The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-03-03

casting an APP
associative glance at the mirror opposite,
n which her piquant face and curling
Golden hair were pleasingly reflected
sbut nothing ever happens-nothing
over will happen, either, so far as can
.se-tbat has the least bit of romance
n If Just this same old humdrum
rfa. I'm tired and sick of it. II some
thing startling would only occur! If
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 rs her
thoughts drifted away toward certain
"some one" who had never formed a
mart of that humdrum life OF which she
had so often and 50 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 q
moment.
As for the grande passion Rose knew
nothing OF it save in her day dreams and
in the pages of her favorite novels.
She had laughed at her would-be
lovers, and declared her conviction that
there is no such hing as love in real life.
But OF late pretty Rose had secretly
begun to entertain somewhat differ
ent opinion on that subject.
A handsome, intellectual face and a
pair of laughing brown eyes were the
direct cause Of her change OF heart.
Yet their owner seemed in no haste
TO enroll himself on the list of her adj
mirers. Indeed, Rose knew him only by
sight, for Wilbur Severance was a
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 introduction to the
belle of the place, and, beyond passing
glance OF admiration, had not evinced
any special notice of her attractions.
Perhaps that was the very thing
which had awakened Roses interest in
him. At all events, she often caught
herself dreaming of those handsome
brown eyes, and wondering what she
should say if Mr.. Severance 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,
apparently. 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-brimmed garden
hat, she suddenly quit the room and the
house, and went hurrying down the
path with kind of desperate deter
mlnatlon 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 so down to the river" she said,
after a moment of indecision at the
gate, and II l can find boat, I'll row
uoout in the most dangerous places l
can find. And 1 hope something will
happen; but it WON'T" she added, sar-
eas'ically, unless upset the boat on
purpose"
turning into the winding road that
'ea out OF the village, she soon came to
tne river and found fragile shell of
boat dancing at anchor on the waves,
Us II left there by fate for her especial
use.
lose unfastened the chain and was
soon shooting swiftly down the stream,
Aeeplng time with her oars to her own
restless thoughts.
All at once a sound, breaking the still
ness OF the scene, drew her attention to
,ne shore; and with that glance Roses
Heart gave mad bound, aud then
seemed to stop beating, for there on
'he bank, only q few feet distant, busily
arranging a pile of fshing-tackle, sat
.ne hero Of her present thomghts-the
nanosome stranger with the laughing
brown eyes.
ana they were quietly laughing at
ner now, Rose thought, as a blush of
confusion dyed her checks.
The sudden start she gave iostled one
vi Inc oars out of her grasp, and, reach
ing to recover 1t. the Something"
winch she had SO recklessly wished for
Iaaeppened; for the next instant, to her
aissust, she found herself overheard,
ana Wondering about in the water,
hooking as little like her ideal heroine
as could well be imagined.
Mr.. Severance FASTENED at once to her
rescue, and when he had brought her,
pale and exhausted, to the shore, Rose,
slaneing shyly upward, saw those
brown eyes, no longer laughing at her,
eut null OF grave anxiety that thrilled
her heart.
l am not at all injured" she said, re-
plying to that look, land hope my
!. Doat isn't, for ! must try my luck with
II again by starting home at once"
nut your strength Is quite ex-
nausted," said. decidedly. as she rose
slowly to her feet. II shall row you
back 10 the point from which you
started, and then, II you will permit
me- shall accompany you to your
nome ] really think II unsafe for you
20 60 alone" be added, seeing the tide
! crimson that swept back suddenly to
Der white cheeks. =.
Rose offered but faint objections; and
mus began the acqu aintancc which was
destined to prove 90 cyentfuI to both.
And Rose was happy.
~ was just in the flush Of her happi-.
nsss that Rose met at . village hotel.
whose iandiadyr daughter was one OF
aer friends. a lady who. had come there
Aoping to regain her lost health.