The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-27

part OF madam or the young ladies' 90
hGhten. They received and paid visits
ana went occasionally to New Orleans
Tor 4 weeks holiday, but never Gu any
occasion requested her society.
lose could not be ignorant that this
cnange had not been accomplished
without much angry disputlng i'll the
mouse, but there are situations in which
man is powcrlcss to defend woman,
however anxious lie may be TO do SO,
and MIR. Aslin felt this fact painfully.
Just what were his wifc's suspicious,
She never told anyone. 1t is likely she
had not even decided on them i'll hel
own heart, but they had Il very decided
effect. Miss Rose Van Ransalcur's
name began to be omitted from al
invitations and calls OF ceremony, and
The very servants dropped the element
of respect out of their attentions, unless
Mr.. Aslin was present.
Poor little Rose. This was not her
only trouble. Frank never wrote to
her. His mother indeed read some
pleasant message or apology in the
first letters, with always promise of
81 long letter for herself, but il never
came; and gradually even the message
grew colder, until it, too, was for
gotten
Nothing can change Tic nature of a
woman like the Indulgence of one over
mastering passion. In her insane zeal.
ousy, madam forgot her inherent lazi.
ness. She learned to follow Rose into
tho lo1clicst and most distant parts OF
tho plantation ans, to watch her IF
hours once absolutely devoted to SLIM.
her and privacy. From this terrible
persecution, Rose began slowly to per.
ccivc she must iiJ somewhere.
One day, when the madame and her
pretty ungcncrous daughters had gone
Tor a holiday to Rev Orleans, Rose, de.
lying her negro guards. went boldly to
'lr Aslins Office and poured forth,
with passionate tears and complaints,
all her wrongs cntrcating that her
real position might be explained TO her.
Mr. Aslin seemed to suffer in her re.
cital more i<ccnly than Rose herself. A
spasm of intense agony contracted his
face, but he Guild not suffer her to
move.
:" 1t will bc ever soon, child" he said.
land 1T is we'll that you have brought
rnc To this point. You shall know all
that can tell you. Rose, your father
and l were sworn friends even in carly
boyhood We were both at the same
school. was strong and he was siclsly
and weak. l fought his battles and
talked to him through many night
when he was suffering too much to
sleep.
Then, dear. NC both went TO Eu.
rope, and l, while lie was studying
hard, gave mysclt up TO every species
of sin and dissipation. Tet his love
never grew cold; his patience never
wcaricd. At last, Rose, committed :;
crime which would have sent me to
prison for tho hes; years of my life. had
not your father, by absolutely inpov.
Crushing himself, placed ne in safety.
He did this without Il word of re.
proach. lie clasrcd my stained hand
and wcpt as bitterly AZ parting with
me as II lad boon worthy Of his love
81 barred myself in this wilderness,
then Il Mexican town, and commenced
tho practice OF law. After some years
niarried, and wealth ana honors fol-
lowed Inc; bit l meyer had cnother
friend. | kept my own counsel even
from lay wife. About five years after
my settlement here your father wrote
and told ne that Il lovely girl whom
he had married in defiance Of his father
and friends wish was apparently dy-
ing. He had hopes Of delaying death,
however, III Il southern climate if
could find a nice home for him. Just
ut that time, the little Florida place was
lying in my hands for exchange for Tex
as sugar lands, and bought it, and
went myself to meet my friend TO see
him comfortably accommodated to cir
cumstGnccs
'I our mother fingered about year,
and, after her death, his Florida home
became very dear to your father The
climate suited his health. 1t was far
removed from all his cstrangcd fani-
ly. He could live economically there.
And as WAS now able to pay back
gradually my debt, there was no need
for any eXertion on his part He de-
voted himself to literature, and became
noted writer ON the subjects he inves.
tigatcd.
hut the quarrel with his family was
never healed. lie was, in general, for
giving and forbcaring to a fault; but
the opposition and cruelty which his
young wife had met with he considered
unparG0Iablc When he found himself
dyl.S i.c SciiL ior i.c end committed
you and your interests to nv care.
knowing that you must however poor
You now are) eventually inherit your
grandfathcr's immense wealth, how
could l let you, in the foolish tender
ness OF first passion, marry Franii2
My duty to you demands that you must
see more OF the world before deciding
SO important a matter.
ut is time you went now to those
more able to protect you than / am.
For your own welfare would lay
down my Lie against ANYTHING | could