Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-10-04
"Rose, will you be my wife ?"

Rose answered directly, "No, sir"
Philip did not seem to take her re-
fusal much to heart. He drummed
out little opera snatch rather alb
sently on the white keys, and present
ly went out ON the lawn for a smoke;
while Rose, very much disturbed,
ran up to her room and came down
no more that night.
The next day Mr.. Gurney was
stricken down with paralysis. .
He was quite conscious, but as
helpless as little child, with no con-
troll of hands Or tongue. NJ.
The attempt at speech, the wistful
entreaty of his large eyes, wrung the
heart of poor little Rose, who was
sure that he desired to communicate
something to her.
When Philip came to the bedside,
that same dumb, passionate bessech-
ing glance went to him. The young
man seemed to understand it.
He bent over the stricken man
quietly, and said, with his hands up
on the poor helpless hands upon the
spread:
81 know what you wish to say my
dear friend. Do not be troubled
everything is right. Be comforted.
Tears gathered in the old mans
eyes, and he motioned Rose and the
house-kseper from the room. They
could hear his voice low and steady
and soothing and when, later Rose
questioned Philip concerning her
fathers uneasiness, she got no salts
faction.
1t was then in the days of her sor-
row, that the girl learned the real
nobility and gentleness of Philip
Grantley's heart. Never was there
such an unwsarying nurse as he.
! He took all troublesome duties up
on himself. Rose gladly gave the
reins Of government into his hands.
She broached the subject one day.
"Mr. Grantley," she said, 81 feel
that it Is selfish in us to lean SO
thoroughly upon you. We must
learn to do without you. Sometime
again if you will visit us when papa
is better"
Her voice broke here; everything
in the future looked so hopeless, and
she knew herself to be young and
inexperienced.
He was watching her attentively
with very gray eyes; and when she
paused he took her hand and drew
her INCREASINGLY in the circle of his
arm.
"Rose, do you want me to go away"
She shook her head. She dare
not trust herself to speak.
"Rose, l will not attempt to dis
gnise from you the fact that your
father will never again be well.
Sometime, perhaps months hence, he
may regain the power of his speech.
But, Rose, he will be an invalid always: ::
He is dear to me, and | suit HIM.
Rose, dear, little red Rose, l want you
for my own; we need each thsr--don't
you see? Can you love me little ?"
She was weeping wildly in his arms
now and he waited for her to grow
calmer, and then led her to the sick
room.
Mr.. Gurney listened with such un-
mistakable rapture in his eyes to the
young mans story, that Rose could
not doubt what the desire of his
heart had been.
They were married very quietly a
few weeks later, and then fsw words
from Mrs. Barton, the housekeepsr,
opened Roses eyes.
$50 you are not going to leave the
old place after all, Miss Rose?"
"Leave the hall? What do you
mean. Mrs. Barton ?"
"Then Mr.. Grantly has not, told
you"
"Told me what ?"
"Miss Rose, just before your fa-
theirs illness, he had decided to sell
the old house, as he had met with
heavy losses. Mr.. Grantley bought
the place of him in order that it
might not go into the market. He
has probably been keeping this from
you in order to save your feelings;
and l must say, Miss Rose,'' with
the respectful freedom of an old
servant-"you have got one Of the
kindest-hearted gentlemen in the
country"
Rose went silently in search of har