserted, risen hastily to point ont
something, and destroyed the balance OF the
mouldy, black-velvet-li old conveyance.
At all events Miss Barony was upset directly
in front of the Palazzo di Silvia, where Mr..
Brabazon occupied the first floor, marble
paved desolation of old pictures, broken-nosed
statues, and orange trees in tubs.
Or course, Mr.. BrabaZOn sent out his valet
to offer his services. Of course, they carried
Miss Barony in, and laid her on sofa (draped
with tapestry which somebody said Lucreza
Borgia had helped to embroidery, and made
much Of her.
s'But how ridiculous all this is ~ said Miss
Barony, with merriment cleaning in her beau
tiful. dark-blue eyes, II am little wet, to-
be-sure but otherwise am entirely unharmed
Why didn't they put me in the gondola again
and send me back to my uncle's piazza %
Mr. BrabaZon, however, was far too hos
pitable for that His capped and spectaclet
old house-keeper was ready with spiced drinks