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

nothing to speculate about. Senc1
Eenzaics, madam's brother. was per
'ccti satisfied and agreeable, and nc
one IN the village ever cared to dissent
1Foin gentleman ut once SO ready &c
'aNc oiicnsc and TO exact apologies rs
the Mexican don was.
The journey, begun without Il single
Gonsrecd," nevertheless prosDcrcd
In obout eight days Rosa found hc,scn
within thc shadow Of Il splendid, ole
brick mansion, the pcttcd and beloved
child of Il doting old man. Mr.. Asliu
fingered II few days. lie set the mem
Dry CT his dead friend in noblcst sen
fences before the rcgrctful father; ht
saw Rose fully acknowledged in all hcl
rights, and bright and happy in rccov
cred love and confidence. With a noble
Self-denial lie never named Frank, but
at the last hour Roses own hc"rt spoke
for both
"Eeiorc You say good-by," she wills
pcred, tell INC truly: Do you thina
Frank has forgotten me?"
II ala surc he has not, Rose. Yor
VIII hnd out one day that his truth anc
honor are unstaincd. But never for
get, child. ono thing: Have no engage.
ment without your grandfather.
knowledge. ncvcr knew q blessing
on II sinful, willful marriage. The
blessing of friends asks Gods blessing,
too, my CHI i'd"
The war prophcsied came with the
rapidity of Il thunderstorm. Hardly
had Mr. Aslin got home when tho
country was scaled to social inter.
,,rx
very uncertain and infrcqucnt. In the
earliest phase OF the excitement. Mr.
hsi.h uicd OF heart disease, and Senior
Gonzales vert with Il troop Of iawless
men to the Mexican frontier. Frank
was i'll Constantinople, and how the
reckless, improvidcnt family, with
troop of lazy, unmanagcable servants,
was TO live without the judges income
and the scnor's overseeing seemed n
doubtful problem.
Eut time TO Rose flew in those DAYS
OF excitement. One great even. trod on
the heels of another. About three
years, after Rose had come to her
own and been received by them, had
passed away; and Rose was still Rose
Van Ransaleur. There had been no
lack OF lovers, but none of them suited
Rose for husband, and the old rcn-
tlcInan smiled grimly as one after an.
other stopped visiting at the cid brick
mansion.
Getting toward Christmas in tho
fourth year of The war, Rose went one
morning with her grandfather to call
on friend staying in one of the fash.
ionable hotels. The clerk who an
swcred her grandiather's inquiries was
Frank Aslin. Rose looked gladly,
steadily at him; there was no doubt OF
his identity. In eager, fearful tones
she drew her grandfather aside and
told him all the truth. 1t was rathcra
bitter pill for the old gentleman to
swallow, but he did not hesitate before
so manifest courtesy and duty
Still he could Sot quite control him.
self.
'Thesc Aslins seem our evil genius
Reese" he said; their friendship in one
generation is enough"
May grandfather this generation
reaps what the last one sowed"
lie shook his head doubtingly, but
after putting her in the carriarc went
frankly up to the young man and said:
"Nr. Frank Asiiu?"
For one moment Frank hcsitatcd,
and then answered:
Il know no reason for denying nv
name. Necessity has no law, sir
Il am an old f:ioud OF Your dead
father, and l propose in the present
unpleasant circumstances to take his
place toward YOU. VIII you dine with
me tonight 1T seven o'ciock?'
The offer so frankly made was rs
frankly accepted, and the meeting be-
tween guest and granddaughter was
such as to render all explanations I'M
necessary
Franks story was "a very common
one. lie had found his money barely
sufficient to bring him back to New
York, and had arrived too late to re-
turn home with safety. His efforts to
obtain employment had been limited
by the fact that he had been brought
up 'to do nothing;" and, without Il
trade or profession, he had been thank
FIJI enough to drift into hotel clerk.
slip until the evil days were over.
do not pretend that he was n hero
bat Rose glorilc,l him in her iInarinn-
ton into one. 1t is a way women
have; and without it. am afraid, the
world would not get carried on at all.
When the war closed at last, the
hslin mansion and estate were advcr-
tiscd for sale at mere nominal value
Old MIR. Van Ransaleur brought it
quietly and gave it to Rose for her
wedGin" present. F-anl, soon a?tc-
carried the title-deeds DOM south, and
proud, dark woman took them with
tears of passionate Joy ont of his
hands. That was Roses revenge. 1t
might have been Goals of fire to some
people, but it was not to madam. She
had still the idea that in some uney-
planned way she was the injured party
However, as the years rolled on and