The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-11-10


"PerhGps they haze left note for u.s."
''I understand it." said Ned, with a
flushed face and cleaning eye. "That
rascal shall find that the poor, deceived
young lady has brother" At that mo-
ment q step was heard on the stairs.
Rose was descending them. She brought
the baby with her. Her face was swol-
len with tears. She looked like an un-
happy child.
at was ashamed to see you at first"
she said. ST left that note where Lizzie
put it for you to read
She spoke to Ned La Monte, who an
swered:
ST shall follow them at once"
The tears welled up in Roses blue
eyes again.
''Oh, it was cruel of her," she said, ''to
go and leave me, and she has taken all
our money! If she had only taken half,
I would have thought it all right, but
all! was afraid of banks, for once pa
had some money in bank, and it failed.
and he lost it all. I put it in the garnet
in an iron skillet with cover. thought
it was safe there. She has not left me
dollar
GLOW long have they been goneY'
asked Texas Ned.
'sAbout an hour" Rose answered.
"Goodby, sir" said Ned, holding out
his hand. ST must follow that rascal at
once, and I need not ask gentleman of
honor like yourself to forgive me for
obeying call of duty
The men wrung each others hands.
Ned dashed away. Amoment more and
his horses hoofs were heard galloping
along the road faster and faster still I'M
til distance swallowed their echo. Mean
while Rose had cast herself into the old
rocking chair, and Gregory tried to take
the baby from her arms.
''He will tire you, he said.
ooh, no, he is comfOrtI' Rose an
swered. eff she had taken him, I should
not have known how to live. He is all
have left now" And then the moment
came. Gregory knelt down beside her
and encircled her in his arms.
''My little genius" he whispered, 'my
precious pearl, my poor. i'll used angel,
you are not fit to take care of yourself.
Let me take care of you. Be my wife.
4-vo-, ,,ld you shall never grieve againit
can help it,
He kissed her tear stained cheeks. her
small, hot, trembling hands, not passion
ately, but tenderly, and feeling as
though he wooed some divine and mys-
terious creature was mingled with the
love he might have felt for her had she
been a little child, and what she said
was:
please don't. It isn't the way you
think. It is so different, SO different. I
4oiI R1,o 4.-I.al u f51 lilo
this: You are making story for your
self, and f. ain one of the characters;
that Is ALL Never had she spoken with
such decision.
"Get up" she went on; ''sit here near
me. must tell you the truth. Monsieur
will forgive me. promised never to tell,
but it is right that should tell you now.
am very ignorant, Mr.. Blanchard, but
know enough to know that the woman
you want to marry is the woman who
wrote that book you liked so much. Who
had those thoughts and felt like that? Not
tho stupid littlo country girl. who is not
even beautiful. No, it is Rose Bud, who
wrote that great book. that you wish to
marry. It is great. know it, though
cannot understand it. Well, Mr.. Blanch-
ard, there is no such person as that Rose
Bud
81 do not know what you mean,' Greg
DRY breathed slowly.
ST guess you do she said. 'You will
in a moment anyway. Monsieur COM
posed that book. only took it down
and copied it. The trouble in his spine
affected his hands at last, and he used to
dictate to me. There was a lot of old
wrapping paper up garnet, and I wrote
on that. When it was done, he said to
me: Rose Bud, am going to die very
soon, and want to leave you all have
to leave. This novel; want you to put
your name on it and to send it to some
good publishers. 1 think one of them
will buy it, and I want you to promise
that you will never tell any one that you
are not its author. Humpty Dumpty is
not the sort of person to write a love
story. Besides there are things In that
book that really happened. have felt
some of that. have lived through some
Of those scenes. Even after am dead
do not want any one to laugh at me or
pity me, and so it must be Rose Buds
book
eve had long talk after that, but I
need not tell you any more. After his
funeral copied the story. Lizzie saw
what was at and laughed at me for
writing a book. let her think what
she chose: kept mOrsieur's secret, and
put on it r. Bud, writer not author,
before I sent 1t away. never knew
monsieur's name. He never told any
one, so I could not have used that if
had had the right to do 1t. He will for
give me for telling you. do it for this
reason: IF I just said no to you, you
might feel sorry that you did not marry
the girl who could write that book.
About just me, as really am, you won't
care. or, moro than that, You'll be glad.
Though you are SO good and pity me so
much and am so grateful to you, we
are not suited to each other IN the least.
As Gregory listened it seemed to hin
that he must have been an idiot not to
have known the truth before. Indeed he
saw that Rose had often told It IN thou
sand ways, and it was as she said. He
1,.,1 oFeos.es7 =, I'll ~