The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-11-20
ROSES HEROISM.

novel which she had just finished with
deep sigh of discontent. "Im pretty
enough, I'm sure"--easting an APP
preciative glance at the mirror OPP
posite, in which her piquant face and
curling golden hair were pleasingly
rehected-"but nothing ever happens
nothing ever, will happen, either, so
far as / can see-that has the least bit
of romance in it. just this same old
humdrum life; I'm tired and sick of it.
If something startling would only oc-
eur! if could only fall desperately In
love with some one"
Here the low. discontented murmur
of Roses voice ceased, and faint
blush crept into her pretty cheeks, as
her thoughts drifted away toward a
certain ''some one" who had never
formed part Of that humdrum life of
which she had so often and SO bitterly
complained. ... ....
Rose had numberless admirers, as
the prettiest girl in the village always
will have, and she could recall an al
most equal number Of firtations which
had served to brighten the monotony of
her village life. -.....
But they were tame affairs; her heart
had never been really Interested fOra q
moment.
As for the grand passion, Rose knew
nothing OF it, save in her romantic
day-dreams and in the impassioned
pages of her favorite novels.
She had laughed at her would-be
lovers, and declared her conviction
that there was no such thing as love
in real life.
But of late pretty Rose had secretly
begun to entertain q somewhat differ
ent opinion on that subject.
A handsome, manly, intellectual face
and pair of beautiful, laughing brown
eyes were the direct causes of her
change of heart.
Yet their owner seemed in no haste
to enroll himself on the list of her ad-
mirers. Indeed, Rose knew him only
by sight, for William Severance was q
stranger in the village; she had seen
him in church two or three times and
occasionally on the street, but he had
never sought an introduction to. the
belle of the place, and, beyond pass
ing glance of admiration, had not
evinced any special notice of her at
fractions.
Perhaps that was the very thing
him. At all events she often caught
herself dreaming of those handsome
brown eyes and wondering what she
should say if Mr.. Severance were to
tell her the story of love which she had
so often heard from other lips.
But there was little. danger of that
apparently. Rose bit her red lips in
chagrin as that thought forced itself
upon her, even while she was contem-
plating her pretty. graceful image in
the mirror: and, catching up her wide
brimmed garden hat, she suddenly quit
the room and the house and went hur-
rying down the path with a kind of
desperate determination ia her heart to
get away from the dullness of every
day existence and wiring an adventure
of some sort from the unwilling han DIS
of fate.
'.Fll 90 down to the river" she said
after moment of indecision at the
gate, land if l can find boat I'll row
about in the most dangerous places [
can find. And I hope something will
happen, but it won't" she added sar-
castically, unless l upset the boat ON
purpose"
Turning into the winding road that
led out of the village, she soon came to
the river. and found fragile shell of o
boat dancing at anchor ON the waves,
as if left there by fate for her special
use.
Rose unfastened the chain, and was
soon shooting swiftly down the stream,
keeping time with her oars to her own
restless thought.
All at once a sound, breaking the
stiffness of the scene, drew her atten-
ton to shore, and with that glance
Roses heart gave q mad jump. and
then seemed to stop beating. for there
on the bank. only . few feet distant,
busily arranging o pile of fishing
tackle, sat the hero Of her present
thoughts-the handsome stranger with
the laughing brown eyes.
And they were quietly laughing at
her now, Rose thought, As q blush OF
confusion dyed her fair cheeks vivid
red.
The sudden start she gave jostled one
of the oars out 'of her careless grasp,
and, reaching with thoughtless haste
to recover it, the something" which
| she had 80 recklessly wished for hap
pened: for the next instant, to her dis
gust and terror. she found herself over.
board and fioundering about in the wa
ter, looking as little like her idea
heroine as could we'll be imagined.
MIR. Severance did not wait for the
| faint cry for help which those prout
lips of hers uttered when Rose founf
her own efforts useless.
He fastened to her rescue, and wheT
he had brought her, all pale and ex
| hausted, to the shore, Rose, glancins
shyly upward, saw those brown eyes
no longer laughing at her. but full Q
a grave and tender anxiety that thrille<
her heart.
Il am not all injured, she said, re
| plying to that look, with a slight laugl
| which she meant to be careless; ''an,
hope my boat isn't, for must try m.
luck with it again by starting home a
once"
But your strength is quite exhaust
ed" he said decidedly. as she ros
slowly to her feet. Il shall row yo'
back to the point from which you start
ed, and then, if you will permit me.
shall accompany you to your home.
really think it is unsafe for you to g
alone" he added, seeing the tide 9
crimson that swept back SO suddent
to her white cheeks.
Rose offered but faint objections
and thus began the acquaintance Whlc
| was destined to prove so eventful
both
For to Rose life seemed dull an
| commonplace no longer; and as fo
| Wilbur Severance, he came often afte
that first meeting, until he knew
last that the lovely, golden-haired g
auette-as many called her-had draw
his heart into her own keeping TO
egefmOre.
And she knew it. too, for his eye
had told her the sweet story long az
perhaps before he was really aware
It himself.
And Rose was happy.
Now that she knew what true 10y
was, she gave her whole heart up to
and she no longer wondered what h
answer would be when he should as
!. her for it.
II was Just in the flush OF her happ
nesa that Rose met at a village hote
whose landlady's daughter was one
her girl friends, a lady who haa con
ahefs hoping e regain AsE sesk Aes3