Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-05

lou cannot mean, Rose. that YOU
have deliberately intended to deceive
me?" he cried at last. Surely no
woman under heaven could have a
heart so hard and false as that Do
not trifie this time, Rose. Whatever
your answer is now it must be your
final one"
at is final" she answered steadily.
81 shall regret the loss of your friend
| ship, but | can never be your wife, Mr..
Severance. That is my deliberate, final
answer"
And / hurled back the lie in the
teeth of all those who tried to warn me
against you far what you area soul
| less coquette,n he said, with a bitter,
sneering laugh. Il might have saved
my happiness, but would not, and
well, doubtless | deserve my fate for
being such a fool"
He turned on his heel to 90, but Rose,
pale and apparently as emotionless as
stone, stepped quietly before him.
She held small basket of fruit and
flowers in her hand.
81 should like to ask you to do me
one little favor" she said, coldly, not
seeming to have noticed his bitter
words. Il have friend at the hotel
which you will pass as you 60 home.
She is ill-very i'll, indeed, and [ wish
to send her these. promised, but as
/ could not 60 myself must ask you
| to take them for me-and this note, "
she added, offering it. Don't refuse,
please, she will be so disappointed.
And if you will kindly take them up to
| her parlor YOURSELF never trust these
things to the careless servants there.
1t is the only service I shall ask OF
| you,'' she added, with half-pleading
little smile, as she saw him hesitate.
Of course he had no choice but to
accept the trifiing task, and with a
| cold, distant bow, he took both basket
and note from her hand and went his
way.
And when the door had closed behind
| him Rose sunk back into her chair and
sob5ed until her poor little heart was
ready to burst.
Il have sent him to her, and surely
she can find some way to win him back
again." she moaned, as she thought of
the desolation she had brought upon
her own happiness.
| How long she sat there weeping
Rose never knew. But ages after, so
it seemed, step sounded beside her,
and Wilbur's own voice was tenderly
calling her name.
''Look up, my Rose, and let me tell
you what has happened" he was say
ing, sadly, yet with deep undertone
| of JOY in his loving voice. Il executed
your errand, and before could leave,
| Caryl, in some way made me under
stand the state of her feelings toward
me. You know the whole story, Rose,
so | need not repeat it. Then, in my
| pity for her, and my bitter anger
toward you, [ was weak enough to offer
to renew that old engagement. need
not tell you that she eagerly accepted,
and then, in her joy or the agitation of
the moment, she fell to coughing sew
erely, and ruptured a blood-vessel.
| Yes''-in answer to Roses Mortified cry
-''she is dead now, my darling but
not before she had made me under
stand the sacrifice you tried to make
| for her. She knew that you loved me,
Rose-she confessed her own selfish
ness before them all. And now shall
not ask you for that answer, dear; ]
shall take it-thus;" and he kissed her
quivering lips. MY love-my little
heroine!' he added, proudly.
Rose had never once thought of it in
| that light; but no one now ever hears
from her sweet lips that old-time foolish
wish:
ooh if could only be heroiner'-
| Family Story Paper.