Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-12-09

III tue prlme VI lLie-WSii ou, SOoo
looking, retired from tho army
whera lies the hiniIrance?"
Simply in this" replied the
Colonel. 81 have never been in love
and should be afraid TO marry now
that am past the age for the tender
passion. You SEQ there is no three
years. system in rnatrimony. 1t has
to be till death us do part"
Mr.. Dysart laughed.
"You must not be allowed to remain
bachelor, my dear Clitheroe. shall
look round for some nice woman of
five-and-thirty, and try my prentice
hand at match making"
"No; don't you get married,
Colonel" exclaimed Rose, who was in
the room. 81 like you best as you
are. Indeed, think changes ore al,
most always disagreeable. It is
pleasanter for things to go on pretty
much the Same. / mean to remain
single all my life 30 as never to have
to leave father and mother"
"You will be reconciled to leave US
when the right man and right mo.
ment.arrive," said Mrs. Dysart. "You
may not think so now, girls never do
before they are really in love. But
in oil probability the time will come
when, of your own wish and will, you
will go away from u.s."
Rose shook her head.
81 can't think SO, mother. How.
ever, let us talk of some more inter.
esting subject--of my being presented,
for instance. Gan you picture me,
Colonel, making my courtesy and
kissing the hand OF royalty? I hope
l shan't turn awkward and shy at the
last moment. I ought not, for as n
little girl with o counterpane in place
of train, have practiced my man
ners over and over again"
They oil laughed.
"No, I scarcely think you will be
shy," said Colonel Clitheroe. "Be.
sides, the moment makes the man,
they say-so, of course, it makes the
woman"
The important day came. Rose
Dysart was simply yet elegantly
dressed, and her fresh young face
won its fair share of notice Gs she
waited among the crowd OF debu-
tantes.
Then followed six weeks OF gayety {;
concerts, opera, dances, garden par
ties, riding In the Row; nevertheless,
the girl was glad when her father de.
cided to return to the country before
midsummer.
Colonel Clitheroe was to be one of
the after season guests at the Dysarts'
country house; he followed them
within fortnight of the departure
from Eton place.
Was anything troubling him? Was
he unwelll Those were the questions
they asked him, for he did not seem
SO cheerful as usual. and he was apt to
drop into fits OF musing, SO that even
the voice of Rose made him start as
one does who returns suddenly from
the land OF dreams to reality.
The fact was that he had promised
to execute commission which was
distasteful to him.
Colonel" o bright faced guards.
man had said to him one day, "l'll
tell you secret. am in love with
Rose Dysart, and 1 shall never care for
another girl. Now, you and my father
were boys together, and you are the
oldest friend 1 pos ass in oil the world.
Say good word cor me, will you?
She thinks you iufallible upon every
point; she has to- ne herself that
there is no one like g3u."
Colonel Clithero ,rked vigorous,
ly OF tuft OF grass b the toe of his
boot for some moment before answer.
ing.
"Havc you spoken for yourself?" he
suddenly inquired.
"Not in plain words. Every time ]
try, and get round to the point, there
seems difficulty; but would try my
luck again and again if I thought
might win Rose in the end. Speak up
for me, won't you, Co!onel?"
eff favorable moment comes; but
1 don't see what my recommendation
Gun do for you"
"Hasn't she known you all her life,
and doesn't she think you worth any
number of young fellows put to-
gether2" said Rawdon. "The chiel
subject of conversation when we dance
or when we sit out together seems tc
be the perfections oil Colonel Clith
eroe; and I've had to tell her all
could think of aboutyou when the reg
iment was out in India. After ex,
hsusting facts, I try fiction, seeing
that it is the only way to win o smile,
and the young fellow laughed.
The 'gray-haired nan of six-and.
.orty was thinking over this converse
tion as the train carried him down to
Sussex but he thought of it even more
as soon as Rose, in her bright young
beauty, stood before him.
Harry Rawdon was o good fellow
enough, but not good enough for the
Dysarts' daughter? Who, indeed,
would be worthy of such wife?
Nevertheless" reflected the Col
onel, 81 knew his father when We were
both boys at school. 1 must do my
best for Harry, and one of these days
l will sound Rose on the subject, and
get an idea OF the state of her heart.
'I must have been positive nuis
sapce to you, wasn't l, Oolonel?'
Rose said one day as they paced side
by side the terraced walk, while wait
ing the summons to breakfast. 90
know I was always running after you,
yet you never seemed cross and
bored"
"I should think not, indeed" and
the Colonel laughed. "Your advances
were SO fattering. could not reckon
mp the times you assured me your in
tention to marry me when you grew
big enough. Ah, child" and now 6
sigh followed the smile, 81 suppose
one of these days shall stand among
your wedding guests-and l DOM
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