Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-12-09
Mrs. COLONEL CL1THERoE.

!. 8" !: ! ! !: !: : ! ] ] !: ! !"
~ ~R rs. oNEL
~ Clitheroe." And
NJ NJ with the utterarce
~ " y of those words the
sSkJES brown eyes seemed
1NF - to laugh at their own
kK 6) reflection in the mir
SpI ~ ror, and as the pret-
tily-curved lips parted they showed
the perfect teeth. ''Do look it,
John? Do II For I am intensely
anxious as to the effect which I shall
produce on your friends and neigh
bors."
=, = The grsy-haired handsome husband
shook his head with smile.
"Hardly, nm afraid Rose. A casu-
al observer would be more likely to
think you were young lady spend
ing the holidays with her grandfather.
Fortunately, however, the residents in
these Parts know who you are. I OK
pect they will muster pretty strong at
church this morning to get q good
stare at you"
Rose Clitheroe took her husbands
arm as they passed through the gate.
way OF ths Priory. The Colonel had
inherited the property from m uncle,
not long before his marriage.
sIt looks more matroply toJ take
your arm. john" she said, laughing.
But then her mood changed, and she
looked grave, adding:
''I do really teel nervous. I don't
want these people who have known
you all your life to say I am too young
and too giddy, and too altogether un'
worthy to be your wifel Do you
think they will be preiudiced against
me by my appearance? I chose
bonnet and this long sealshin coat be,
cause they make me older than hat
and jacket" )"
"Don't be anxious, child" and the
Colonel pressed the hand which rested
on his arm. ''Unless people are hope.
lessly stupid and short-sighted they
must see at glance that you are the
most charming of young women and
am the most fortunate OF men, and
blessed altogether beyond my deserts.
But whatever they think, and what
ever they say, the fact remains that
We are entirely satisfied with each
other"
'I am more than satisfied" and
Rose spoke emphatically.. "I often
wonder why such happiness should
come to me wher SO many women ore
miserably married"
It was rather romantic little story,
as things &C in these prosaic times,
that story of how Rose Dysart became
Mrs. Colonel Clitheroe when she was
eighteen and he was forty-six.
Rose declared that she had been in
love with him all her life. Certainly
at two years old she had been in the
habit Of assuring him, "Rosie'll marry
you when she's big" whereupon he
always answered, SAIL right, little wo.
man, fif wait for you. -
The child's passionate devotion to
the handsome officer wes quite an
amusement to her parents. But when
his regiment was ordered off to India,
and they saw the little face grow white
and thin, and heard her heartbroken
sobs, they laughed no louger. Even
after she ceased 10 cry for "Rosie'a
Colonel" she never forgot him.
The pretty baby had grown to a tall,
slim girl of thirteen when these two
friends met again. BY that time Rose
Dysart was pupil at small and Sc
lect boarding school in the environs ol
Paris, and on one OF the frequent
visits which her father and mother
paid to their darling, they came, by
chance, across Colonel Clitheroe, who
also was spending few days in the
gay capital.
GLOW is Rosie? Has she forgotten
me?" were among his first questions.
Mrs. Dysart laughed.
''Rose is at school Mt Neuilly. Come
with us this afternoon, and then Judge
for yourself whether you have been
forgotten"
The girl had not grown stiff and shy.
She was immensely delighted to see
her friend again, and she told him so.
He joked her about her baby over
lures toward him; ho reminded her ol
how she would drag footstool across
the room, and by its aid climb to his
knee, and busy her small hands with
his hair on the pretext of making hin
''nice and tidy"
81 have grown gray since those
days." he said with half sigh. Where
upon Miss Rose declared that sht
liked gray hair best.
Each seemed to please the other
they seized in q moment on eacl
others meaning, they appeared to di
vine each others thoughts.
81 shall come again." said Colone
Clitheroe, when the visitors hour wa
over and study must begin. 81 set
thst you and l shall be excellen
friends, Us we were eleven years ago.
However, no made no second visit
TO the "pensionnat" at Neuilly-sur
Seine. His cid uncle's illness recalled
hira suddenly to England, and Rose
Dysart was finished young lady and
about to be introduced into societ,
before she had the pleasure of meet
ing her Colonel again.
This girls face was not strictl.
beautiful, but it was a charming face
she was immensely admired, both b.
men and women. And there must b.
something lovable as we'll as lovely il
q young lady of seventeen, when thos
of her own sex express sincere admir-
alton and can praise her whole-heart
edly.
Like many other parents, Mr.. ant
Mrs. Dysart seemed to regard theil
daughter as little more than child
They scarcely realized that Others
viewed her differently.
"Of course, like other girls, Rose
must go into society,"" they said, "bu
we hope it may be years and year
hefore we have To pnrt with her"