The Wahpeton times., 1888-03-08
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 q palace building up
about them. In truth, it should have
been enough to content anyof us simply
to be Rose Marks-the rose no roster,
the lily no snowier, sunshine not more
gol.en 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
thought of grumbling that the house
was shaky and the food scauty, but
contented herself with bread when
there were no dainties, and when tho
roof leaked, moved her bed to anoth.
er. room where it did not leak so
badly. Every timber in the old house
was dear to her, and she never asked
for q better. No wonder everybody
loved Rose Marks in general, and her
cousin Roger loved her in especial; not
her cousin, that is, if you demand
q literal fact, but her step.
mothers nephew, yet always
called q cousin and always loved
like a brother. A brother? Well, no,
not exactly. People are not so 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 them
selves lntently, to pout at an lnatten-
ton from their brothers, or to have
their hearts beat like wildfre at q
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, en-.
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 9 regular
board from his little salary as clerk
of the only store in the village. How
many times Rose had resolved to 90
out by the day and do sewing since
she had been sixteen. II could earn
5000 year easily. Roger" she would
cay. as she was mapping it out to
Roger in the evening, at the other side
OF the table where he was studying.
"And what would become OF me?"
Roger said.
.'But. Roger" Rose said, growing
red and redder, some day, yon know,
you will be-married, and then you
won't want me round"
ashanti I?'
"Your wife won't at any rate; for
you know Pm not even your sister.
and your wife when you marry"
Cant you walt till do?" thynder-
ed 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 bed
time like an unhappy ghost. He mar
ry! Why was she harping on that
string? Did she want to marry her.
self. and have him first put out of the
way? And then he wrought himself
into fury. And then he groaned and
clinched his fists and asked hlmself
why was he, of all men, SO placed
that nothing ever could accrue to him,
no help reach HIM, no one to hold a
hand to lift him up-just suffered to
plod along f.om hand to mouth, when
q little capital would put him into
such haven. II he had but q couple OF
thousand dollars to start with, he
could open a second store here. Two
thouand dollars!-hs might just as
we'll wish for q silver mine. Just as he
said the words to himself, q soft, clear,
radiant hue was yelling up over the
dusky garden, and as he raised his
head again, after q while. there came
the moon floating up above the hori-
zon OF the long interval below. 1t
cheered him inexplicably, like an
omen, q promise. He stood up and
struck one palm into another. II
will have her yet" he cried, and went
to his dreams.
"Can you think OF anything, Rose,
where We can economize7" said he
next day.
"Economize!" she repeated gayly.
"For what? In what? With what?"
$50 that we can raise $2.O00." he
answered eravely.
She sat down az suddenly as if some
gigantic hand had been laid on her
head and had crushed her into the
seat.
1.-TWO thousand dollars!" she gasp.
ed. 1--WE couldn'J economic it in
1000 years. for I don't know where
we waste a cent now"
II must get it in some way. then, If ]
have to 60 out saving wood after
hours"
"Why, Roge.1"
For capital to get into business"
''The house would ellfor $500 more
than you want.
The housel" he said; ''that is not
mine."
Rose stood up. moving one thing
and another nervously about the
table, her lips trembled, and all ut
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 nothing of
me-"
"she takes no interest in it; she
doesn't care whit whether I 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 landwas in shadow.
and low thunders began to prowl in
its breast, and sharp lightnings leap