Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-11-29

nc tuTHcu On his necI TO 90, Dut nose
pale and apparently as emotionless a
stone, stepped quietly before him.
She held small basket of fruit ant
flowers in her hand
II should like to ask YOU to do m,
! one little favor" she said. coldly, no
seeming to have noticed his bite
words. Il have friend at the hote
which you will pass as you go home
She is ill-very ill, indeed, and I wisl
to send her these. promised, but a
could not go myself must ask yo,
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 t,
herparlor yourself-l never trust thes,
tsnslgs to the careless servants there
1t is the only service / shall ask o
you" she added. with half-pleadin:
little smile, as she saw him hesitate.
Of course he had no choice but Il
accept the trifiing task. and with 4
cold. distant bow. he took both basket
and note from her hand and went hi.
way.
And when the door had closed behinC
him Rose sunk back into her chair ant
sobbed until her poor little heart wa.
ready to burst.
Il have sent him to her. and surel,
she can find some way to win him bacl
answer would be when he should ash
her for it.
1t was Just in the flush of her happi-
ness that Rose met at a village hotel,
whose landlady's daughter was one OF
her girl friends. lady who had come
there hoping to regain her lost health.
Pale aud delicate, but still very love-
". was Caryl Stewart, and very soon
she and the betwitching village belle
were fast riends.
Rose, watching the slow, languid
movements of the graceful wasted fig-
ure. attired always in some pretty
esthetic gown. looking into the soft.
dark. mournful eyes, or listening to
the low, sweetly modulated voice OF
the interesting invalid. felt great and
tender sympathy for the bright life
which had been SO pitilessly blighted
by disease.
She was so happy herself that it
seemed cruel that any one should be i'll
or suffering.
My physicians say that my ailment
is consumption. said Caryl Stewart
one day, smiling that slow. sad smile
that always went straight to Roses
heart; but l know better than they,
Rose. ! know that l am dying of q
broken heart. Some day l will tell
you. You will come in again to-mor-
row. she questioned. lifting her dark
xx-st "a fx,tl Loo
oh, yes" returned Rose, with b
sweet. bright smile. Il will come in
any day-every day-if / can help to
cheer your loneliness, Miss Stewart" :"
She was thinking of that conversation
WREN Wilbur Severance Came to see
her later in the evening.
But she could not remain melan-
choly long in his presence now. partic-
ularly as he had come for the express
purpose of asking for her hand.
Rose had often pictured this mo-
ment To herself. aud she had honestly
resolved 10 be all sweetness and sin
cerity TO this man whom she loved
with all her soul.
But-how it Was she never could tell
somehow her wilful spirit Of coquet-
~ seemed to take possession of her all
in \ moment, and she laughed, teased.
and eva.led her lovers questioning
with n persistent wilfulness that
amazed herself.
Il will answer you tomorrow eve
ming" was the reply which he final
ly eoaxed from her saucy lips. Il
must have little time to reflect upon
So dreadfuliy serious = matter, Mr.. Sew
erance."
But there Was that in the happy,
laughing blue eyes that belied the will
ful red lips. and Wilbur Severance
went away with n cheerful heart in
spite OF all.
Il know she loves me. the pretty lit
tie WITCH he smiled as he walked
hsmeward with light. proud step.
Others may call her a dirt. but they
don't know her real heart AS | do. She
Is rs true as gold. God bless her."
The following day Rose paid her
promised visit to Miss Stewart, and it
xas then that the delicate, pretty in
valid made her the confidante Of her
sorrows.
1t was love story. simple enough,
but wondrously sad. thought happy
Rose.
Caryl Stewart had been betrothed
when scarcely more than child to .
youth but little older than herself.
The arrangement had been made en-
tirely by the parents of the two.
But as they grew older, with bet
ter understanding of the situation.
Caryl realized that her whole heart was
involved in the matter while her fiance
proved Indifferent. and finally rebelled
outright against the bonds which he
had no part in creating.
In her pride Caryl had granted him
his freedom. though she broke her own
heart by doing it.
Other suitors she had had. but she
would never love again to her dying
day.
.'And that will not be far off," she
ended pathetically, '.unless l can win
his love. And don't quite despair of
doing that yet. Rose. Away from all
rivals and free from the business-like
fetters that once prejudiced him against
me-mOre than all, when he realizes at
last that his love and only that can
again." she moaned. rs she thought Of
the desolation she had brought upon
her own happiness.
How long eshe 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 l need not repeat it. Then. in my
pity for her. and my bitter anger
toward you. l 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 blood-vessel.
Yes"-in answer to Roses horritied cry
is dead now. my darling. but