Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-06-11
HER WEDDING PRESENT.
"Hush! it is Clarence Hvde's stan

rosy and smiling, with the freshly.
plucked heliotrope trembling among
her glossy brown braids, and her pref.
ty, blue dress floating around her like
an azure cloud.
Only eighteen, and very fair and
lovely was our little Rosa-a trihe
spoiled and wilful, perhaps, but what
else could one expect? Every one pet
ted and made much of her, and Clar.
ence Hydethought her the fairest spec
linen OF feminine humanity that ever
the sun shone on.
Lizzy Eldon made room for her sis
ter-Lizzy, just one year younger, and
scarcely less fair, yet very different in
character. Lizzy was quiet, and sage,
and demure, while Rosa ratified away
like a merry mountain stream flow
ing over it's messy stones. Lizzy
thought her sister perfection, while
Rosa was always lecturing Lizzy in a
capricious fashion, and laying down
the law to her after the most approx.
ed manner OF elder sisters.
"How niceit must be to be engaged"
said Lizzy with o half-encouragine
smile as Rosa paused at tho glass to
adjust her hair. "Iwish were engag.
ed"
you? Oh, you are nothing but a
child" Rosa said patronizingly
'There, 81 i've me my pocket-handker-
chief"
And away she went, light and 1.-the
as a blue-wlnged butterfly.
Clarence Hyde was in the parlor,
anxiously awaiting her coming but
Clarence had rather disturbed face.
Hewas d well-made, handsome young
fellow, with laughing wine~prown eyes,
straight features, und brown hair
thrown back from O. broad, frank brow
'Why, what makes you look sc
sober?" was Rosa's first arch cues.
ton, when the ceremonials of greeting
were gone through with, ard she had
time to take a good look into his
face.
"Sober? Do I?''
He was playing rather restless]y
with the crimson cord that looped
back the white muslin draperies of the
pretty bay-window that made Mrs
Eldon's cottage look like one OF the
lovely rustic habitations you see in
old English engravings.
EXACTLY as if you had the tooth.
ache or q bad conscience"
Clarence laughed in spite OF himself
"You are wrong, then, my little rid
die guesser; am afflicted with neither
the one nor the other"
"Well, what is it, them"
Rosa, what would you say if it
were to become necessary to defer our
marriage for some time?"
A shadow came over the infantile
bloom and freshness of Rosa's face.
''To defer our marriage, Clarence? ]
can't imagine what you mean"
Listen, Rosa, and I will
tell you. My uncle has just
come from California, very poor,
and q confirmed invalid. I am his
only surviving relative, and to me he
naturally appeals for protection and
companionship. I must give him a
home, Rosa. You know l had laid
up just enough to begin housekeeping
in a quiet economical sort of way,
but this new plan will necessarily al
ter my arrangements"
~ never heard of any uncle before -
"No, dearest; I knew very little Of
him-nothing personalities he never
visited my father during his lifetime
Rosa's face was turned away from
Clarence Hyde's; she was twisting q
bit of paper round her slender fore
fingers.
"Rosa," he said, after waiting q
minute or two for her to make some
remark, "tell mo honestly dear one
which you would prefer--to begin
housekeeping on this new scale-one
humber and more frugal than I had
originally hoped and intended-or to
defer our marriage until | can earn
enough to carry out those original
arrangements"
She was silent for g. moment, then
she answered, in a voice which seemed
to chill Clarence's bouyant young
heart.
"Neither!"
"Rosa," he exclaimed, II do not I'm.
derstand you"
II spoke plainly enough. Neither!''
"Do you mean that"
II mean that you must either give
up your uncle or me. After all that
has been said and known of our en-
gagement, after it's publicity and
length, I certainly cannot consent tc
it's further postponement. And W.
shall be poor enough, if we marry i'm
mediately, without filling our house
with host of needy relatives."
Clarence Hyde looked at his fair fl
ancee i'll perfect amazement. Never
in the whole course of their acquaint
ance had he seen this phase of hel
character. He had fancied her al
That was sweet, pure and womanly
Could it be possible that she was
cold-hearted, selfish, and dead to al
the sweet ties OF nature?
"Rosa," he said mournfully, <'is this
to part us?'
ut is for you to say
"Do you wish me to giveup my poor
dependent uncle?"
either him or me-" Rosa answered
indiferently.
at will be hard-very hard for nj
to lay aside the brightest wishes o
my life" he said, earnestly; but, Rosa
duty is my first object. I canno
leave my uncle to wear out his few
remaining days in poverty and soil
tude."
"Very WE'LL" answered Rosa, care
lessly STOPPING to pick W the odor
Gus purple blossom which had fallel
from her hair; "Then we will consider
our engagement at an end"
And you can give me up so readily
Rosa?"
"Oh," said Rosa, g. little impatient
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