The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-07-24
An ESCRIT0IRE.
BY ROSE AUBURN.

Brown-eyed, brown-haired Phoebe
Woldemere had laid two strips of lilac
silk across her lovers knee as she sat on
an ottoman at his feet.
There appeared very little difference
in the shade or quality, but there was a
difference and a very important one it
seemed to Phoebe; for whichever John
Rose decided upon, her wedding dress
was to be selected from.
SO she watched the staiwart, blonde
fellow quite breathlessly as he took mp
the shimmering bits of silk and exam
med them.
But he LAID them down without speak
ing.
(which do you prefer, John? I shall
get whichever you like best" said Phe-
be ~anxiously.
"My little girl" said John Rose,
gently, II am afraid there is to be no
wedding"
mo wedding" repeated Phoebe, with
wide eyes. . ..... 49,.
"Listen, dear"
And as leniently as possible, the
young man went on to describe his faith
er's wrong against himself; but the
truth was, that the home which should
have been his-which ne had earned
twice over since he had been of age
had been gambled away by the vicious
Did man; and p alliate the matter as he
would, the cruel facts remained to
hang a cloud upon his brow and
pale Ph9be's happy bloom.
He regarded her silently and sadly,
while her thoughts went back to her
melancholy mothers prediction that mo
good would ever come of her engage
ment TO John Rose; he came of bad
blood"
There was not a bit of truth in it, for
she had been very happy for two years;
and there was not a fault of his well
known fatler or grandfather's which
had been repeated in John. They had
both been terrible warnings TO him
only.
II believed the house and farm mine,
Phoebe. Thought I had a home to take
you to, dear" the young nan went on
but the place is mortgaged for nearly
all that it is worth. Ny father has kept
up the deception for years. Last even
ing he told me ALL
He gave her the details, but they
seemed to matter little. johns home
was gone, on nearly so; and, as he said,
there would be no wedding.
II may get it back into my hands In
time, Phoebe. / am going to try. But
it must be along time. Will You waltz"
'0f course / win wait, john
Fortunately you are very young,
sweetheart" he said, and laid a strong,
carressing hand on the soft, waving
hair.
I'VE have been waiting two years
now, John" Phoebe said, with q faint
smile.
How cruel it had beenl He had been
working hard to change, embellish and
furnish the house-that was all gone
now-and Phoebe had had her little
trials with a faithless mother.
8 poor reward and dismal end
ing for both
IF I had not lived there all my life;
ii" his voice faltered-amy mother had
not died there, 7 would give it up.
But i must try and get il back
How long will il take, John?p
II can not tell. There's the rub, for
I q not see my way clear at present
to do it at ALL"
The two talked late into the night.
The next day John returned hoae,
Tor he lived some ten miles out of town.
and returned by the train.
But that day q package came to
Phmbe's hand~quite q heavy, square
package-which turned out to be d hand-
some writing desk, with an accompany
ing note:
my DEAR PHOEBE: Before leaving CHANGED
into some anction fooras and bid of this es-
c%rittoire which was going shamefully cheap.
~ - very nice, and looks very old. 4 thought
you would like ii, andI thorqht / would Ike
70 have yon have ii 10 write letters to me ca.
am, my little treasure, forever yours, ?
10 Rose
The box was of solid mahogany. fined
With red satin, a little faded. bat care
fully preserved, and smelling delicate
~ Of altar Of roses. The arrangement