Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-08-28
"Haye you bidden good-by to Rose

will she care"
81 think she would" said Frank.
"You will hurt her by going So"
Paul shook his head again.
"She will not care. Why should
she?" and he turned his head away to
say the words.
In q moment more Frank spoke
again:
"Paul, yon know am neither
bashful man nor coward in most
cases; but every man becomes one or
both, under some circumstances. l
have favor to ask of you. You re-
member your promise to refuse me
nothing could ask of You. The time
has come when I have need OF your
aid. Will you give it to me"
Tell me- what you want me to
do?"
81 want you to see Miss Lewis. I
want you to tell her something which
have not the courage to tell her my
self-to tell her love story, in fact,
and see what she says to it. Will you
do it?"
Paul stood dismayed. He-he, OF
all men, to undertake such o task as
this! he who loved Rose so madly!
He stood bewildered. So Frank,
splendid fellow, her mate in wealth,
position and appearance, loved the
girl also. If So, she could not fail to
love him in return. They were made
for each other. That fancy that Frank
admired Ruth was mere dream too.
The little woman's heart, sweet little
Ruth's was thus unframed. Yet it
was all right. 1t was natural; but
why choose him for go-hetweenf :"
do not refuse, Frank" he faltered;
''but you need not fear. She Will
love you. You are not one to sue IN
vain"
"I am a coward" said Frank. 'You
are q good fellow, Paul, and you will
do it.
"But how?" asked Puul. 81 know
nothing of such things. I have never
told any woman of my own love. l
shall harm yours in the telling"
He was deathly white. But Frank
went on unheeding:
"Tell her story-this: You know
o man who has loved her long, but
who has never dared to say SO. He
feels tina. his own deserts are too
small to ensitle him to hope; but ON
the eve of parting he can restrain
himself no longer; he must tell her
that life is nothing without her, that
her love is the only thing worth strlv-
ing for; he must ask her IN this
strange way because he has not cour.
AGO enough to do otherwise; to bid
him hopo or despair. Then she will
ask who this lover is, and you may tell
her not until then-not until all the
story of the love is told. And you
will bring me the answer.
Paul turned ghastly face toward
him.
"You will tell the tale just as have
told you?"
"Yes."
Then he sought Miss Lewis.
"You have come to wish me bon
VOYAGE" she said, rs she held out her
hand; but he only bowed and seated
himself beside her. In moment he
said:
"I have come upon au errand that
will surprise you, Miss Lewis. l an
commissioned to tell you story"
"That of some poor persona" she
asked. "You have only to say that
you know him to be in need, and
worthy"
est is the story Of one who asks a
gift" he said, "but not a gift Of aims"
his vo,ce trembled-"a gift that only
Won can give you, OF oil the world.
She looked at him shyly now. Her
eyes dropped.
sI know man who has loved you
for long time" he went on, taking
now sort OF fierce and bitter pleasure
in this cruel usage of himself. "For
months he has thought OF you by day
and by night, until there is but one
woman to the world to hm-you. OF
all the objects that there are upon the
horizon OF the future he sees only
your face. He could do anything for
your sake; without you he will be
nothing. Te has seen no token of any
liking for him in your faoo, nor heard
it in your voice; yet he would have
you hear his story, and know his fate,
ere you ore parted from him. His
name"
But then sharp spasm of pain
caught his breath. Ho paused for au
instant. In that instant Rose turned
toward him and put her hand in his.
"My love is not worth so much,"
she said, tearfully. "But since you
value it SO highly, it is yours. 1t
always-has been-sincc I first knew
you"
And tears came faster, and woman's
hysterical sobs. And what could he
do but take in his arms this woman
whom he adored, and who had just
admitted her love for him, under the
impression that ne had proposed to
her.
He was almost mad; he was quite
distraught indeed. The suddenness OF
his happiness was in itself enough.
And then there was the awful con.
sciousness Of terrible breach OF
trust.
His utter Joy and his woeful shame
mingled themselves in his soul, as,
having hidden Rose adieu, he found
Frank Millard waiting for him.
Frank looked at him. He turned
away his head.
"What have you been doing?"
asked Frank. :'Why do you look
SOP"
"How can ever make you believe
that have not played you false 2"
faltered Paul, and Frank burst into O
laugh.
''You have proposed to her." he
said. "and she has accepted youY'