Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-10

her JnhaTpiucsH lllie a bosom friend. She
did at llngth In her husbands arms,
lauCntlnE. when too late, the weakness
and morbid sonsibiity which had led her
10 Waste her NE m plning after unsub-
stautinl bliss when true cOnteutmenl
might have been the daily companion Of
her existence,
II was after this sad termination az his
FIRST attachment that Colonel Middleton
met with the beautiful Rosa Crafts,
Younger IN feelings than IN years, he had
never drank from the pure fOunt or recip-
rocal affection; be had been loved where
he could offer no return; he hnd loved
where NO answering foulness became his
reward; ami though past the age OF r0,
nance, he yet thlrlted for the sweet
waters OF mutual tenderness, But with
all his genius his tact and experience, he
was % mere tyra In his knowledge Of
woman No man has ever understood the
peculiurlties OF wom1n'8 nature. No ran
has ever deeply understood the peculiar
ltlea OF n WOman'5 nature until the inti-
mate communion OF welded lie has given
him an insight into It's mysteries; no man
has ever been qualified to portray the
many-colorcd varieties Of female char
ootor, unless an intelligent and amiable
wife has been the mirror that reneoted
or, Mt least the telescope which brought
near to his view thc minute traits which
alone can give tuthfupcas to the picture.
The beauty OF the stately Rosa had fas-
CpaIei Colonel Middleton, and, having as
certalned to hts satisfaction that 10 one
occupied a prior place in her affections,
he never thought OF the possibility tina;
she WAS inGfpablc Of loving; It never &C.
Cured to him that the temple might b.
unoccupiel only because the portals were
| too marrow to admit an object nf worship
Aided by her mother whose skin IN
| reading character was very gropt, Rosa
\ HfAupfn1 hnFenIf IpisttIfnl.Ia .
/ the fancles " the rich Colonel Middleton
! The little personal vanity which had
| lurkod unsupported In his bosom, was
| famed into "a gentle flame by licr adruii
! batteries, aud could not fan to throw an
! additional Hight upon the lovely wo.
I man who seemed 70 forEct the homage
! due TO her own charms In her admiration
| of her friend Though tlmd almost I,
! nurv0uHncss whom ON horseback, she wa
ready every morning for n ride with him
/ though far too lndolent to love walking
[ she mover declined a ramhlc with the on
thuaiasuc lover of nature; though delight
| ms IN GORGEOUS c0lurs, ana an outre Htyll
OF dress, she infected almost Qulklr-lnl
simplicity VA soon as she learned his rpstl
] In this respect, p1sBionntely fond o
woltzlug she became perfect prud
after abe learned his opinion Of II; ant
evcn her habits Of coquetry, which Ia,
been almost n second nature to her, wer
self-posscssion when his eye was upoi
her But the master stroke OF policy wa
that which Induced him TO believe he
endowed with intellectual gifts
Cousin Grace, OF whom Rosa ha,
spoken so c0ntemptuously. was the or
phan daughter OF Mrs. Crafts only sis
ter, and for several years she had bee
the Inmate OF her aunt's family. A SINAI
income which she derived from her patri
monv, rendered her Independent and sli
resided with her aunt simply because sh
could claim no other eligible home, Bu
her early education had made her yer
unlike her present companions Trut
and plety were the leading traits OF he
character; industry contcntment an
kndllncss were the daily practice OF he
life. Without making any ostentatlou
display OF hor religion. she made II N
rule Of her conduct and therefore It wa
that though she occasionally mingled y
the say scenes in which Rosn delighted
she never allowed herself to become nj
VOWED ia any OF the schemes OF he
beautiful cousin, Her kindness Of hear
led her to feel sincerely attached TO Rosi
IN spite Of her faults, and her humuit
prevented her from dreaming OF rlva
ship, although, II seen anywhere ols
than NJ the side OF 80 brilliant a beaut,
Grace might have charmed by the plaol
ana chldlike sweetness OF her count,
nance. Her retiring manners and tlnl
reserve IN society prevented many frol
learning the full value OF her mental Gift
hut to the few who knew her lntlmntel,
she appeared a creature Of rare endov
menis, Grace had not been blind to N
arts which were nraetised to attra,
Colonel Middleton, but, looking upon hi
as fully qualified, both by age and G,
pericnco, 70 take caro- OF himself, she IA
some little amusement at the mnnoeuvr,
) Of her aunt and cousin. until knowleds
OF his past history. together with the al
covcry Of hir heightened feelings, excite
deeper Interest In his welfare. Honc
forth she watched the plans OF her cous
with something like regret but regret u
mingled with any scl1sh feeling, 4
Grace, with all her ECr;lencss. had
proper sense % the dignity Of her Sc
and dld not think that marriage was a
solutely essential TO a wuman's respeeti
hlity. The AFFAIR was sim IN suspenl
when Grace received n summons % a
tend slick friend In her native villas
: and departed Tor an absence OF son
weeks, while Rosa remained TO co,nple
the conquest OF the almhhle colonel.
one morning. on entering the parlor
his accustomed hour for thcir ride. Colon
Middleton found neither Mrs. nor MI
! Crafts visible. and. throwing himself on
sofa. he awaited their appearance.
IA he took his seat he observed DO,
! poeplng from under one OF the cushion
Il had boen most Judlclously placed, Z
had Y been lying on a table, he new
would have thought OF opening a w
nuie whose form AID binding bore SUI