Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-04
Uncle Cuthbert.
"Hush it is Clarence Hyde's step !!


ly plucked heliotrope trembling
among her glossy brown braids, and
her pretty blue dress floating around
her like an azure cloud.
| Only eighteen, and very fair and
lovely was our little Rosa-a trifle
spoiled and willful, perhaps, but what
else could one expect? Everyone
petted and made much of her-every-
one smiled at her pretty, kittenish
way-and Clarence Hyde thought
her the fairest specimen of feminine
humanity that ever the sun shone on.
Lizzy Eldon made room for her
sister-Lizzy, just one year younger
and scarcely less fair. yet very differ
ent in character. Lizzy was quiet,
and sage, and demure, while Rosa
ratified away like merry mountain
stream flowing over its messy stones.
Lizzy thought her sister perfection,
while Rosa was always lecturing Liz
zy in a capricious fashion, and lay
ing down the law to her after the
most approved manner of elder sis
ters.
NHow nice it must be to be en-
| oaoed i'' said LiZZy with half en-
couraging smile, as Rosa paused at
the glass to adjust her hair. 81 wish
1 was engagedr'
"You? Oh, you are nothing but a
child" Rosa said, patronizlngly.
"There-give me my pocket handker-
chief"
And away she went, light and 1.-the
as blue winged butterfly.
Clarence Hyde was in the parlor
anxiously awaiting her coming, but
Clarence had rather disturbed face.
He was well-made handsome young
fellow, with laughing, wine-brown
eyes, straight features, and brown
hair thrown back from broad, frank
brow.
"Why, what makes you look SO
sober?' was Rosa's first question,
when the ceremonials of greeting
were gone through with, and she had
had time to take good look into his
face.
| "Sober? Do II"
He was playing rather restlessly
with the crimson cord that looped
back the white muslin draperies OF
the pretty bay window that made
Mrs. Eldon's cottage look like one ol
the lovely rustic habitations you see
in old English engrayings.
Exactly as if you had the tooth
/ ache or a bad conscience"
Clarence laughed in spite of him
self.
ssYou are wrong then, my little
riddle guesser; l am afflicted will
neither the one or the other"
"Well, what is it then?''
.'Rosa, what would you say if i
were to become necessary to defe
our marriage for some timer"
A shadow came over the infantil'
bloom and freshness of Rosa's face.
ssTo defer our marriage, Clarence
/ can't imagine what you mean"
"Listen, Rosa and / will tell you
My uncle has just come from Cali
fornia very poor and confirmed in
valid. am his only surviving rela
tive, and to me he naturally appealed
: 4 for protection and companionship
; 1 I must give him home, Rosa. 1o'
know / had laid up just enough t
begin housekeeping in a quiet, econ
omical sort of way, but the neN
plan will necessarily alter all my al
rangements.
81 never heard of any uncle be
FORE"
s'No, dearest / know very llttl
of hinl-nothing personally, as h
never visited my father during hi
lifetime"
: Rosa's face turned away fror
) Clarence Hyde's; she was SILENT
twisting a paper round and round he
slender fore-fnger.
"Rosa," said he, after waiting
). minute or two for her to make som
[ remark, 'stell me honestly, dear one
}, which you prefer-to begin house
keeping on this new scale-one NOR
frugal end humble than / had origin
ally hoped and intended-or defe
| our marriage until / can earn enoug
to carry out those original arrange
ments?'
She was silent for moment, the
! she answered in voice that SCENE
to chill Clarence's buoyant youn
: heart.
Neither
: .'Rosa,'' he exclaimed, 81 do nc
understand you"
81 spoke plainly enough. Neither
, ''Do you mean that"
. II mean that you must give Il
, either your uncle or me. After a
that has been known and said of OIL
engagement, after its publicity an
length, / certainly cannot consent
1 a further postponement. And "
t shall be poor enough if we mari
; Immediately, without filling our hous
: with needy relatives. 81
Clarence Hyde lookedsat his ia
!. famce in perfect amazement. New
before in the whole course of the
2 acquaintance had he seen this pha
i, of character. He had fancied h