The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-12-04
might win Rose In thesnd. Speak up
for me, won't you, Ceionelr
eff favorable moment comes; bde

might win Rose in the,snd. SPEAK up
Tor me, won't you, Ccionelr
'If favorable moment comes; bde
1 don't see what my Recommendation
can do for YOU"
"Hasn't she kno,vn you all her life,
and doesn't she think you worth any
number of young fellows put to-
gether?" said Rswdon. ''The chief
subject Of conversation when we dance
or when We sit out together seems to
be the perfeotions of Colonel Clith-
eroe; and I've had to tell her ell I
could think of about you when the reg.
iment was out in India. After ex-
hausting facts, I try fiction, seeing
that it is the only way to win smile,"
and the young fellow laughed.
The .gray-haired nan of six-and-
forty was thinking over this converse
tlon 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 a good fellow
enough, but not good enough for the
Dysarts' daughter? Who, indeed,
would be worthy of such a wife?
Nevertheless, reelected the Col
onel, al knew his father when we were
both boys at school. I 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"
81 must have been positive nuis-
sance to you, wasn't 1, Colonel?"
Rose said one day as they paced side
by side the terraced walk, while wait
ing tho summons to breakfast. "I
know l was always running after you,
yet you never seemed cross and
bored"
II should think not, indeed" and
the Colonel laughed. "Your advances
were SO tlattering. I could not reckon
up the times you assured me your in
tention to marry me when you grew
big enough. Ah, child" and now
sigh followed the smile, 'I suppose
one of these days l shall stand among
your wedding guests-and don't
think 1 shall en- Joy that ceremony one
bit"
"You will never be guest" and
now Rose colorcd, yet held out her
hand as bravely as when she was q
child. "Colonel! am going to do
something dreadful, / suppose. Please
never tell any one; and please say
mo- if you would rather give that
answer. But I am big enough now,
and tell you exactly what did when
1 was two years old: I'll marry YOU
or shall certainly never marry any
one."
And in that moment Colonel
Clitheroe knew that though his hair
was plentitully streaked w>th gray,
and though his face had lines on it
which nothing but the passage of years
can trace, he loved Rose Dysart as
man loves only once in n lifetime.
1t was only when he told Mr.. and
Mrs. Dysart of his good fortune that
he remembered Harry Rawdon's COM
mission.
"Never mind |" said Rose. "Your
recommendation of him rs q husband
would not have been OF the slightest
use. 1 have loved you first and last
and always-ever since / was two"
That is how there came to be q
young, bright girl who, bearing the
title of Mrs. Colonel Clitheroe, walked
by the side of her elderly husband one
sunny Sunday to the accompaniment
of the church bells. Snow in his hair
summer in her face, yet they were
happy, with happiness which is the
portion of very few of the men and
women whom the world considers WELL
matched. Words.