Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-11-15
| ncle Cuthbert.

/ ncle CuthDert.
"Hush It is Clarence Hydes step"
And Rose Eldon sprang to her feet, rosy
ana smiling, with freshly plucked hello
tropc trembling among her glossy brown
hraids. and her pretty blue dress float
ing around her like an azure cloud.
Only eighteen, and very fair and love
y was our little Rosa--a trihe spoiled
and wilIful, perhaps, but what else could
one expect? Every one 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 SUP
ahone on.
I.'zzy Elion made room for her sister
Lizzy, just one year younger and
scarcely less fair, yet very different in
character. LiZzy was quiet, and sage
and demure, while Rosa ratified away
like merry mountain stream flowing
over It's messy stones. Lizzy thought
her sister perfection, while Rosa was lee
tur;ng Lizzy in a capricious fashion, and
laying down the law to her after the
most approved manner of elder sisters
GLOW nice it must be to be engaged y
said l.izzv, with a half lf-encouraging
smile, As Rosa paused at the glass to ad
just her HAIR Il wish | was engaged J.
You2 Oh, you are nothing but
child, Rosa said, patronizingly. "There
give me my pocket handkerchief.
And away she went, light and 1.-the as
blue winged butterfly.
Clarence Hyde was in the parlor anx-
iously awaiting her coming, but Clar-
ence had rather disturbed face. He
was a well-made, handsome fellow, with
laughing. wine-brown eyes, straight fea-
lures, and brown hair thrown back from
q broad, frank brow.
why, what makes you look so So
ber?' was Rosas first question, when
the ceremonials of greeting were gone
through with and she had time to take
good look into his face.
Sober? Do | ?"
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 cot
tage look like one of the lovely rustic
haLitations you see in old Enghgh en-
cravings.
Exactly as if you had the toothache
or a bad conscience"
Clarence laughed in spite OF himself.
"You are wrong. then my little riddle
guesser, am afflicted with neither the
one nor the other"
well, what is it, then2'
Rosa, what would You say il it were
to become necessary to defer our mar
rage for some timer"
A shadow came over the infantile
bloom and freshness of Rosa's face
ITO defer our marriage, Clarence? |
can't imagine what You mean"
Listen, Rosa, and l will tell you.
Ny uncle has just come from California,
very poor and confirmed invalid. am
his only surviving relative. and to me be
naturally appealed for protection and
eompanionship. l must give him 8
home, Rosa You know / bad laid uE
Just enough to begin housekeeping in s
quiet. economical sort of way, but the
new plan will necessarily alter all of my
arrangements.
81 never heard OF any uncle before.
mo, dearest; | knew very little O
him-nothing personally, as he never
visited nv fathers during his life time
Rosas face WAS turned away from
Clarence Hyde's; she was silently twist
ing q piece of paper round and reunt
her slender foretinger
Rosa" he said, after waiting min
ate or two for her to make some
remark. "tell me honestly, dear one
which you prefer-to begin housekeep
ing on this new scale-one more fruga
and hum bleAthan had originally hope,
and intended-or to defer our marriag,
until can earn enough to carry on
those original arrangements"
She was silent for moment. thel
she answered in voice which SCENE,
TO chill Clarence's buoyant young heart
Neither T.
"Rosa!" he exclaimed, II do not un
derstand you"
spoke plainly enough Eethe. +