Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-12-24

Julian got well very soon. His con-
valescence was so rapid that within
three days from the date of our last
chapter he was able to sit on the veranda
and watch the mocking birds fit to and
fro among the trees that shaded the
street. Somehow he had drawn infinite
happiness from the expression of Rosalie's
face, or from some indescribable intona-
ton in her voice, or from the atmos.
phere that she had seemed to bring with
her on the occasion of her only visit to
his sick room.
Colonel Chenier was much the same
as formerly-polite, entertaining. talk
ative-but he never approached the sub
ject of his last conversation with Julian.
Adelaide seemed shy and quiet, but
Julian could not help seeing how her So
tourn in Savannah was adding to her
personal charms. She looked ten years
younger than when he first saw her
more cheerful, elastic alert-and her
voice had lost a certain querulousness
which had characterized it. That her
heart had thrown off its burden of dis
content was apparent.
Julian tried to obtain little interviews
with Rosalie, but she seemed not to un-
derstand his intent, and so allowed this
or that trivial circumstance to thwart
his plans Instead of vexing him this
amused him, and he allowed the days to
go by without any effort on his part to
break the dreamy monotony of things
until he was able to walk without any
artificial aid.
About this time Colonel Chenier came
10 him with a letter that he had received
announcing the discovery of gold in the
spring hollow above the old mill
Along with this letter, or at least on
the same day, had come package of
gold of about two hundred dollars in
value. Colonel Chenier was excited.
Telegraphic specials in the daily pa
pers giving highly colored accounts of
the discovery of new mines in several
places added fuel to Colonel Cheniers
excitement.
"Imust go and look after this matter"
he said to Julian later in the day. 1T
may be possible that have fortune up
there after ALL should like to have you
go with me, if you will"
"It will delight me to be of service to
you," Julian replied; and after a good
deal of discussion it was resolved that
they should go at once.
When Rosalie found that her father
was going back to the old mill, she be-
gan to beg him to take her along He
fiatly refused, saying that it would be a
hurried trip, and that he could not be
sncumbered with her.
Julian, when he was about ready to
start, went looking for Rosalie from room
to room, and finally found her behind the
curtains of bay window crying.
II have come to bid you farewell" he
said; ''my time is short; haven't you
something cheering to say to me?"
: He did not notice her tears. The outer
! blinds were closed and there was soft
twilight behind the curtains.
II shall come back or not, just as you
say" he half whispered. Il love you too
much to stay near you any longer, un.
less, unless-if you cannot and will not
If it is unpleasant to you for me to be
here"
She hid her face in her hands q mo-
ment in her peculiar girlish way, while
he stammered and paused in his speech;
then she looked up and said in breath
less sort of voice:
"You must not stay away-you must
come back with papa"
"May come back for your he eagerly
asked, leaning toward her, his arms half
raised "Will you be my wife, RosalieT
How sweet and shy and issom she
looked in that tender light as she trem-
blingly toyed with the Provence cross,
and alternately lifted and let fall her
wistful, happy, gray brown eyesi How
could she speak with her heart throbbing
wildly in her throat and her lips trem
bling sol But even this delicious silence
could not satisfy Julian. He was too
stubborn to reach forth and take her
into his arms before she had expressly
given him the right SO to do.
''Your father is ready to 60 and ia
waiting for me-" he said, with some OBJ
scure qualms of conscience at the thought
of how nearly brutal this stubborness
was, "and there is but a moment. Won't
you answer me, Rosaliel Must | go
away without knowing that you love
me, and without your promise to be my
own little brown eyed wifeT'
He stopped toward her and put his
arms out farther.
* Come, Gomez he whispered, and then
she yielded. He felt her slip close to
him and nestle her bright head on his
breast, and as he clasped her tenderly he
said:
"After 30 long after so many doubts
and fears-Oh, Rosalie you are mine
foreverw
IL have been yours all the time" she
murmured with her old naivete present
In her voice, "but-but didn't know 1t
till IL thought you were going to die"
They were standing thus when Ade-
iaide came in to tell Julian that the car.
Eiage was waiting TO take him to the