Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-26
ROSALIE's AMBITION.

evident satisfaction. Il f1atter myself
this isn't so bad after all. Indeed, l
think its quite original, striking. Take
these lines, for instance" and she mus
ingly repeated aloud:
Love. oh. love- If We must part,
HESr forget sweet Cupid's dart
He'll unfold thee in his clasp
When my arms thy form shall clasp.
That sounds good deal like Byron's
.Maid of Athens. doesn't itP" she mus
ed, in 4 tono Of mingled pride and
anxiety. But I'm sure that none of
my readers can ever say that u
.khemr' sounded deep. strong.
masculine voice. very near at hand.
The fair poetess started guiltily 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 mee I
do believe was talking out loud. ex-
claimed Rosslis, half angrily. AREN'T
you ashamed of youryelf?"
Il should be if l had played the
esvesdropper, he answered pleasant
ly. That is why call attention to my
presence. And, by the way. here is
something which the breeze must have
huttsrei out of the window" he added
with . twinkle in his dark eyes, hand
ing her . sheet Of thickly scribbled
paper which she instantly recognized
as part Of her .'original poem"
Original it was, indeed-highly so;
and no 1ittsrateur seeing it would have
wondered long at the sly smile which
struggled to suppress itself on Kelsey
Vernon's handsome face.
Rosalie's own pretty countenance
flushed more hotly than ever, If posi-
bic. as she snatched it from him.
"You have read that, and now you
are making fun Of it." her blue eyes
flashing ike sparks of steel. But ]
dom t care, Kelsey Vernon. will be An
authoress in spite Of YOU"
Il have no objection, Rosaiie," he
smiled, half merrily, half grsvely. but
l hope you will forgive me some day il
/ turn critic for moment and tell you
candidly that you never will be the sue
cess in authorship that you already are
in housekeeping. In that-woman's
highest and truest sphere-you arc
simrly perfection. Rosalie-"
Don't 'Bosalie dear me. if you
please. Mr.. Vernon" she retorted with
all the acidity that her sweet lips
could muster. Il won't spend all my
life in commonplace household drudg-
cry when | know that I am fitted for
something higher. Mr.. Phipps Mont
gomery says"
''Oh, Phipps Montgomery be hanged
q ws going to say)" interrupted the
youns < man, somewhat warmly, for any
allusien to his fascinating rival from
hosalie's pretty lips was sure to touch
. very sensitive spot in his heart
..Pkipps Montgomery h humbug.
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. be is only fiattering you in
order to win your heart, and then
break it."
"Mr. Montgomery is too perfectly .
gentleman to laugh at mo because l
am determined to rise above this COM
monplace 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 Rosalie's vo:s.
over these last three words was un-
doubtedly intended to crush poor kel-
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, he sauntered 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
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 unfiattering 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. .Ah! 1 always told you,
Miss Rosalie, that destiny had marked
you for something higher than ths,"
and he threw q half contemptuous
glance around the neat and cogv hon.e