Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-02-26

! asking for her heart and hand.
Rose had often pictured this moment ia
herself and she had honestly resolved to
be all sweetness and sincerity to this man,
whom she loved with all her soul
But-how it was she could never tell
Somehow her old willful spirit of coquctry
seemed TO take possession of her all in a
moment, and she laughed, tcased and
evaded her lovers questioning with per.
sistcnt willfulncss that amazed herself
81 will answer you tomorrow evening, "
was the reply which he finally coaxcd from
her saucy lips. Il must have little time
to reflect upon so drcadfully serious mat.
ter, Mr.. Severance"
But there was that In the happy, laugh.
/ ing blue eyes that bclied the willful lips,
and Wilbur Severance went away with q
| cheerful heart in spite of all
! The following day Rose paid her prom.
ised visit to Miss Stewart, and it was then
that the invalid made her confldant
Caryl Stewart had been betrothed, when
scarcely more than child to youth but
little older than herself.
The arrangement had been made entire
ly by the parents of the two.
But as they grew older, with a better
understanding of the situation, Caryl real.
lied that her whole heart was involved in
the matter, while her nancc-proved indif.
fcrcnt and finally rcbCllcd outright against
the bonds which he had no part in Great.
ing
In her pride Caryl had granted him his
freedom though she broke her own heart
by doing it..
Other suitors she had had, but she would
never love u-i;in to her dying DIV.
"And thar VIII uot lc f.i OIL she end.
ed pathetic,1ly, unless can win his love.
And ! don't quit, dcs;ai of Gsirt that
yet, Bosc, away from all rivals and free
from the huslnosslike lettCrs that Once
prcludiccd him against mc-nore than al
when H. realizes at Last thar hi love and
only that can save my life Do you think,
dear little Roae, that my hope of yet win.
nlng nm Is such wild one, after all:'
no. indeed. do not, Miss stewart,
she earnestly rel Lied. Il don't think he
could help but learn to love You did he
know an the truth II lie could be here to
sec you
lie Is here, ana l have met him several
.lnic9' 'hou"h ne doeSn Know the mac
nope iha' Drought me here-as yet have
mere y t"I0 MN ihat came here for my
hoAllh. 'hlnk you know him also,
ho7e' she Audeu slowly, watching the
elri race from beneath her long, dark
lasheS. HIS nanc Is Wilbur Severance.
NIlAu~ SeVerance'
one moment rose little hand was
pressed 'lghI!| over her heart, and her very
Dreaming S''lh'u TO cease
men 9he sl"k' almost IN her usual
sUc''.'F uoI'S'
res l h-oW MT. severance. We are
qulOG G"'u friends she sald. And l
thlhk ne WI come BACK to you yet, Miss
stewart. 1hueeu aih-am almost sure
he Will
Ana rising quickly she murmured a
lew lartlnE words thcn touching her cold
npS IlghtlY 20 CarYl stewart 5 brow, has
tened from the room.
On why uluh toll nm Yes at once
aSt night Whch l loved him soi cried
Rose in anguish of heart rs she hurried
nome linen II would all have been set
Yea ana nothing could have changed it,
Dut now
W.. mer resolve was already taken, and when
Nllour call'u that night she gave him his
answer promptly enough. 1t was No"
gu cannot mean Rose, that you have
uclii"T'' " intended to deceive me?" he
cried surely no woman under heaven
cuuIu na'ca hrart 50 hard ana false as
Uh"o. 10 not tlilr TINS time, Rose What
ever your answer Is now, 1t must be your
Hhal one.
~ Is lhal' she answered steadily Il
shali regret the loss OF your friendship,
p'l' can never be your wife, MIR. sever
ahce mat Is my deliberate, final answer.
ana l hurled BACK the lie in the teeth
Oh an ihoSe VINO tried to warn me against
you Tor what you are-a soulless coqucttc,"
ne Stlu win hltter laugh. ~ might have
SNou my happiness, but l would not, and
GWcil' deserve my tate Tor being such
i"oI'
He turned on his heel to GO but Rose
sterled quietly before him.
Sh' held small basket of fruit and
MOVERS IN her hand
should like to ask you to do me one
Httl' favor, she said coldly, rot seeming
10 nave noticed his bitter words. Il In
friend al the hotel which you will pass
as You 20 home She is ill--vory i'll in
deed-and / wish TO send her these.
pr"lhls'd' but as | could not 90 myself,
must ask ypn To take them for me-and
TINS note, she added Offering IT, "Dou't