Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-15
ROSE MARKS.

ROSE MARKS.
The old house was slowly dropping
10 pieces about the young people. Yet
for all that they were as happy as
though it were a palace building up
about them. In truth. it should have
been enough to content anyofus simply
to be Rose Marks-the rose no roster,
the lily no snowier, sunshine not more
gol1en than her hair, more dazzling
than her smile, alovely little soul and
body. enjoying every moment of life,
and making it precious to every one
within her influence. She never
I thought OF grumbling that the house
was shaky and the food scanty, but
contented herself with bread when
/ there were no dainties, and when the
i roof leaked. moved her bed to anoth-
sr room where it did not leak so
badly. Every timber in the old house
/ was dear to her, and she never asked
/ for better. No wonder everybody
Eioved Rose Marks in general, and her
cousin Roger loved her in especial; not
her cousin, that is, if you demand
literal fact, but her step.
mothers nephew, yet always
called cousin and always loved
Ssike brother A brother? Well, no,
not exactly. People are not so very
ant 10 think whether OR no their
brothers will like this ribbon or that
flower, to blush damask If their
brothers catch them gazing at them
selves intently, to pout at an inatten-
tion from their brothers, or to have
their hearts beat like wildfire at a
touch OF the brothers hand. These
/two children were all alone in the
&house now, for Mr.. Marks and his
wife had followed the elder children,
who had died. when the great typhus
epidemic ragged some ten years ago.
So Rose kept the old house as she
rouid. and Roger paid her a regular
board from his little salary as clerk
Eof the only store in the village. How
fsnany times Rose had resolved to 20
=Dut by the day and do sewing since
she had been sixteen. al could earn
$500 year easily. Roger" she would
gay. as she was mapping it out to
RoIsr in the evening, at the other side
cf the table where he was studying.
"And what would become of me?''
Roger said.
"But, Roger" Rose said, growing
red and redder, SEINE day, you know,
you viii be-married, and then you
won't want me round"
ashanti II"
"Your wife won't at any rate; for
ou know Pm not even your sister,
hnd your wife when you marry"
Cant you wait till dor" thunder
ID Roger, getting up and stalking out
pf the room. "You won't forget how
a % sew, viii your"
And Rose began TO cry, and Roger
ktrode all around the place till bed
lime like an unhappy ghost. He mar
III Why was she harping on that
tritgs DID she want to marry her.
ELI. and have him first put out of the
Eayg And then he wrought himself
INTO a fury And then he groaned and
tlinched his fists and asked himself
Why was he, of all men, so placed
bat nothing ever could accrue to him,
DO help reach HIM, no one to hold a
batid to lift him up-just suffered to
BOD along from hand to mouth, when
little capital would put him into
uch haven. II he had but a couple oil
thousand Collars to start with, he
ouId open a second store here. Two
houand do.lars,-he might Just as
FeIl wish for silver mine. just as he
laid the words to himself, a soft. clear,
kAdiant hue was yelling mp over the
husky garden, and as he raised his
bead again. after while. there came
he moon floating up above the hori-
ION OF the long interval below. 1t
heered him inexplicably. like an
omen. promise. He stood up and
truck one palm into another. 81
pill have her yet" be cried, and went
10 his dreams.
.'Can you think of anything, Rose,
here We can economize?" said he
Iext day.
"EconomIze" she repeated gayly
For what2 In what2 With what?''
$50 that we can raise $4,000" he
nswered erayely.
She sat down as suddenly as if some
2 Pgantic hand had been laid on her
lead and had crushed her into the
: EAT.
Two thousand dollars" she gasp
h. 1--WE couldn'v economic it in
900 years, for don't know where
Fe waste a cent now"
al f11t,gt f-of oN,,,a thar ~ /
to go ont saving wood after
onrs."
-.Wby, Roger7''
For capital TO get into business -
The house would sell for $500 more
ban you want
The housed" he said; "that is not
nlne.;'
Rose stood up, moving one thing
. nd smother nervously about the
{ Rhle, her lips trembied, and all at
{ Pee she ran out of the room. .Oh,
q cares nothing for me; be despises
pc; he disregards me; he would take
8 othing from me! Because it is mine
is not his. and he wants nothing oil
he
? "she takes no interest ia it; she
nsiness or not; it matters nothing to
= er ne sighed. Late IN the day a
Gnd slowly rose and hung over the
: eids and marshes, till all the sky was
nfFte ans all the landwas in shadow.
pa low thnnders began to growl in
9 r breast, and sharp lightnings leap
ON II. IL seemed to Roger only
pmething In accord with his feelings,
pr u bettted nature to be as dark as
ls Own outlook.
IL WAS terrible storm, though, be.
pre- another hour passed. As the
orm increased, Roger remembered
pose lear OF thunder, and plunged
pc into it, determined that she
hould not be alone in such moment
absolute terror. The rain met him
a'fway. worse than any lightning-a
ay, sitting downpour, in which II
as impossible to draw his breath,
pa hls only refuge was to take to his
Z gels and run SIS last as ever any ath.
pc ran race.
one must have seen him coming, for
he set open the door. though she
Eood behind it. what made you
ave shelter in such a storm as this?'
4 Pc cried, and just then there came al
overwhelming flash. the fire of which
eemed to penetrate her brain. She
apped her hands TO her face with g
'risK, the house rocked ami the door
kuhs and slammed. and she fel
snting upon the floor.
When Rose came to herself she was
ing on the lounge where Roger had
scea her; he storm was slowly roll
on oelowt the horizon, with now
% tten smothered growl, and the
Iin vas pattering i'm thin showers