Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-10
ROSE MARKS.

The old house was slowly dropping to
pieces about the young people. Yet for
all that they were as happy as though it
were palace building up about them. In
truth, it should have been enough to content
any of us simply to be Rose Marks-the
rose no roster, the lily no snowier, sun
shine not more golden than hec hair more
dazzling than her smile lovely little
soul and body, enjoying every moment of
life, and making it precious to everyone
within her influence. She never 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 roof leaked, moved her bed
to another room where it did not leak so
badly. Every timber in the old house was
dear to her, and she never asked for bet
ter. No wonder everybody loved Rose
Marks in general, and her cousin Roger
loved her in especial not her cousin, that
is, if you demand literal fact, but her
stepmothers nephew, yet always called a
cousin and always loved like brother A
brother? Well, no, not exactly. People
are not 50 very apt to think whether or no
their brothers will like this ribbon
or that flower, to blush damask if
their brothers catch them gazing at
themselves intently, to pout at an
inattention from their brothers, or to
have their hearts beat like wildfre 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 could, and Roger paid her regular
board from his little salary as clerk of the
only store in the village. How many
times Rose resolved to go out by the day
and do sewing since she had been sixteen.
81 could earn 5000 year easily, Roger"
she would say, as she was mapping it out to
Roger in the evening, at the other side of
the table where he was studying.
"And what VIC I'D become of me ?" Roger
said.
"But, Roger" Rose said, growing red
and redder, Some day, you know, you will
be-married, and then you won't want me
round"
"Shan't II"
your wife won't, at any rate; for you
know Pm not even your sister, and your
wife when you marry"
Cant you wait till | do?" Numbered
Roger, getting up and stalking out of the
room. "You won't forget how to sew, will
your
And Rose began to cry, and Roger
strobe all around the place till bedtime
like an unhappy ghost. He marry Why
was she harping on that string? Did she
want to marry herself and have him first
put out of the way? And then he wrought
himself into a fury. And then he groaned
and clenched his fists and asked himself
why was he, of all men, SO placed that
nothing could ever accrue to him, no help
reach him, no one to hold hand to lift
him up-just suffered to plod along from
hand to mouth, when a little capital would
put him into such a haven. If he had
but couple Of thousand dollars to start
with, he could open a second store here.
Two thousand dollars he might Just as
well wish for 4 silver mine. Just as he
said the words to himself, a soft, clear,
radiant hue was yelling up over the dusky
garden, and as he raised his head again,
after a while, there came the moon float
ing up above the horizon of the long in
terval below. 1t cheered him inexplica-
bly,, like an omen, a promise. He stood
up and struck one palm into another.
q will have her yet" he cried, and went
TO his dreams.
"Can YOU think of anything, Rose,
where We can economic ," said he next
day
Economizer p she repeated gaily, "For
what? In what? With what ?"
So that we can raise $4,000" he an
swered gravely.
She sat down as suddenly as if some gi-
gantic hand had been laid on her head and
had crushed her into the seat.
1.-Two thousand dollars ~ she gasped.
GIVE couldn't economic it in 1000 years,
for don't know where we waste a cent
now"
must get it in some way. then, if
have to go out saving wood after hours"
"Why, Roger"
For capital to get into business"
"The house would sell for $500 more
than you want
The house, he said that is not
mine"
Rose stood up, moving one thing and
another nervously about the table her
lips strembled, and all at once she ran out
of the room. "Oh, he cares nothing for
me; he despises me; he disregards me
he would take nothing from me. Because
it is mine, it is not his, and he wants moth
ing of me-"
''She takes no interest in it she doesn't
care whit whether | go into business or
not it matters nothing to her" he sighed
Late in the day cloud slowly rose and
hung over the fields and marshes, till all
the sky was purple and all the land was in
shadow, and low thunders began to growl
in its breast, and sharp lightnings leap
from it. 1t seemed to Roger only some
thing in accord with his feelings for it be-
fitted nature TO be as dark as his own out
look.
1t was a terrible storm, though, before
another hour passed As the storm in
creased. Roger remembered Roses fear OF
thunder, and plunged out into it, deter
mined that she should not be alone in such
a moment of absolute terror. The rain
met him half way, worse than any light
ning-a gray, sitting downpour, in which
it was impossible TO draw his breath, and
his only refuge was TO take to his heels
and run as fast as ever any athlete ran a
race.
She must have seen him coming, for she
set open the door, though she stood behind
it What made you leave shelter in such
storm as this ?" she cried and just then
there came en- overwhelming flash, the fire
of which seemed TO penetrate her brain
She clapped her hands to her face with a
shrek, the house rocked and the door
swung and slammed, and she fell fainting
to the floor.
When Rose came to herself she was ly.
ing on the lounge, where Roger had placed
her; the storm was slowly rolling off be-
low the horizon, with now and then a
smothered growl, and the rain was patter-
ing in thin showers which the freshened
breeze shook from vines and boughs. She
sat up directly; and presently, as soon as