Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-02-06
NEW SERIES, VOL. XVIII, NO. 6.

wish. know she would not sep
arate US, unless you desired il, and
your word shall be as it ever has been,
my law 1 hope our future life may
be very happy one together, and
believe the one whom / have chosen
for my wife will prove also a kind and
loving child to you, dear father, if
you will only receive her to your
heart.
1t was of this conversation that
Rosa was thinking as she sat alone
the day before her wedding. Eustace,
with his high sense of honor, had told
her all that his father had said. leav-
ing it with her to do as she felt would
be best for her own pleasure and COM
fort With true womanly devotion
she at once said:
''Eustace, love You too much to
let the desire of your father part us
for life. We will live with him. and
will do all can to make him happy.
/ am sure he will in time learn to love
me, and we will all be very happy
So cast that shadow from your brow,
and let no unpleasant foreboding
cloud our present happiness. Have
no fears, dearest, for me; have none
for myself
''You are noble girl, Rosa, and 1
am sure if my poor, sad father, can
love any one again, it will be you.''
The reyerie, in which Rosa was in
dulging, and in which she was dwell
ling upon the promises She had given
her lover, was suddenly interrupted
by the entrance of her friend. Ida
Ross, who drew low ottoman beside
her friend, and as she grasped her
hand, said:
s+Rosa, have just heard that YOU
had changed your plans, and that you
and Eustace are really going to live
with his father; can this be true? if
so 1 tremble for you, darling. Every
body says he is so cross and does not
like company; even shuts himself up
in his own house and often refuses to
see some of his old acquaintances.-
As for myself, / will really he afraid
to venture to put my head within the
walls of your prison house. Indeed,
Rosa, j would not go there; You will
he miserable with that cross old man,
who will frown every time you smile,
or your front door bell rings. think
it very strange that Eustace would ask
You to do such an unpleasant thing"
said the impulsivc girl, indignant at
the wrong she felt her beloved friend
would be subjected to.
Rosa, smiling fondly upon Ida, re-
piled:
''Why you are painting rather a
gloomy picture for me on the eve of
my bridal day, but i believe the pic
ture has bright side, and ] do not
intend to look on only the dark one.
While you are grieving over the
clouds, my dear, l will be waiting for
the sunshine
'.Thcn. Rosa, You are really going
to live with old Mr. LaStrange -
''Tcs. Ida. Eustace is unwilling to
leave his father alone, and he wishes
to have us with him. / do not fear
the future, will try TO do my duty
as the wife of the man love, and as
the daughtcr-in-law of the cross old
father L will try to win his respect
and love So dash that shadow from
your brow, and do not blame Eustace
for doing what he thinks is right
You will come to see me often, i hope,
and not find my home tllcprison house
your Indignation has pictured it. -
''You have brave heart, Rosa, in
deed, and hope you may never have
occasion to regret your present de-
cision-''
Thus the friends parted, one full of
hope for the future, and the other
dreading that future which arose so
darkly before her. We will see what
the years that followed brought to that
trusting girl.
The marriage rite was over. the
adieus were said and some weeks
spent in travel and amusement; then
we find the young couple at home.
Mr.. LaStrange received his sons
wife with stately courtesy, but no sign
of affection marked his manner to-
ward her
To him, she was ever gentle and
affable, seeming not to notice the cold
ness and want of love in the old man s
heart. She thought of his every COM
fort, and left nothing undone that
would in any way contribute TO his
pleasure.
Eustacc saw with pride and JOY the
demeanor of his noble wife, and his
love for her grew stronger each day.
and he wondered how his father could
be insensible TO such goodness and
loveliness Of character.
When these feelings were some
times expressed to Rosa, she would
say, Never fear, Eustace, he will
love me yet; know he will"
As time passed by and a little gold
en-haired boy came to gladden. their
hearts, Eustace hoped, as he laid the
little stranger in his fathers arms and
asked his blessing upon his first-born,
telling him that Rosa had named him
Walter, - for his grandfather, that the
fountain Of love in the old mans heart
would be opened anew.
And the happy young father was
not wrong, for much of the ice from
that frozen nature did melt under the
rays from that little sunbeam. The
old man never wcaried of carressing
the baby boy, as he laid in his arms
growing and smiling at him.