The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-11-09

was something
IL a more. He was
n ~ an astute man of
" the world, who
dearly loved pleasure, but who had far
too hard head to ever allow tho I'M
ruly Jade to run away with him. His
wife had died in giving birth to his
only son, Frank, and he was certainly
one OF the gayest widowers Wakefield
had ever seen.
He hunted, he kept n liberal table,
and he made love with reckless
hberality that not little scandalized
some OF the good people of his native
town. AT the period of our story he
was fifty years of age, upright as
dart, tall, slim, with Young, fresh
colored, hairless face. His appear
ance had not altered since he was
thirty years of age, and it appeared
probable that another twenty wears
might pass over him without produc-
ing any material change.
One day his son, who, without tax
ing the trouble to notify his father,
was about to marry the lady of his
heart, received letter from his father
ordering him to go to Wakefield upon
business of the utmost Importance.
When he reached his home he was sur
prlsed to learn that Mr.. Gilmour had
been called suddenly away to the
North. He had, however, left n mes
sage to thu effect that his son was to
remain III efeld until his return.
de SIT IN the pleasant, sleepy
little tov some ten days, at the
END OF iperiod the post brought
him two hkable letters.
One from lady love. 1t con
tanned tn e words:
''Goodby for ever"
The other was signed by n Mrs.
Chambers, under whose roof Frank
had first met rAe woman of his choice.
1t lmplored him to return at once to
Paisley. Some villain, she said. had
stolen Rosa's heart from him. and the
poor, bcwitched girl had run away
with her new love.
Frank read these letters with
amazement. At first he refused TO
bellve that Rosa, whom he had loved
with such unselfsh devotion, had
trieked and Tilted him. He had such
faith in her truth and purity that it
seemed impossible for him to associate
her with aught that was dishonest and
cruel. During his tedious Journey to
Paisley he promised himself that Mrs
Chambers had been mistaken, and that
when he came to thoroughly sift the
matter he would find that his darling
Rosa had been wonderfully misjudged.
But when he entered the little house
his heart fell within him and nearly
oil his hope fled The good old lady
had so changed that he scarcely knew
her. Her eyes were red with weep-
Ing and deep purple rings surrounded
them. The kindly face was worn and
haggard and was sadly thin.
He took both her TREMBLING hands
and pressed them gently in silence.
Then he led her TO chair and said:
Tell me everything Do not spare
me one detail / can bear the truth
better than doubt. "
Ere she could speak Mrs Chambers's
tears flowed fast.
My tale is short one, she said nj
last Dear, dear! it all seems like n
nasty dream Sometimes / sit here
and fancy that her bright face will ap
pear before me as it used, and that all
that troubles me is but the wandering
of an idle, foolish brain. / am sorry
Tor you, Mr.. Gilmour; indeed indeed
am
Come, come" he said. compose
yourself, and let me know the whole
miserable truth. "
Soon after you went away. said
the teariul woman, ~ noticed n great
change IN Rosas manner. She be-
came absentminded, dull. aud more
than once ! saw that she had been
weeping I pressed her 10 tell me
the cause Of her sorrow. but she nj
ways maintained that she was very
happy and she had nothing 90 grieve
her. She won't ont more frequently
than she had been in the habit Of do
ing, and often mt announcement hours
did not care TO chide her, but / con-
TESS that her frequent absence from
home perplexel me- Perhaps I ought
20 have inquired more strictly into her
movements, aud God forgive me If J
did not take sufficient care Of her.
Thinking that she would soon leave
70 be your wife / felt that it would be
ungracious Of me at such q time Co
scold her or TO- compel her To- pay more
attention to her duties one after
noon n gossIping woman. who often
comes into my shop, told me she had
seen Rosa walking arm in arm with n
gentleman in little used thorough
fare IN the outskirts Of the town +
lost my temper, and ! declared that
the wOmaI's statement was untrue.
Nevertheless I questioned Rosa ON
She subject She Indignantly denied