Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-29

an olive complexion. an abundance OF
chestnut hair. and q 1.-the and graceful dg-
ure; but she was shy-and reserved. and
talked little even to her father.
Arthur rather prided himself upon his
ability to read character. He thought he
understood that OF Lois. and the fact that
she had been able to keep secret for three
years her reasons Tor refusing to marry the
man she loved puzzled him very much
She does not look like a woman who
could keep a secret, ne thought. 4 should
say that she could be frightened into almost
anything. She has a weak mouth, and is
creduloUs and timid.@
This opinion was strengthened as he
became more acquainted with her. and he
felt a greater desire than ever to penetrate
the mystery which surrounded her broken
engagement.
Perhaps Henry Drayton can help me. he
thought.
And. with this object in view. he cultiva-
ted that young mans acquaintance.
But the Squtre's nephew proved Of a
surly, unsOciable nature, and showed no
disposition to meet Arthur's advances even
half way.
verely alone, and turned his attention TO
Mrs. Andrews, who was a kind, mOtherly
woman. fond OF talking, and of a genial,
She had taken great fancy to Arthur.
and he found it easy to draw from her all
that she knew or surmtsed concerning her
niec6's love affair.
But she could tell him very little. and it
was substantially the same as he had heard
from the Major.
els her cousin in love with herP" asked
Arthur, with a start Of surprise.
Yes; he has been in love with her Tor
years, and has asked her half dozen times
to marry him. He was keenIy disapPOint-
ed when she became engaged to Major
HartWelI, but bore it much better than 1
had expected. His Wedding~g gift to her was
as handsome as anything she received, and
he could i'll afford such a present for his
income is very small, and he is partially
dependent on my brother. think he IS
still bent on winning her, and probably
thinks she will consent to marry him at last
from sheer WEAKNESS at his persistence.
But I think tnat scarcely possible.
The day following that on which ne u al
had this conversation with MRS. ANDREWS,
Arthur was walking through field with the
Squire, who was explaining his method OF
fertilization, when all at once they we're
startled by a loud "GOOd-mOrning, Squire,
uttered in clear, feminine voice.
They turned, and saw young woman
standing on a low stile which separated the
field from tiny orchard, in the middle Of
which was small cottage. overgroWn with
vines.
~Good-morning, Rose" said the Squire,
cOldly, and then continued his conversation
with Arthur.
The young woman appeared a little
piqued at being thus summarily disposed
of, and tossed her head pettishly, her bold
black eyes fixed on Arthur, whose young,
athletic figure evidently took her fancy.
But she did not speak again, and the
Squire soon moved away from the vicinity
of the stile.
e hear that Rose Ellis is back again. &"
said Mrs. Andrews, at the dinner-table.
Yes. I saw her this morning" said the
Squire.
Il hoped when she went away that we
were rid of her for overland Mrs. An
dreWs sighed. Her grandmother told me
that she had excellent wages and was get
ting along. well. wonder what has in
pure deviltry, of COURSE" said the
Squire. She'll have the whole neighbOr-
| hood by the ears in a weeks time. Rose
! isn't happy unless she is the central figure
Of a perpetual brOiL"
she is very handsome girl" said Ar
| thur, but Of q very coarse style.
Her beauty has been her bane,- said
| Mrs. Andrews.
Her grandmother used to be housekeeper
| here a great many years ago, but lately she
| has lived in little cottage the Squire gave
! her, about mile away. Rose has almost
/ broken the poor old WOman's heart; she has
| an idea that her beauty will pave her way
! into higher sphere than that in which she
was born, and IN some way she manages to
make the acquaintance OF nearly every gem
tleman who comes into the neighbOrhOo
Then a fuss OF some kind is always sure to
Il believe she would stoop to anything to
| gain her end" said the Squire. She is IN
| scrupulOus to the last degree. and utterly
! without deucacy or refinement. beg you
| to avoid her, Hazard, or you may have a
/ moose about your neck before you know it.
/ She is extremely artful. and her beauty and
! aud acity make her dangerous.
! Neither Lois nor Henry made any remark
| on the subject but, glancing at the latter
/ Arthur saw that his face was scarlet, and
/ that his hands shook as he took cup Of
| coffee a servant handed him.
Evidently he has had some experiences
! OF the wiies OF the fair Rose thought
Arthur, and felt very sorry for him.
/ But, a little later. pity was changed to q
| very different emotion.
| The Squire's household retired early, as
! is customary in the country, and at ter
/ a rEh m Vy4Vy
/ his room.
! As he was about to enter it. he saw q
! scrap of paper folded like note lying just
| outside his door. He picked it up, and
| opening it, read as follows:
Meet me tonight at the big oak tree near
the PASTURE gate. 1 will be there at eleven
and you must not fail to come. must and
| will see you"
Arthur could scarcely believe that the
! note was intended for himself, and yet his
! curiosity was excited and at eleven
/ o'clock, feeling restless and unable to sleep
/ he concluded to Investigate the vicinity OF
/ that old oak tree if only to kill time. AS he
/ neared the oak tree he heard voices raised
! in angry dispute.
! He crept closer, and could distinguish the
! forms of man and woman standing
! facing each other. The woman was speak
I ing now, and Arthur paused,
! "L tell you once for adj that I won't wait
! any longer, she was saying, In a fierce
sullen tone. I've waited long enough.
I've come back to make you keep your
promise. and you can't put me of again
] with excuses. If you don't look out you'll
/ get yourself into trouble
| Hush you can't be too careful what you
| say" and Arthur. to his amaEement, recOg-
/ nized the low, cautious voice as that of his
/ hosts nephew. 4 tell you it will come all
! right if you only have a little patience.
! Every one says she can't live long. and
] when have a little money to bless myself
/ with you'll see that won't forget you. II
/ yOuIi only keep quiet III have matters set
tied in six months time"
| That's just what you said last year, and
! the year before. and the year before that.
! While I'm having a little patience you'll
| be getting married to Lois DraytOn. Oh,
\ I've had things told mel There's them who
1 watches out for me. No. you'll marry
me now and Wen wait together for your
/ cousins money"
Il tell you it would be madness for me to
/ take such step. ose. do listen to reason.