The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-09
SET WITH THOKNS.


fashioned red-rOse bush, began to select
with dainty fingers some partly-opened
buds which she fastened with delibera
tion in the knot Of lace at her bosom.
A broad straw hat, with scarf of
white muslin shaded her features; and
her morning robe Of white lawn daintily
ruffled and draped in spotless purity, the
little nosegay of roses being the only bit
Of color about her.
Philip Grantley, smoking his morning
cigar under one Of the big elms, stepped
forward, tossing the fragrant weed aside,
and doffing his straw hat.
Hewas Il fine looking fellow, with way
ing, jet black hair, and bold gray eyes;
and when you find such IL combination
black hair aud gray eyes, you will gen
orally find Il will as indomitablc and i'm
movable us Il pyramid.
GLOW do you do, Cousin Rosc?" he
said.
The young lady surveyed him with
great calmnesS, quite ignorant of his eX-
tended hand.
81 suppose you are Mr.. Grantley," she
said with the slightest possible bend Of
her head; but l am not aware of any
existing relationship between us.'
mo? Then [ am not" rejoined the
young man, phllosophicalIy, as he drop
ped his neglected hand into the pocket of
his Loose flannel coat.
She looked at him with some nGrnleX.
ity now, but his face was inscrutable.
''May havea rose, Miss Gurney2' he
upon the little cluster at her bosom.
"Oh, certainly! Help yonrsclf!" with
a little graceful gesture towards the bios
som laden bush.
But he only glanced upon it with Il
smile and turned away us the breakfast
bell rung out an imperative summons
from the house.
"You will come in to breakfast?" said
Rose, with stiffness not at all natural
to her.
"IIow very kind you are, murmured
Philip, languidly. as he sauntered Oh by
her side.
"Papa, how can you expect Inc to
marry that MANI" cried Rose, an hour
later as she joined her father in the
library
"Is he not agreeable to you my dear?"
qneried Papa Gurney, a shade of anxiety
drifting over his handsome face.
"Agreeable? why papa, lie is the most
-insutferable man l ever sawl Such
GOODNESS, and such insolent grand seignor
ways. Why. wouldn't marry him if he
was the last man Oh the face Of the
earth!'
"Well, well, Rosamundi, there's no
cOmpulsion about it," And Mr.. Gurney
smothered sigh. but l had hoped
you might fancy each other; the boys
father was an old friend of mine. At
least you can treat him courteously while
he stays with us. He is our guest, re-
MEMBER
Rose left the room silently, with COM
pressed lips. "rreat him courteously, -
indeed! Conventional court'S eemed
utterly lost on this young lc.lOw, who
made himself so entirely Q nome, who
was discomposed at nothing.
In the days that followed, Philip was
like the girls shadow, waiting upon her
with the most scrupulous attention, yet
not hesitating to criticisc herplaying, her
singing and her riding. Rose quarreled
with him unconsciously. AS for Philip,
he was as impertubable as mortal man
could be.
After all he could be most delightful
companion when he chose. Rose reali-
Zed this when on rainy days he read ex-
quisitely bits of her favorite authors.
while she busted herself at sewing! OF
when in the long scented twilights he re-
lated strange adventures in far-away
countries.
There had not been the slightest word
OF love between them; therefore it was q
good deal of a surprise when Philip, lin
gering with her over the piano one lovely
summer night, said suddenly:
"Rose, will you be my wlfep"
With her heart in her mouth, and
angry astonishment in her wide eyes,
Rose answered directly, "No, STRIP
Philip did not seem to take her refusal
much to heart. lie drummed out little
opera snatch rather absently on the white
keys, and presently went out on the lawn
for smoke; while Rose, very much dis.
turbcd, ran up to hor room and came
down no more that night.
The nextday Mr.. Gurney was stricken
down with paralysis
IIewas quite conscious, but as helpless
as a little child, with no control of hands
or tongue.
The attempt at speech, the wistiul en-
treaty of his large eyes, wrung the heart
of poor little Rose, who was sure that he
desired to communicate something tt
her.
When Philip came to the bedside, that