The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-23

alreauy pleuSed 10 anOtner-tne rlcn pro
prietor, Monsieur Wills"
John Brightly looked inquiringly al
Rose. Rose seemed astonished- then
her color heightened, and she cried indig
nantly:
''It is false!
''lt is true. | have promised Monsieur
Wills that you shall become his wife with
in the year
"You!" exclaimed Rose, with gesture
of utter scorn.
"By what right p demanded Brightly
"By my right as the young lady's guar
dian and only relation.
~ deny that any such right exists, u
cried the young farmer, passionately
''Take care, Ruy Blasmont-take care. II
you attempt to force your sister-now my
promised wife-into marriage with an
other, | will disclose that which will place
you where your interference will be use
| less
"Indeed'' sneered Blasmont; but his
countenance fell.
"Good-bye, Rose said Brightly. "Be
true to me. | will return as soon as [ can.
As for you, sir, he continued, looking at
Blasmont, II advise you not to try to CO.
cree Miss Blasmont. No doubt you read
the papers. There has been new for
gerry. Good-day."
And with another goodbye to Rose, he
left the room and walked down the garden
path.
, Puu Rlocunont ,uon+ 70 b;s ,.oo,,, ,,,,r
murering imprecations in an undertone.
Rose sat down in the parlor, lost in
thought.
The Blasmonts, brother and sister, had
come from France about two years pre-
viousl y, and taken the small cottage not
far from Moorland.
Rose taught French and music in the
neighborhood families and in one or two
boarding schools in town. She had made
herself general favorite; her musical ed
ucation had been thorough, and her services
were in demand and well remunerated.
She was pretty, true-hearted little lady,
who did her duty, and tried to make every
one around her happy. She regarded her
brother as hero. He was her ideal. For
him she would have worked until she died;
and he would probably have made no OBJ
lection. People wondered where his fast
horses and champagne suppers came from.
From his sisters earnings, perhaps Some
of them, but not all. He had no visible
means of support. Moorland people hoped
that Rose would get married soon, if it
were only to rid herself 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 for
tune in Paris, his sister had remained in
her convent. One day he found himself
penniless. He needed somebody to sup
port him. He accordingly withdrew Rose
from the convent, and the two started for
the United States.
Rose could see no flaw in the character
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 discovered, but that he
was so utterly base as to sell her to old Mr..
Willis, whose offer of marriage Ruy knew
that she had once refused, she could scarce
ly believe And yet he had admitted it
himself! 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 noticed
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 a check for one thousand dollars has
been traced. He is a neighbor OF yours
Ruy Blasmont. The proofs certain. If you
desire to have the matter hushed up, come to
New York at once. Hyou don't come, will
have him arrested without delay.
''THoMAs RICHARDS,
Private Detective
''To John Brightly, Esq
Scarcely knowing what she was doing,
Rose turned the note In her hand. On
the back she saw written in lead pencil:
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 of the water lilies
were wet when John Brightly brought
them in. He had pulled out his handker-
chief to dry them, and Rose recollected
that scrap of paper, as she thought, had
fallen to the floor.
"He shall not impoverish himself for my
sake" she said passionately. "He is poor
already. | know it. | will prevent this
sacrifice, even though [ hand Ruy over to
the law. | will pay him every cent yet y
And taking small book from her pocket,
she ran her eye down column of figures.
"Yes-there is something. | can pay John
Brightly part of this money my brother
has stolen" A shiver ran through her as
she spoke the word stolen. II have my
mothers Jewels which Ruy so often wanted
me to pawn, and three hundred dollars, my
savings, that promised Ruy on his fete
day. Yes l will pay him every sou. He
shall not remain poor, even one day, for
nv sake [ will take the jewels tonight
by the midnight train to New York, and
on the morrow | will meet John Brightly
with the whole sum-"
Rose was thoroughly aroused. She was
naturally high spirited and proud, although
those qualities were seldom shown in her
ordinary life. The knowledge of her broth
ers baseness, was probably the bitterest
experience that could have come to her.
She felt the hope of becoming John Bright
Tvs wife must be given up. She would
not take to him tarnished name.
She hastily wrote note to Mrs. More
land, by whom she had been engaged to
sing that evening, and excused herself.
Then she went up to her room and did not
reappear until in the darkness she stole to
the railroad station. Rose was as impatient
as she was impulsive, The few minutes OF
waiting in the railroad office seemed as
many hours to her. With the knowledge
of her brothers crime weighing on her
heart, action seemed the only thing that
LII ,r;1,o ba, raliaf At last the midnight