The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

draw myself up, SO as to look as tall as pos
sible.
II am IS years, 4 months, weeks and
days old, say, with crushing dignity.
aAnd how many hoursp he asks, with
twinkle in his eye.
l feel inclined to cry, and my lips pout; he
is making fun of me- He rises, looks at his
watch and says:
II expect visitor again to-day. VIII
you excuse meT Then seeing the cloud
still on my face, he lays his hand for one
moment on mine. Forgive me" he says,
"little---"
/ cannot quite catch the last word; but it
sounds like darling and my foolish heart
throbs ought to be angry, but am not.
His touch has made me glow with momen-
tary happiness.
Half an hour passes, and he comes again.
accompanied by a lady. cannot see her
face; but she has noble air and bearing,
queenly tread; they come nearer. Yes, she
is, as Dr. Browne said, beautiful, notwith-
standing her 90 years, her snow-white hair
the most beautiful woman have ever seen.
But she is not Maj McDonald's wife; her
years, striking likeness to him, proved it
even before ne said:
Mother this is Miss Rose Morley"
"Poor little girll' she says. "Poor little
motherless girl Ronald tells me that you
are to be sent away alone when you leave
here"
"Yes,n answer, sadly. "Aunt is afraid
TO have me-"
IL have better plan than that to pro pose.
/ want you to come with us to billiard, where
we are going for change of air for my son"
How fondly and proudly she says "my son"
Il think have little claim on you, my
dear, for believe l WIS at school with your
grandmother at least, schoolfellow OF
mine-Rose Dalrymple- a Mr. Nor
ley. was one of her bridesmaids"
MY grandmother's name was Dalrymple,"
Ianswer, eagerly.
"Ah, thought sol But, after married,
we lost sight of each other, as went out to
India; am glad to see you, my dear! it re-
minds me OF my youth, and you have look
of Rose about your eyes. | shall write to
your aunt about your visit to us.
Soon afterward Mrs. Mcdonald rises to
leave, and her son escorts her as far as he is
allowed and then returns to me.
AHow beautiful she is" cry, enthusiast
ically, "and how kind!" Then, with forced
party-you, your wife. your mother and l. T"
al am not married, Miss Morley" he an
swers, gravsly. at was only foolish jest;
though the young lady whom hope to make
my wife will, trust, be one of our party"
Worse and worse The quiet affection of
a married couple would have been endura,
BILE; but the fooling of betr, thed lovers
| would drive me mad He looked at me long
and meaningly. Does he want to give me a
hint that his heart is not his to bestowi
Without doubt it is SO; and yet can not re-
fuse to go with them. am powerless
am the steel, he the magnet; and l cannot
-cannot-cannot tear myself away.
My aunt is only too delighted - get rid Of
me. So in ten days time m at billiard
with my new friends. Mrs. Mcdonald, who
| is not yet very strong, sits a good deal on
the beach of the French bathing-place and
sends her son and myself for a daily walk
| We ramble now among the deep lanes nov
along the cliffs; but, though three week.
pass away, there is no sign OF the fiancee; and
am happy, wildly, childishly, frantcally
happy. 1t is bliss to me to hear his voice, tc
see his face, to walk by his side; the mert
touch of his hand as he helps me over a
rough piece Of ground sends thrill of rap
| ture through me.
Il have heard from Anna" says Mrs Nc
Donald, one morning TO her son. "She car
come to us soon.
"Ah, that is pleasant" he answers, with @
beaming face, and, turning to me, explains
Anna is my mothers and my favorits
cousin, ono of the best women the world
| holds"
"Here she is at lastn | moan to myself
Il cannot bear it; 1 mustgo home. | shall
wait to see her and then 60 Aunt Mar
garet cannot be afraid of me now"
Maj Mcdonald and l take our walk al
most in silence to-day. | am nervous, foo
that am, cannot overcome my feelings
What must he think Of mei
"Shall we turns" say, after time
He agrees; but, instead Of going back. We
stand facing ward look up at last and
meet his eyes, which have an expression il
them which has often been there of late
trembls, flush, look down, and say, in ny
nervousness, just what ought not
when is your fiancee comingp ask, witt
, a forced laugh, which sinks into feebI
giggle, while dig holes in the ground will
the point of my parasoL
"My fianceen be says in blank amazamsnt
Yes, Anna" | answer. Are you not en-
gagged to herl You told me the young lad
who was to be your wife would be with yol
abroad
"Anna is So he says, laughing gayly.
| Cdll III ocCOlia tOi was SUI
home to her from India when | was child
And the young lady hope to mako my wifi
is with my mother and me now. Goo
hsavenl what child you are to have mis-
understood me-"
And then there is silence. / have dug
hole deep enough for a robins grave befor,
, he speaks again.
"Rose'-the voice is low and thrilling
"Rose, am neither rich nor titled, but
: love you"
} His eyes are full of intense longing, hi
arms are stretched out yearningly towarC
me- Perhaps it would be more maidenly
more digniifed to hold back coyly; but
don't-I simply fly into them with unseeml.
haste. He sees nothing wrong about it
however, for he holds me close to his breast
t as through he could never bear to let me GO
my own love-my darlingP he murmurs
All, how good, how precious it is to heal
, such words-to me. who has been nobody
darling since the dreary day, far back in m!
dosolate childhood, when my fair youni
mother died.