The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-12-04

alton and can praise her whole heart
edly.
Like many other parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Dysart seemed to regard their
daughter as little more than a child.
They scarcely realized that others
viewed her differently.
"Of course, like other girls, Rose
must 60 into society,"" they said, "but
we hopo it may be years and years
before we have to part with her..
And they were quite delighted that
she should refuse her first three Of
fcrs of marriage.
1t was in the spring, and just before
her eighteenth birthday, that the Dy-
sarts left their pretty Sussex home
for furnished house in Eaton place,
which they had hired for the season
at a somewhat exorbitant rent.
To the great Joy of Rose, Colonel
Clitheroe was one of the first callers.
He also was in town for two or thr ee
months, having, during the previous
year, buried his Old uncle, and in
herited the property.
"My dear fellow" said Mr.. Dysart
to him, with the familiarity of friend
of long standing, 'you really ought
not to remain unmarried. Try and re-
member that you are deprivIng some
woman of an excellent house, and a
still moro excellent husband! A man
in the prime of life-well off, good
looking, retired from the army
whera lies the hindrance?"
Simply in this" replied the
-,
and l should be afraid TO marry now
that am past the age for the tender
passion. You see there is no three
years system in matrimony. 1t has
to be till death us do part"
Mr.. Dysart laughed.
"Gou must not be allowed to remain
bachelor, my dear Clithcroe. / shall
look round for some nice woman of
tive-and-thirty, and try my prentice
hand at match making"
"No; don't you get married.
Colonel" exclaimed Rose, who was in
tho room. 81 like you best as YOU
are. Indeed, think changes are nj
most always disagreeable. 1t is
pleasanter for things to go on pretty
much the same. / mean to remain
single all my life SO as never to have
to leave father and mother"
"You will he 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 all probability the time will come
when, OF your own wish and will, you
will go away from US.
Rose shook her head.
~ can't think SO, mother. How.
ever, let us talk of some more inter
esting subject-of my being presented,
for instance. Can you picture me,
Colonel, making my courtesy and
kissing the hand OF royalty? / hope
I shan't turn awkward and shy at the
last moment I ought not, for as a
little girl with a counterpane in place
of train, / have practiced my man
ners over and over again."
They all laughed.
"No, 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 it's fair share of notice as 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
cidcd to return to the country before
midsummer.
Colonel Clitheroe was to be one oi
the after season guests at the Dysarts'
country hOusc; he followed them
within n fortnight of tho departure
from Eton place.
Was anything troubling him? Was
he unwell Those were the questions
they asked him, for no did not seem
SO cheerful as usual, and he was apt Sc
drop into fits of musing, so that even
the voice Of Rose made him start rs
one does who returns suddenly from
the land Of dreams to reality.
The fact was that hc had promise 1
| to execute II commission winch was
| distasicful to him.
| Colonel, II bright faced guards
man had SAID to him one day, 'I'll
tell you secret. am in lovo with
Rose Dysnrt. and shall never care Tor
another girl. Now. you and nv father
were boys together, and you are the
! oldest friend | possess Ill al the world.
Say good worl for me. will you ?
She thinks you infaliib!e upon every
! point; she ms told me herself shat
! there Is no one like you"
Colonel Ciithrroc worked vigorous.
| ly at IA Tut o. grass with the toe OF his
| boot Tor some moments before answ cr.
! ING