The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-02
HERO AND HEROINE.

"oh, dearl wish could be heroine
myself" pointed Rose Pemberton, tossing
aside the novel which she had just finished
with deep sigh Of discomfort. "I'm pref
ty enough, I'm sure" casting an appre.
cintive glance at the mirror opposite, In
which her piquant face and curling golden
hair were pleasingly reflected, "but moth
ing ever happens-nothing ever will hap
pen either SO far as can see-that has the
least bit of romance In It. Just this same
old humdrum life. I'm tired and sick Of
It, II something startling would only 90.
curl II could even fall desperately in love
with some one"-
Here the low, discontinued murmur Of
Roses voice ceased, and faint blush
crept into her pretty cheeks as her
thoughts drifted away toward certain
"some one" who had never formed part
Of that humdrum life of which she had 80
often and so bitterly complained.
Rose had numberless admirers, as the
prettiest girl In the village always will
have, and she could recall an almost equal
number of flirtations which had served to
brighten the monotony of her village life
But they were tame affairs. Her heart
had never been really interested for mo-
ment.
AS for the grand passion, Rose knew
nothing Of it save in her day dreams and
in the pages Of her favorite novels.
She had laughed OF her would be lovers
and declared her conviction that there Is
no such thing as love in real life.
But Of late pretty Rose had secretly be-
gun to entertain a somewhat different
opinion on that subject
4 A handsome, intellectual face and pair
Of laughing brown eyes were the direct
causes Of her change of heart.
Yet their owner seemed in no haste to
enroll himself on the list of her admirers
Indeed, Rose knew him only by sight, for
Wilbur Severance was stranger in the
village. She had seen him In church two
or three times, and occasionally on the
street, but he had never sought an intro
duction to tho belle Of the place, and be-
You'd u passing glance Of admiration had
not eyinced any special notice Of her at
fractions
Perhaps that was the very thing which
had awakened Roses interest in him. At
all events, she often caught herself dream
wondering what she should say If Mr.. Scv-
erance were ever to tell her the story of
love which she had SO often heard from
other lips.
But there was little danger of that ap-
parcntly. Rose bit her lip in chagrin as
that thought forced itself upon her, even
while she was contemplating her graceful
image in the mirror, and catching up her
wide brlmmed garden hat she suddenly
quilted the room and the house, and went
hurrying down the path with kind If
desperate determination In her heart to
get away from the dullness of everyday
existence and wiring an adventure of some
sort from the unwilling hands Of fate
"I'll go down to the river" she said aft
er a moment of indecision at the gate,
land If can find boat I'll row about in
the most dangerous places can find. And
I hope something will happen. But it
WON'T" she added sarcastically, "unless l
upset the boat on purpose"
Turning into the winding road that led
out of the village, she soon came to the
river and found q fragile shell of boat
dancing at anchor on the waves, as II left
there by fate for her especial use.
Rose unfastened the chain and was soon
shooting swiftly down the stream, keep
ing time with her oars to her own restless
thoughts,
All at once sound, breaking the still
ness Of the scene, drew her attention to the
shore, and with that glance Roses heart
gave mad bound and then seemed to stop
beating, for there on tho bank, only few
feot distant, busily arranging q pile Of
fishing tackle, sat tho hero Of her present
thoughts-the handsome stranger with the
laughing brown eyes.
And they were quietly laughing at her
now, Rose thought, as blush Of confu-
sion dyed her checks
The sudden start she gave jostled one Of
the oars out Of her grasp, and reaching to
recover it, the something" which she
had SO rccklessly wished for happened, for
the next instant, to her disgust, she found
herself overheard and tioundering about in
tho water, looking as little like her ideal
heroine as could we'll be imagined.
Mr.. Severance FASTENED ut once to her
rescue, and when he had brought her, pale
and exhausted, to the shore Rose glaHcing
shyly upward. saw those brown eyes, no
longer laughing at her, but full of o grave
anxiety that thrilled her heart.
II am not at all injured" she said, re-
plying to that look, "and hope my boat
isn't, for must try my luck with it again
by starting home at once"
but your strength is quite exhausted"
he said decidedly, as she rose slowly to her
feet II shall row you back to the point
from which you started, and then, If you
will permit me- shall accompany you to
your home. l really think it unsafe for
you to go alone" he added, seeing the
tide of crimson that swept back suddenly
to her white cheeks.
Rose offered but faint objections, and
thus began the acquaintance which was
destined to prove so oventful to both.
And Rose was happy.
1t was just In the flush of her happiness
that Rose met at village hotel, whose
1andlady's daughter was one of her friends,
a lady who had come there hoping to re-
gain her lost health.
Pale and delicate, but still very lovely
was Caryl Stewart, and very soon she and
the village belle were fast friends.
my physicians say that my ailment Is
consumption" said Caryl Stewart one
day, smiling slow, sad smile that went
straight to Roses heart, "but know bet
ter than they Rose. know that am dy-
ing of breaking heart. Some day will
tell you. You will come in again tomor-
row." she questioned, lifting her dark
eyes with wistful look.
"Oh, yes" returned Rose, with bright
smile. II will come in any day--every
day, Miss Stewart.
She was thinking of that conversation
when Wilbur Severance came to SOC her