The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-04-24

hh0htA A10 10 ~ OnAA bibus
don't believe he comes from one of
the first families in Maryland, as he
pretends. He is an inposter. Be.
sides, | have promised to marry
Raph, when you consented to our
union"
"Iudeed," exclaimed the old man,
not Il little gratified at bis daugh-
tel's good intentions. "Indeed,
then you will not marry in aihurry
miss, 1 promise you. You will not
have my consent TO any snch ar
rangement with Ralph Belmont"
"1hen | remain single"
"No you won't.p
"Do you think, so, father p
"Indeed | do. YOu are now of
marriagable age
"And you wish to get me off your
hands,"
"No; you know better. If you
marry to suit me | will confer on
you a handsome dowry.'
"You are able to do that, know"
"And | will if you marry to suit
me.'
81 hope to do so, father.'
"If you don't, | will cut you of
without ii shilling"
81 will not we'd without your ap.
proval, father"
"Very we'll that is as | would
have it; and so | have suggested
to Col. Rodmau, who is in good pc.
siJon, and am sure, is seriously
attached to YOU"
"But more seriously attached to
my expected dowIy, father" sug-
gested Rosa.
just then there twas a rustllng
among the leaves, aud a servant
appeared upon the scene. Come
quick, Mr.. Arlingford, Col. Rod
man is gone, aud Mrs. Arlin9tord
has lost her diamond sleeve.buttOn.
She says she believes Col. Rodman
has stolen it. She had it in her
cuff when she was in the parlor
aud just stepped into the hall, when
she missed it; and when she went
back Col, Rodmau was goae-and
she can't find it any place"
"G0 quick, father; il is the beau
tiful button Uncle Harry sent
mother from Cuba"
just as her father aud HE serv-
ant disappeared, she heard rustic
among The leaves, aud the words,
"RosJ, R0sa," when II manly form
stepped from behind some shrub
berry close by. With outstretched
arms, the speaker claSped her in his
arms, tenderly kissing her hair,
lips and brow. Then putting her Il
little way from him, looked into
her white face, One moment she
raised her eyes to bis. Then, with
il Joyous cry, she flung her arms
around his neck and wept.
ooh, Ralph, at last-at last you
have come back to me.0
ayes, my little love-" and he
drew her head against his breast
told her how his old aunt bad died
and lett him a millionaire, and that
he had been detained to settle some
of her business matters; aud how
he was sitting on IL resting, and
heard the converSatio between her
and her father. "And now, dar.
ling, | know you are true to me,
but Your father will not consent to
our union" he remarked. She look
ed up in bis clear, blue eyes, and
with a smile she took his arm and
said, "Let's go and.see
When they reached the house
there'was noperSon there but her
mother and her maid.
Rosa whispered: "Ralpb, you
know mother always liked you"
"Yes, dearw And you, reader
would think SO, too, had you seen
them few moments later as they
all sat in the parlor. The old lady
to them what the servant
had told Rosa and her father, and
added that the police were already
in pursuit of Col. ROdman.
1t aeeded only to be added that
when Mr.. Arlingford returned, mat
ters were quickly explained. The
would-be rich Col. Rodman was
found to be a highway robber, and
in a few weeks was tried, convicted
aud sent to prison for life. With
ia one year Rosa became Mrs.
Ralph Belmont, with old Mr.. Arl-
ingfortl's cordial coucent