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

ss,,,d a, h. contain some very beautiful
pencn drawings, a few eNqilsiteiy cololel
miniature likonesaes, and various shorl
poerns. There was no name N the Nol-
iime-nothlng by which he could ldentiiy
the owuer--but he soon FOUND mat the
drawings were all by one person. ana ne
hogan 10 suspect that so delicate pen
oil had been held only by poets mana.
He remembered some expressions Nhlcn
mad fallen from the lips OF the ioNely
Rosa only on the previous DAY; nc TOOK
from his pocketbo0k little note peau-
tlfully written on rose-tlnted paper,
which he had received from her snort
time before. he compared u win the
poems; the round, clear ltallan chardc-
ters were the same In both. win
thrill OF delight the colonel at once aa-
mitted the belief that the benutiiul o.
tsct OF his regard was as gifted as she
was lovely. Forgetting the prolonged
delay OF her appearances delay 9e-
signed to afford him ample opportunity
OF satisfying his curlosity-his eyes wan
dered eagerly over the volume. He was
SIN more charmed, however, when, on
one Of the last pages In the pooh' ne
met with n pencil sketch OF himseii.
There was no MISLEADING the likeness; II
was u most spirited head, and me iea-
lures were his own. For a moment lhe
colonel was elated to almost boylsh gee,
and could scarcely refrain from pressing
to his lips this precious proof of Rosas
feelings.
At that critical moment Mrs. Crafts
aud her daughter entered the room
slight blush-a modest dropping OF heT
frlnged eyellds. betrayed the surprise OF
the artlcss Rosa, as she observed the
coloncrs occupation.
"Pray. who is the author OF these beau
tlfuI sketches7" he asked, as soon as he
had paid his respects to the ladies'.
A look OF maternal pride on the one
Ffyf fHl q IN
other was exchanged between mother
and daughter, but no reply was made.
Are the poems ny the same hanl as
the drawngsr said he still retaining his
hold OF the volume, which Rosa gently
strove to take from him.
A Um.l Eyes Was uttered by the beau-
tlful girl, while her mother, pretending
to hear a summons from an Invisible ser.
want judlclously left the room. Colonel
Middleton drew Rosa TO a seat beside
him. and. as he clasped her hand in his
exclaimed:
Dear, dear Rosa, do you mean to mo-
nopolize all the choicest gifts Of heaven?
Look here pointing as he spoke to his
| own portrait In the volume, and tell me
| II l may dare to hope that "our own
| henrt was the mirror that reflected these
| fanturesW
Rosa uttered a faint cry, and. overpow-
| cred 0y shame, hid her face on the arm
| Of the sofa, while her Waite neck was
/ sutfused with deep red hue that might
] easily have been mistaken for blush.
! The colonel was oyerpOwercd; his feeble
was a desire to be the first and only OBJ
| ject of nnectlon to a woman'g heart, and
! he could not doubt that he had now at
talnei his hopes. A passionate expression
| Of his feelings and a pr0ffer Of his heart
and hand were the only evidence Of graf
| ltude which he could bestow ON the gentle
| Eirl. What dne piece Of acting was
Idol HHHHH q rIHHHaf
The blpshing timillty with which She
listened 10 his passionate tenderness, her
/ delicate dread lest his discovery OF her
secretly cherished attachment should be
/ the motive Of his present otter and, final
~, the modest yet fcrvent Abandonment
OF feeling with which She allowed her
head 70 rest on his shoulder, while his
arm enclrcled her slender form and his
/ lips imprinted a lovers kiss on her fair
brow, would have made the fortune az a
| theatrical dcbutante. 1t was all settled;
the album decided the affair and Rosa
| Crafts was certainly destined 10 become
Mrs Colonel Middleton,
But, once sure OF her lover, Rosa had
no desire to become a wife sooner thar
prudence required. She could not give "
old habits without an effort, and she de
termined TO enjoy her liberty as long A.
possible by dcferrng the period Of hei
marriage Colonel Middleton busted him
banks OF the Hudson, and during his
temporary absences Rosa obtained many
a moment OF freedom from restraint.
Fortune seemed to favor the wishes OF
the henrtless woman Of the world, for
| ere tho time fixed for their marriage
dered TO take command OF his regiment
In Florida. He was too good n soldier
TO hesitate, whatever might have been
his disappointment, and the day which
should have witnessed his union with
his beautiful bride dawncd upon him
amid the eyerglades OF that wild and
porillus district Nothing was easier
than to write tender and beautiful letters
TO her distant loycr-nothlug more pleas.
ant than to return 20 society as an ar-
danced bride, certain Of future estab-
llshment, and privileged to seolS present
enjoyment
'How can you be so attentive to tina,
consummate nirt2' asked a friend as
Captain Sahretash returned from lead.
Ing Miss Crafts to her carriage after q
gay party.
II have good reason for my conduct
Harry" was the reply; she has not
more devoted attendant in society thar
myself"
II know It, and therefore 1T is that
am surprised at your inconsistency"
Inconsistency, Harry You don't know
! me, or you would not think me lncon,
love render one watchful2 tell you thai
never had that woman q lover half 50
devoted and so obseryans as myself; bnI
1t Is with the keen eye OF hatred that
watch her every movement; II Is the
! spirit OF vengeance which actuates ms
] every attention.
1T is queer way OF showing hatred
g DO you mean to continue such devotion
E after her marriage with Colonel MID.
; dleton?"
Y That marriage viii never take place
b Harry Think you the noble-r'iniot
colonel would wed her II he knew ali
I mat l could tell him? l will not oppos,
= .dle words to lovers passion, but
q wiz bring him proof such as he canno
@ doubt OF her unworthiness, and thus vii
s | fulnl my revenge"
p Among the admirers whom Rosa drew
b around her during the colonies absenr
was one who excited her peculiar intenest
2 The Baron dc SutcnhoG was a Russian
I with clear blue eyes. profusion OF lIrh
. hair, and also presumed to be In posses
sion OF n mouth, although his bushy. fox
p colorcd mustaohlos and untTimmcd bear,
e rendered the fact somewhat difficult o
=. proof TO those who had never seen IN
d senucmnn expand his Jaws at a suppo
: table. He was no imposter-no spanlsl
d barber. no French cook, no Italia
n mouniehnnk disguised en- marquis Tn
, Boron dc Stutenhoff was actually a baron
?, privileged TO wear the crosses and rihb6n
= OF several oiders at his buttonhole. All
q bearing on his cheek a broad and No
4 very seemly scar Of a sabre emf recei,,s
n ! In honnru ffo e,u,b.t ~ - = NN''N