Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-10-04
FROsTBURG, MD, OCTOBER 4, 1884.
SELECT STORY.
SET WITH THORNS.

Rose Gurney came slowly dowr
the broad path and pausing before al
old-fashioned red-rose began to selec
with dainty fingers some partly-open
ed buds which she fastened with de
liberation in the knot of lace at hel
bosom.
A broad straw hat with scarf O
white muslin shaded her features
and her morning robe of white lawr
daintily ruffled and draped in spot
! less purity, the little nosegay of roses
being the only bit of color about
her. q
@ Philip Grantley, smoking his morn.
ing cigar under one of the big elms
stepped forward, tossing the fragrant
weed aside, and dofing his straw
hat.
He was fne-looking fellow, with
waving, jet-black hair. and bold gray
eyes; and when you find such com.
bination--black hair and gray eyes
you will generally find will as in.
domitable and immovable as 8
pyramid.
"How do you do, Cousin Rose ~
he said.
The young lady surveyed him with
great calmness, quite ignorant of his
extended hand.
81 suppose you are Mr.. Grantley,"
she said with the slightest possible
bend of her head "but | am not
aware of any existing relationship be-
tween u.s.
"No? Then | am not" rejoined
the young man, philosophically, as
he dropped his neglected hand into
the pocket of his loose flannel coat.
She looked at him with some per-
plexity now, but his face was inscru-
table.
"May | have rose, Miss Gurney ?'
he asked, with great politeness, his
eyes fixed on the little cluster at her
bosom.
ooh, certainly! Help yourselfv'
with little graceful gesture toward
the blossom-laden bush.
But he only glanced upon it with
a smile, and turned away as the break
fast bell rung out an imperative sum-
mons from the house.
"You will come to breakfast ?" said
Rose, with a stiffness not at all nat
ural to her.
GLOW very kind you are" muir
INJURED Philip, languidly, as he saun-
tered on by her side.
"Papa, how can you expect me to
marry that man? cried Rose, an
hour later as she joined her father in
the library.
''Is he not agreeable to you, my
dear ," queried Papa Gurney, shade
of anxiety drifting over his handsome
face.
agreeable? why, papa, he is the
most-insufferable man l ever saw
Such GOODNESS, and such insolent,
grand senior ways. Why, l wouldn't
marry him if he was the last man on
the face of the earth!"
"Well, well, Rosamundi, there's no
compulsion about it, And Mr..
Gurney smothered 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, remem-
ber."
Rose left the room silently, with
compressed lips. "Treat him cour-
teously," indeed! Conventional cour-
tesy seemed utterly lost on the young
fellow, who made himself so entirely
at home, 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 crit
icize her playing, her singing and her
riding. Rose quarreled with him
uuconsclously. AS for Philip, he
was as imperturbable as mortal man
could be.
After all he could be most de-
lightful companion when he chose.
Rose realized this when on rainy days
he read exquisitely bits of her favorite
authors, while she busted herself at
sewing, or in the long, scented twi-
lights he related strange adventures
in far away countries.
There had not been single word
of love between them: therefore it