The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-21
II don't know" she faltered.

Rose was silent. ....
"YOu think l am too impatient.
have waited a long time for this oppor
tunity, and it may be my last chance
for months. I start for New York b,
the midnight train.n
Rose gathered up all her courage.
eyes, John, l promise. 1 will bt
your wife whenever you choose.
Ruy Blasmont angrily overturned
the rustic chair on which he had beel
sitting, and entered through tho win
dow. .
''Ah, mes amis," lie said, coolly smil
ing, ''I have been all involuntary list
ener to your conversation, and pardon
mo if interrupt it, to correct slight
mistake. Monsieur Brightly, the young
lady who has this instant promised tC
marry you is already pledged to an
other-the rich proprietor, Monsieur
Wills.n
John Brightly looked inquiringly al
Rose. Rose seemed astonished-an(l
then her color heightened, and she cried
Indignantly:
cit is false!"
| cit is true. l have promised Mon
sieur Wills that you shall become his
wife within the year."
| "9oul' exclaimed Rose, with a ges-
| tnre of utter scorn.
"By what right?" demanded Bright
ly.
"By my right as the young lady's
guardian and only relation"
81 deny that any such right exists, -
cried tho young farmer, passionately.
''Tale care Ruy Blasmont-take care.
If you attempt to force your sister
uow my promised wife-intO marriage
with another, l will disclose that which
will place you where your interference
will be uSeleSS.''
"Indeed'' sncercd Blasmont: but his
cOuntenance fell
Good bye, Rose" said Brightly.
BE true to me. L will return as soon
as can. AS for you, sir,' he contin-
ued, looking at Blasmont, 81 advise
you not to try to coerce Miss Blasmont.
No doubt you read the papers. There
has been a new forgery. Good-day."
And with another goodbye to Rose,
he left the room and walked down the
garden path.
Ruy Blasmont went to his room,
murmuring imprecations Ill an under
tone. Rose sat down in the parlor, lost
in thought.
The Blasmonts, brother and sister,
had n%,<nc froQ.eI:nnee about t,~ts~,ssas.re
previously, and taken the small cottage
not far from Moorland.
Rose taught French and music in the
neighboring families and in one or two
boarding schools in town. She had
made herself ageneral favorite; her mu-
steal education had been thorough, and
her services were in demand and well
nl No
hearted little lady, who did her duty,
and tried to make every one around her
happy. She regarded her brother as a
hero. lie was her ideal. For him she
would have worked until she died; and
he would probably have made no objec-
ton. People wondered where his fast
horses and champagne Suppers came
from. From his sisters earnings, per-
haps. Some Of them, but not all. He
had no visible means of support. Moor
land people hoped that Rose would get
married soon, if it were only to rid her
self Of that scamp, her brother.
Ruy BlaSmont had been cast on the
world by the death of his parents, when
very young. While he dissipated his
fortune in Paris, lis sister had remain
ed III her convent. One day he found
himself penniless. lie needed somebo-
dy to support him. lie accordingly
withdrew Rose from the convent, and
the two started for the United States.
Rose could see no flaw in the clllrac-
ter OF her immaculate Ruy, until she
met John Brightly. Comparing the
two men she was forced to acknowledge
that her brother was not perfect. That
he was selfish and insincere she had dis
l, t,r
as to sell her to old NIr. Wills, whose
offer Of marriage Ruy knew that she
had once refused, she could scarcely be-
lievo. And yet he had admitted it him
self! Hot tears dropped from her eyes
as she thought of it.
STOPPING to pick up the water lilies
which had fallen from her lap, she no.
ticed an open paper on the floor. Half
idly, she picked it up and read the words
written on it,
"DEAR SIR.--The man who forged
your name to check for one Thousand
dollars has been traced. He is a neigh
/ bor Of yours-Ruy Basmont. The
proof is certain. IL you desire to have
the matter hushed up, como to New
| 7 York at once. If you don't come, ]
will have him arrested without delay.
"IlIOMAS RICHARDS,
| "Private Detective
'To John Brightly, ESQ.,
Scarcely knowing what she was do
ing, Rose turned the note in her hand
On tho back she saw written in lead
pencils
photographed to Richards
proceed. Will start for New York by
the midnight train. j. b."
Rose Blasmont paced the room, pale
and fearless. She remembered how
this note came there. The stems o
the water lilies were wet when Johr
Brightly brought them in. He hat
pulled out his handkerchief to dry them
and Rose recollected that scrap O
paper, as she thought, had fallen to til,
floor.
"IIe shall not impoverish himself fol
my sake" che said passionately. ''II,
is poor already. know it. 1 will pre-
vent this sacrifice, even though hant
Ruy over to the law I will pay hin
every cent yesl'' And taking small
book from her pocket, she ran her ey,
down a column offgures. "Yes-ther,
is something. can pay John Brightly
a part of this money my brother ha.
stolen" A shiver ran through her a
| she SDOkn tha yyoyI u+o1a,, GI lo,,