The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-01-17

Tying her negro guards, went boldly tc
Mr. Aslin's Office and poured forth
with passionate tears and complaints
all her wrongs, entreating that bei
real position might be explained to her.
Mr.. Aslin seemed to suffer In her re-
cital more zeenly than Rose herself A
spasm of intense agony contracted his
face, but he w ould not suffer her tc
move.
at win be over soon, child" he said.
land it is well that you have brought
me to this point You shall know ali
that can tell you Rose, your father
and / were sworn friends even in early
boyhood. We were both at the same
school. was strong and he was sickly
and weak. fought his battles and
talked to him through many night
! when he was suffering too much to
sleep.
'"Then, dear, we both went to Eu.
rope, and l, while he was studying
hard, gave myself up to every species
of sin and dissipation. Yet his love
never grew cold; his patience never
wearied. At last, Rose, committed a
crime which would have sent me to
| RAAcOA AZ OAAC OCcb Ce1h . Va AAAGs AtkAli
not your father, by absolutely impov-
erishing himself, placed me in safety.
He did this without a word of re-
! proach. He clasped my stained hand
and wept as bitterly at parting with
me as if had been worthy Of his love.
81 buried myself In this wilderness,
then Mexican town, and commenced
the practice of law. After some years
/ married, and wealth and honors fol-
lowed me; but never had another
friend. / kept my own counsel even
from my wife. About five years after
my settlement here your father wrote
and told me that 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, in a southern climate If l
could find a nice home for him. Just
at that time, the little Florida place was
| lying in my hands for exchange for Tex
as sugar lands, and l bought it, and
went myself to meet my friend to see
him comfortably accommodated to cii-
cumstances-
Your mother fingered about a year,
and, after her death, his Florida home
became very dear to your father. The
climate suited his health. It was far
removed from all his estranged fami-
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-
tigated.
But the quarrel with his family was
never healed. He was, in general, for
giving and forbearing to a fault; but
the opposition and cruelty which his
young wife had met with he considered
objectionable. When he found himself
dying he sent for me and committed
you and your interests to my care.
Knowing that you must however poor
you now are) eventually inherit your
grandfather's immense wealth, how
could I let you, in the foolish tender
ness of q first passion, marry Frank?
My duty to you demands that you must
see more of the world before deciding
SO important matter.
st is time you went now to those
more able to protect you than am.
For your own welfare would lay
down my life against any thing could
fight; but women have a subtle method
Of annoyance before which am pow
erless. This is the more necessary as
my own life is very uncertain and /
may die in any such attack as you
have witnessed. Besides, in my opin-
ion, there is going to be long and bit
ter war, and before it is over God only
knows how l shall be situated, even il
alive. Win you go north at once o.
will you wait until communicate with
your grandfather
Il will go at once"
Tomorrow, then, we start To-
night will put in order all your IA
theirs letters and papers; they win &c
with us, and / will at the same time
make all necessary explanations.
But, madam, she viii be so angry at
you"
II can brave madam's anger for thu
child of one who braved infamy anu
poverty for me. Make as few prepare
tions as possible; we will take the
house by surprise in spite of their vigi
lance"
Next morning the judge made no Sc
cret of his intentions. He left ISLANDER
nothing to speculate about Senior
Gonzales, madam's brother, was per-
fectly satisfied and agreeable, and no
one in the village ever cared to dissent
from a gentleman at once SO ready to
take offense and to exact apologies as
the Mexican don was.
The Journey begun without single
"Godspeed," nevertheless prospered.
In about eight days Rosa found herself
within the shadow of splendid, old
brick mansion, the petted and beloved
child of a doting old man. Mr.. Aslin
fingered few days. He set the mem
DRY of his dead friend in noblest sen.
fences before the regretful father; he
saw Rose fully acknowledged in all her
rights, and bright and happy in recov-
cred love and confidence With noble
self-denial he never named Frank, but
at the last hour Roses own heart spoke
for BOTH
Before you say good-by," she whis~
pered, tell me truly: Do you think
Frank has forgotten me2'
81 am sure he has not, Rose. You
will find out one day that his truth and
honor are unstained. But never for
get, child, one thing: Have no engage
ment without your grandfather's
knowledge. l never knew blessing
on a sinful, willful marriage. The
blessing of friends asks Gods blessing.
too, my child"
The war prophesied came with the
rapidity of a thunderstorm. Hardly
had Mr.. Aslin got home when the
country was sealed to social inter
course, and local information became
very uncertain and infrequent In the
earliest phase of the excitement, Mr..
Aslin died of heart disease, and Senior
Gonzales went with troop Of lawless
men to the Mexican frontier. Frank
was in Constantinople, and how the
reckless, improvident family, with
troop of lazy. unmanageable servants,
was to live without the judges income
and the senor's overseeing seemed n
doubtful problem.
But time to Rose few in those days
OF excitement. One great event 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 a husband, and the old gen
tleman smiled grimly as one after an
other stopped visiting at the old brick
mansion.
Getting toward Christmas in the
fourth year Of the war, Rose went one
morning with her grandfather to cali
on friend staying in one Of the fash
ionable hotels. The clerk who an.