The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-20

| young man, phl!0sophicallV, ;is he drop
| ped his neglected hand into the pocket
| of his loose flannel coat.
| She looked mt him in some perplexity
! now, but his face was inscrutable.
| INLAY | have rose. Miss GurneyP''
| he asked, with great politeness, his eyes
| fixed upon the little cluster at her bo-
| som.
.'Oh, certainly! Help yourself!' with
a little graceful gesture toward the
| blossom-laden bush.
But he only glanced upon it with a
/ smile and turned away as the breakfast
| bell rung out an imperative summons
from the house.
You will come in to breakfaste''
said Rose, with stiffness not at all
! natural to her.
How very kind YOU arer' mnrmured
Philip, languidly, as he sauntered on
by her side
Papa, how can You expect me to
marry That mar?" cried Rose, an hour
later. as she joined her father in the IL
brary.
lis he not agreeable to YOU, my
dearP'' querried PAPA Quincy. shade
of anxiety drifting over his handsome
old face.
Agreeable? Why. papa, he is the
most-insufferable man / ever saw!
Such GOODNESS, and such insolent, grand
seignor waysi Why, l wouldn't marry
him if he WAS the last man on the face
of the earthr'
''Well, well, Rosamundi. there's no
compulsion about it." And Mr.. Cur
ney smothered u SIGH. ''But | 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, remember"
Rose left the room silently, with COM
pressed lips. Treat him courteously,"
indeed! Conventional courtesy seemed
utterly lost upon this young fellow who
made himself so entirely ut home. and
who was diSct.npOSed at nothing.
In the days that followed, Philip was
ike the girls shadow. waiting upon her
with the most scrupulous attention, yet
not hesitating to criticise her playing,
her singing, and her riding. Rose
quarrellcd with him unconsciously; as
for Philip he was rs imperturbable as
mortal man could be.
After all he could be most delight
ful companion when he chose. Rose
realized this when on rainy days he
read, exquisitely. bits of her favorite au-
thors, while she busted herself with sew
ing; or when in the long. scented twi.
lights he related strange adventures in
PARKWAY countries.
There had been not the slightest word
OF love between them; therefore it was
a good deal of n surprise when Philip,
lingering with her over the piano one
lovely Summer night, said suddenly
Rose, will you be my wife?"
With her heart in her mouth and an
CRY establishment in her wide eyes, Rose
answered directly.-''No, sir!'
The next day Mr.. Quincy was strlck-
en down with paralysis.
He was quite conscious but as helpless
a. n little child, withHo control of hands
or tongue
The attempt ut speech, the wistful en-
treaty of his large eyes. wrung the
heart of poor little Rose, who was sure
Iifat he desired to communicate some
thing TO her.
When Philip came to the bedside, that
sauic dumb, passionate. beseeching
glance went out to him. The young
man seemed to understand it.
He bent over the stricken man quiet
ly, and said, with his hands upon the
Il know what YOU wish to say, dear
friend. Do not be troubIed-every-
thing is right Be comforted.
Tears gathered in the old mans eyes,
and Philip motioned Rose and the
housekecper from the room. They
could hear his voice low and steady
and soothing; and when they returned,
PoiIip went away, but that anxious, ca
ger, expression was gone from Mr.. Cur
ney's eyes; and when, later, Rose ques
toned Philip concerning her father 9
uneasiness, she got no satisfaction.
Il WIS then, III the days of her sor-
ruw that the girl learned the real no.
bi:Hy and ocntlcness of Philip Grant
iey'S heart Never was there such an
unwearying nurse as he.
lie took all troublesome duties upon
himself. Rose gladly gave the reins OF
government into his steady hands.
Rose thought with dreadful heart
sinking OF his denarture.
She broached the subject one day.
MIR Grantley," she said, 81 feel that
il is selfish in us TO lean so thoroughly
dpon you We must learn to do with
out you. Some time again, if you will
visit Us, when papa . better
Her voice broke here; every thing In
the future looked so hopeless, and she
knew herself to be young and inexperi-
enced.
He was watching her attentively,
with very gray eyes; and when she
/ paused lie took her han9 and drew iiel
snrehistingi? int lie Hii"ie af his arm
.'Rose, do you want me 10 go awayr
She shook her head. She dared no
.rUst herself to speak.
'tRose, [ will not attempt to disguise
lrom you the fact that your father vii
never again be well. Some time, per
haps months hence. he may regain tll,
power of his speech. Bun, Rose, he viii
be an invalid always; and / am going
to ask you to let me share with you tlit
care of him. lie is dear to me. and
suit him. Rose, dear little red REESE,
want You for my own; we need each
otlIer-don't you seea Can you love me
n little?''
She was weeping wildly in his arms
now, and he waited for her to grow
ealmer, and then led her into the sick
room.
Mr. Quincy listened, with such un-
mistakable rapture and assent in his
eyes. to the young mans story, that
Rose could not doubt what the desire
of his heart had been.
They were married very quietly few
weeks later; and then a few words from
Mrs. barton, the housekeeper, opened
Roses eyes.
$50 YOU are not to leave the old place
after all, Miss RoscP''
Leave the Han? What do ron mean,
AZ D..&<x,,