Nevada County picayune., 1886-09-01
"Ncither."
 "Rosa,' he exclaimed, "I do not understand you."

spoke plainly enough. Nelth' err'
 "DO you mean that"
 "I m can that you must either give up your uncle or mo Af ter all that has been said and known of our engagement, after it's publicity and length, 1 certainly cannot consent to its further post pOnement. And we shall be poor enough If we marry immediately, without filling our house with a host of needy relatives"
 Clarence Hyde looked 1t his fair fiancee in perfect amazement. Nev- CT in the whole course of their ac- quaintance had he seen this phrase of her character. He had fancied her all that WAS sweet, pure and womanly. Could it be possible that she was colI-hcarted, selfish, and dead to all the sweet ties of nature?
 "Rosa," he said, mournfullv, ''is this 10 part uS?"
 ''lt is for yon 10 say"
 Do you wish me to give up my poor dependent m nrlef"
 "Either him or me-" Rosa an swercd indiilerently.
 "It will be hard. very hard. for me to lay aside the brighest wish es of ny lifc," he said, earnestly; Out, Rosa, duty is my first object. I cannot leave my uncle to wear out his few remaining days in pow erty and solitude.'
 "Very well," answered Rosa, cnrelessly stopping to plck np the odorOus purple blossom which had fallen from her hair. "Then we will consider our engagement at an end.n
 And you can give me up so readily, Rosa?"
 "Oh,' snid Rosa, a little impa- tiently; "wherc's the use of being romantic about itS You have chos- en your part. 1 have chosen mine. So let it be-
 Clarence Hyde took his leave, deiected enough. It is not pleas ant to set mp fair Idol and wor- ship it with all the strength and tenderness of your nature, only to find after all that it is dust and ashes-hollow-hcarted and false. Cuthbert Hyde sat smoking his mcerschaum by the open window as Clarence entered--a sparc. shrewd-loobing little man, with 1 deeply scanned wrinkles on his brow, and restless spar king eyes cleaning like coals beneath his shaggy browr.
 "Clarcnce, my boy, something !ias gone wrong" he said, brusque- i ly. after he had regarded lis neph. CIV in silence for awhile. Tell the old uncle what it is."
 Il have told you about Rosa FL don, sir; well, she and 1 are-in fact, it ia all over between usl'
 Engagement broken, eh! Past the power of patcl:ng up"
 "Ies, uncle."
 "And it was on my account! Nay, boy, don't turn away, l can read the truth tn your eyes. So shu's played you ialse'"
 "We are pn nrted, uncle; is not that ehough?"
 "WelI, perhaps so-perhaps so. It was well you found her out in time, Clarence. It's for the best, my boy"
 Clarence Hyde wac passing down the village street day or two sub- sequently, towards dust of a mel low August twilight. when slight figure slided up to him, and Il tremulous hand wus laid upon his own. He started at first, but quickly recognized the face and figure.
 "Lizzie Eldonl"
 "Oh, Clarence, I conld not rest without telling you how very, very wrong l thought Rosa, and how sorry 1 am for yon,"
 "Thanks, Lizzy. l do not think she has treated me exactly right"
 Lizzy burst into tears.
 "How could she be so cruel-so unwomaulyi You were right, Clar- cnce-you acted nobly! think Rosa will enc day live to repent it."