The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-27
ROSES REVENGE.
1t Was; Q Noble One, end BROUGHT
l3or a Reward.


Qniot us grave in She moonlight
was the Aslin mansion in the sultry
summer afternoon. The sicsta then
absolvcd everyone from the present,
and, III the land of dreams, mistress
and slaves fourd temporary equality.
In her own vast, dusky room, closely
incloscd from every sunbeam, madam
was fast asleep. She was ut all times
beautiful woman, but more so now
in her snowy dcshabillc, calm and still
behind rOsc-tintcd mosquito. screens.
| have said all were asleep and
dreaming, but must make one cxccp-
tlon. iranl; Aslin, aged twenty, was
dreaming without sleeping. He had in
his pocket Il letter which was quite
sufficient to Danish sleep from such an
enthusiastic, romantic nature; and vet
the letter was only from his fathcr, the
Eravcst gentleman you would meet in
years lourncTing. 1t was short and
simple enough, as all Judge Aslin's let
tcrs were, and merely said:
DEAR Boy: shall be ho:uc on "Wednesday
night come 10 meet nc ~ NcalcS station
una bring The carriage as there will DO young
ladT WITH me. Give Queen orders to make all
arrangements for her comfort. II your mother
reels able 10 give any directions I Shall feel
obliged TO her"
But Mrs Aslin had not felt able. She
heard the news just as she was pre-
pairing for her sicsta and was satisfied
to delegate full powers to the ncgress
Queen. UIo Che young lady was She
uid not know-aild she really had little
care The house was large enough to
give room to good client of the
Judges without causing her any an
noyancc, and she was quite sure that
judge Aslin would not offer his hospi-
ta!itics To anyone who was not likely
IN some way or other to bc an cquva-
lent.
tclippa and Joanna Aslin, being
themselves young ladies. speculated
little about the stranger, but with no
lively interest. They had seen several
OF their fathers lady clients and they
he'd generally been women of a sor-
rowful spirit, struggling through the
intricacics Of Spanish land titles and
government claims. The word young
lady was, indeed, the promise of some
thing different; but they inherited,
with the Mexican beauty Of their
mother, her lazy, inert disposition, and
they knew no medium between indif-
ference and enthusiasm. Frank, on
the contrary, with the Scotch physiop-
his speculative, energetic temperament.
None are so pretty as my little
mamma" said Frank stopping to kiss
the lovely face lifting itself out of
floating lace and cleaning gems. Then
he drove rapidly to Neale's station and
was just in time to sec his father lift n
young girl out of the stagc-a girl
quite unlike any he had ever seen, q
fair, rosy. goldcn-haired divinity, who
lifted eyes, blue and clear as heaven,
to meet him.
The judge said her father had been
his earliest friend and that Rose and
her fortune were left to his care He
demanded for her the coolest rooms,
the best maid, the most scrupulous at
tentions. Her dresses were rich, her
allowance ample and there seemed no
earthly reason for madam to interfere
with Franks worship of his new divin.
ity. So the sweet old drama was lived
over again; it was delicious enough to
live it over i'll that Dire amy, passionate
Cline, where no rude element Jared
its perfect beauty. But, though Judge
Aslin seemed well content that Frank
and Rose should love each other he
pcrsistcntly opposed all talk Of mar
riagc. by and by this opposition, where
opposition seemed so unnecessary.
reused all the dormant curiosity and
jealousy Of madam's southern nature.
She began to question Rose carefully
about her former life; but the child had
nothing 70 conceal, and told all with a
frankness which madam considered of
itself proof positive of n preconccrted
tale. Her mother she denied all lsnowl-
edge of; her fathe' she described as
sad, lonely CERT eman, writing much
and seeing very few strangers. When
madam asked about the establish
ment," Rose described little cottage,
standing in n cocoa and tamnrind
grove, and an old negro woman, who
She said was still living in Key West
all of which increased suspicion against
her. as Mr. Aslin had told very differ
ent story
He had spoken of great obligations
to this evidently poor, uninfuential
gentleman, "who wrote much and saw
few strangers" and had intimated that
Rose was connected with a wealthy
and powerful family and was heiress
to large estates.
With all her inexpericnce and sim
plicity of character, Rose was at length
sensible of being watched and not
pleasantly commented on. Her ram
blcs with Frank became matters Tor
cspionagc, and every kind word and
action from her guardian raised an
angry frown on all the ladies' brows.
Then Frank was suddenly, and with