Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-02-05
ROSALIE'S AMBITION.


When my arms thy form shall clasp
That sounds good deal like Byron's
Maid of Athens, doesn't itPn she mus
ed, in tone of mingled pride and
anxiety. 'But I'm sure that none of
my readers can ever say that II
"Ahem"' sounded deep, strong,
masculine voice, very near at hand.
The fair poetess started guilty and
colored up to the roots of her auburn
hair as she looked up and beheld Kel-
sey Vernon, an old school-fellow, and,
until very recently, her most favored
admirer, standing still outside the open
window, and watching her with very
amused smile playing about the cor
ners OF handsome mouth, and in the
shadows of two roguish but frank and
honest brown eyes.
Have you been listening to me? /
do believe was talking out loud" ex-
claimed Resale, half angrily. Aren't
you ashamed of YOURSELF"
Il should be if | had PLAYED the
eavesdropper, he answered pleasant
| ly. That is why | call atteAtion to my
! presence. And, by the way, here is
something which the breeze must have
| tiuttered out of the window" he added
| with twinkle in his dark eyes, hand
ing her sheet of thickly scrubbed
! paper hich she instantly recognized
as part of her original poem.
Original it was, indeed highly so:
ana no lltterateur seeing it would have
wondered long at the sly smile which
struggled TO suppress itself on Kelsey
! Vernon 5 handsome face.
Rosalie's own pretty countenance
flushed more holly than ever, if posi-
bic. rs she snatchcd it from him.
You have read that, and now YOU
are making fun of it" her blue ewes
flashing like sparks of steel But |
don't care, Kelsey Vernon, will be an
authoress in spite of you.
Il have no objection, Rosalie," he
smiled, half merrily. half grayely. But
hope you will forgive me some day if
turn critic for a moment and tell YOU
candidly that you never will be the sue
cess in authorship that you already are
in housekeeping. In that-woman'
highest and truest sphere-you are
simply perfe lion. Rosalie-n
"Dont 'Rosalic dear me, if YOU
please, Mr.. Vernon" she retorted with
all the 4 idity that her sweet lips
could muster. II woa't spend all my
life in commonplace household drudg-
cry when | know that | am fitted for
something higher. Mr.. Phipps Mont
gomery Says
"Oh, Pnipps Montgomery be hanged
q was going to say' interrupted the
young man, somewhat warmly, for any
allusion to his fascinating rival from
Rosalie's pretty lips was sure to touch
a very sensitive spot in his heart.
''Phirps Montgomery is a hurnbug,
Rosalie, from the crown of his glossy
silk hat to the tip of his elegant patent
leather boots. Take my word for it.,
little girl he is only flattering you in
order to win your heart, and then
break it.
"Mr. Montgomery is too perfectly
gentleman to laugh at me because
am determined to rise above this com
monplacc existence that you call 'wo
mans truest sphere. He has read
some of my verses and praised them
very highly, and he ought to know all
about such things, for he lives in New
York city,
And the infection of Rosale's voice
over these last three words was I'M
doubtedly intended to crush poor KEEL
sey, who could not boast of such rare
advantage.
However, Kelsey Vernon merely
smiled indulgently, which, of course,
only irritated the fair poetess still
more; therefore, saying he would call
again when she was in more amiable
mood. lie sauntcred away, whistling
half abstractedly, and hardly knowing
whether to feel most vexed or amused
over Rosalie's ambitious freak.
She'll get over it in time" he men
tally decided as he walked along. "She
has no more talent in that line than a
kitten, and she'll be sure to find it out
when she comes to find a publisher for
her poetry and Kelsey despite his
anxiety concerning Rosalie's preference
for another, could not help laughing at
the recollection of the verses he had
caught a glimpse of.
Meantime Rosalie, with flushed
cheeks and angry heart-angry toward
poor Kelsey, who had dared to speak
an untlattering truth-continued to
weave her romantic fancies into rhyme
and at the first opportunity showed
them to Mr.. Montgomery, of whose
delicate and honeyed appreciation she
| always felt so sure. Nor was she dis
appointed.
They are beautiful, beautiful" he
murmured, with subdued but sympa-
| thetic fervor. ''Ahi always told you,
Miss Rosalie, that destiny had marked
you for something higher than this
! and he threw a half contemptuous
| glance around the neat and cozy home
| which motherless Rosalie had kept so
| bright and attractive for her father
| since she was a mere child of fourteen
/ years.
Il am quite intimate with leading
| publisher in the city," resumed Mr..
! Montgomery, ''who would be glad, /
am sure, upon my introducing you, to
accept your poems for handsome re-
muneration. If you will do me the hon.
| or to run up 10 the city with me-say
| some day next week-we can soon ar
range the terms-and then, only
think, you will be really launched upon
the ocean of fame.
And dazzling smile from the elo-
quent youth so bewildered poor Rosa
lie that she could scarcely tell
whether il was not all brilliant, delu-
sive dream.
She did, indeed, hesitate little as to
the propriety of such step. But she
had no mother to advise her; and, be-
sides, she reasoned, it was such short
distance-they could easily make the
trip, see that wonderful publisher, and
be at home again by nightfall, and then
then she would be an acknowledged
poetess, the social star and wonder of
the village. y
1T is nearly lunch time. upon my
word, remarke Phipps Montgomery,
consulting his elegant watch as he step
ped off the train. at will be impossi-
Bile to see our publisher just now. So,
with your permission, | will conduct
you TO my mothers, where you can
rest for an hour and have some refresh
ments. If you are as hungry as | am
YOU can't refuse. And my dear mother
will be most happy
Rosalie gracefully thanked him and
complied, for she was really tired and
hungry Accordingly. they took a
hack and were soon set down at a
rather pretentious mansion. where they
were warmly welcomed by a hand
somely dressed lady of middle age.
"Sit there, and rest my dear, while
| see about getting some lunch for you.
/ know you must be very tired, she