Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-12-11
ROSALIE'S AMBITION.

adjoining kitchen where she threw
open the glowing oven, revealing a
row of golden pumpkin pies sadly
scorched, indeed, and which would, in
another moment, have been totally
ruined.
"It's perfectly inspiring" she con.
tinucd sarcasticly, having rescated
herself at the table, and once more re-
sumed her pen, and, also, her vacant,
anxious stare at the pile of white pa
per whose snowy pages were as yet
innocent of any proofs of the fair au-
thor's genius, "to be obliged to Jump
up like this every ten minutes, and
make Il trip to the kitchen or the
grocery store. Suppose Byron had
been fated to write under such diff.
culties- that he had been obliged to
bake and brew, to sweep, dust, and
do his own washing and ironing
would the world ever have been thrill
ed by his poetic genius, I'd just like
to know? But there this isn't get
ting my own ideas into shape. Let's
sce-whorc was l." and, recalling
her mnd, by great effort, to her
ambitious task, she bent her whole
attention upon it, and scribbled away
very industriously for a good long
| hour.
There !" she exclaimed, drawing
along breath of relief, and glancing
over the written lines with evident
satisfaction. 81 ilattcr myself this
isn't so bad, aftcrall. Indeed, think
it quite original, striking. Take these
lines for instance and she musingly
repeated, aloud
Glove, oh, love- If We must part,
Meier forget sweet Cupd's dart,
He'll rnfOld thee in his grasp
When mine arms thy form shall clasp
That sounds Il good deal ike Byron's
Maid of Athens doesn't it?'' she
muscd, in tone OF mingled pride and
anxiety. But I'm sure none Of my
readers can. ever say that i"
"Ahcm.' sounded deep, strong
masculine voice very near ut hand,
The fair poctcss started guiItily and
Colorcd to the roots of her auburn
hair as she looked up and bchcld Kcl-
scy Vernon, an old school fellow, and
until very recently her most favored
admircr, standing just outside the
open window for it was one of those
mellow Indian sumner days when the
air is soft and balmy rs June itsclD,
and watching her with very amused
smile playing around the corners of u
handsome mouth, and in the shadows
of two rogush, but frank ard honest
brown eyes.
Have you been listening to me? l
do believe was talking out loud" ex-
claimed Rosalic, half-angrily. Aren't
you ashamed of yoursclt?"
Il should be if | had played the
eavcsdroppcr,n he answered pleas
antly. THAT is why | called your at
tcntion to my presence. And, by the
way, here is something which the
breeze must have iluttered out of the
window" he added, with twinkle in
his dark eyes, handing her sheet of
thickly scribbled paper which she in
stantly recognized aspart of her orig
inal poem y
Original it was, indecd-highly so;
and no littcratcur, seeing it, would
have wondered long at the sly smile
which struggled to suppress itself on
Kelsey Vernon's handsome face.
RoSalic's own pretty countenance
flushed more hotly than ever, if posi-
Bile, as she Snatched it from him.
"You have read that, and now you
are making fun of it, she cried, her
blue eyes flashing like sparks of steel.
"But | don't care, Kelsey Vernon,
will be an authorcsSin in spite of YOU"
~ have no objection, Rosalie," he
smiled, half merrily, half gravely.
"But | hope you will forgive me some
day if | turn critic for moment and
tell you candidly that you will never
be the success in authorship that you
already are in housekeeping. In that
woman's highest and trucst sphere
you are simply perfection, Rosalie
dear"
Don't 'Rosalic dear ne, if you
please, Mr.. Vernon she retorted
with all the acidity that her sweet lips
could muster. II won't spend all my
life in commonplace household drudg
cry when know that | am fitted fol
something higher. Mr.. Phipps Mont
gomery says"
"Oh, Phipps Montgomery be hangeC
: q was going TO say)," interrupted thu
Young man somewhat warmly, for any
allusion to his fascinating rival from
Ro, allies pretty lips was sure to toucl
very sensitive spot in his heart
"Phipps Montgomery is humbug
J Rosalie, from the crown of his gloss.
r silk hat to the toe of his elegan
patent leather boots. Take my wore
for it, little girl, he is only ilatterins
; you in order TO win your heart anc
then break it,
And, as he finished, Kelsey's voic,
took on q tender, serious tone tina
showed how dear to his heart was tn
'little girl" whom he was so earnestl,
, cautioning.
"NIr. Montgomery is too perfect
, gentleman to laugh at me because
am determined to rise above this com
monplace existence that You cal
t 'woman's trucst sphere He has rea'
D some of my verses and praised then
5 very highly, and he ought to know al
about such things, for he lives in New
! York City,"
And the infection of Rosalie's voic
over those last three words was un
: doubtedly intended to crush poor Kel
: sey, who could not boast of such
rare advantage.
However, Kelsey Vernon merel.
s smiled indulgently, which, of course
only irritated the fair poetess still
more; therefore, saying he would cal
again when she was in a more amia
bic mood, he sauntered away, whist
n ling half abstractedly and hardl
= knowing whether to feel most vexe
o or amused over Rosalie's ambition
q freak.
She'll get over it in time" h
Il mentally decided as he walked along
9 "She has no more talent in that lin
II than kitten, and she'll be sure t
r find 1t out when she comes to seek
n publisher for her poetry" and Kelsey
!, despite his anxiety concerning Ross
y lies preference for another, could nc
o help laughing at the recoll, ction {
the verses which ho had caught