Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-23
THE TINE OF Roses.

| sI dare say. That may be all very
we'll, but people who get gold medals
conferred on them can't expect to be
treated as ordinary people?"
81 suppose you are right. But do
they expect to be treated as ordinary
people?"
THAT'S quite side issue. I de-
cline to discuss it."
"And that's alp"
GAIL? all? Heavens! what did you
expect?"
"Sense-that is, moderate amount
OF sense; reason-tbat is, o modicum
of reason; frankness, that is, soup.
con of frankness. supper3 Oh, let
them go TOTO supper"
And she let them.
We were left practically alone.
care you engaged to any man for
supper?" asked of Miss Windram.
"Yes," she replied. I believed that
I detected mou-nfIl tone. If had
not detected that note would have
left her side.
did not leave her side.
"And I am engaged to somo wo.
man. Let US go to some place toseth-
er, said I.
The reasonableness of the sugges.
tion-that is, the modicum of reason
ableness-seemed to strike her.
We reached one OF the conserya-
tories without having to tsll a single
lie, but that was probably because we
met no one en- route; every one was
at supper. l steered her to seat IN.
der palm. The light was very dim.
A fountain flushed under the electric
lamp in the distance.
"rell me oil" I said.
That was how it commenced. I saw
that she was very pale; and had felt
her hand trembling as it rested on my
sleeve minute before. l perceived
that she fancied I had led her hither
! to tell her something, and I was anx.
ious to reassure her. 1t was I who
wanted to be told something,
"All?" said she.
"A.l," said 1.
est was Mamma" she said quite
meekly.
anf"
"Isn't it enough? You're mau.
You know her."
"Ah-now."
"Now. ] said now. But a year
ago"
"And o month";"
"And month. If you ha,lu't re.
mombered the exact date 1 should
probably be at supper now. A year
and month ago she was my one en-
envy. She knew that I loved you
yes, o year and month ago / loved
you III sort of way not the way l
do now and she Knew that you loved
me--in sort of way. She COM
manded you to keep me at a distance.
Your mother is not q woman of gen.
ius. but upon occasions she can be
quite as disagreeabls as though she
we're. She prefers, however, being
dlsagreeable by deputy. You were
her deputy, q year ago land a
month"
Miss Windram got up from. beside
me and took.a few steps to tho side of
the conservatory. up which splendid
rose was clambering. She had her
eyes fixed on spray. 1t would. have
been out of the reach OF most girls,
but she was very tall, and she man.
aged to break it of the parent stem.
She returned to her seat.
"WelI?" she said.
"Then my poor uncle"
"Poor?" She gave laugh.
''My poor rich uncle died, leaving
his money to me, and your mother
told you that you were to draw me on.
l could swear that those were her ex.
act words. Did you pluck those roses
only to tear off their petals?"
One rose lay wrecked at her feet.
The other dropped from her hand and
lay complete among the crimson
fakes. She put her hands before her
face.
"But instead of drawing me on you
! persisteptly avoided me, and, in fact,
did everything that was in your pow
er to make me believe that you were
sincere when you tcld me, at the COM
mand of your mother, that you had
never heard anything more ridiculous
then my suggestion that we should
love each other; and that you hoped
would not think it necessary to re-
peat anT.hing SO absurd. You have
failed IN your aim, Rosamund;. you
did not make me believe in your sim
cerIty. Was I right?"
am certain she gave sob; but she
did not take her hands down from her
fece.
.Look at your feet" I said sudden.
ly. She was startled, and glanced
down quickly. (Her gloves. I per-
ceivsd, were ruined). "Look at your
feet. Which is to be my future-our
future-our future, Rosamund !:
Which? The wrecked rose or the
other?"
She picked up the complete rose
and handed it to me.
l kissed it, and then
Then man came up and said that
we would Go well to hurry into the
supper room if we wanted bite OF
! anything. Black and White.
Exterminat rs the Alligntors.
! "Next to the disappearance Of the