Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-02-10

the right man and right moment arrive,
said Mrs. Dysart. "You may not think
so now girls never do before they are
really in love. But in all probability the
time will come when, of your own free
will, you will go away from u.s."
Rose shook her head.
II can't think so, mother. However,
let us talk of some more interesting sub
ject-of my being presented, for instance
Can you picture me, colonel, making my
courtesy and kissing the hand Of royalty?
l hope l shan't turn awkward and shy at
the last moment. I ought not, for as a
little girl with counterpane in place of
train, I have practiced my manners over
and over again.
They all laughed.
"No, scarcely think you will be shy"
said Colonel Clitheroe. Besides the mo-
ment makes the man, they say So, OF
course it makes the woman"
The important day came. Rose Dysart
was simply yet elegantly dressed, and her
fresh young face won its fair share of no.
tice as she waited among the crowd of
debutantes.
Then followed six weeks of gayety-con-
certs, operas, dances, garden parties, rid.
ing In the Row. Nevertheless the girl
was, glad when her father decided to re.
turn to the country before midsummer.
Everything seemed beautiful and en-.
deared by absence The trees had ex.
changed their first freshness of tender
green for the ripeness of summer beauty.
The hawthorn and bluebells were over
and done with, but the foliage of the
woods seemed lovely by contrast with
Hyde park.
Colonel Clitheroe was to be one of the
after season guests at the Dysarts' country
house. He followed them within fort
night Of the departure from Eaton place.
Was anything troubling nimP Was he
i'll? Those were the questions they
asked him, for he did not seem so cheerful
as usual, and he was apt to drop into fits
of musing, so that even the voice of Rose
made him start as one does who returns
suddenly from the land of dreams to reality.
The fact was that he had promised to
execute commission which WAS distaste-
full to him.
"Colonel,' bright faced guardsman
had said to him one day, ''I'll tell you a
secret. I am in love with Rose Dysart
and 1 shall never care for another girl.
Now, you and my father were boys togeth
er, and you are the Oldest friend possess
in all the world Say good word for me-
will you? She thinks you infallible upon
every point. She has told me herself that
there is no one like you.
Colonel Clitheroe worked vigorously at
tuft of grass with the toe of his boot for
some moments before answering.
"Have you spoken for yourself9" he sud
denly inquired.
"Not in plain words. Every time 1 try
and get round to the point there seems a
difficulty. But l would try my luck again
and again if thought 1 might win Rose
in the end. Speak up for me, won't you,
colonel?'
'If favorable moment comes. But
don't see what my recommendation can do
for you.''
Hasn't she known you all her life, and
doesn't she think you worth any number
| of young fellows put together" said Raw
| don. "The chief subject Of conversation
| when we dance or when we sit out togeth-
or seems to be the perfections Of Colonel
Clitheroe, and I've had to tell her all
could think of about you when the regi-
ment was out in India. After exhausting
facts try fiction, seeing that it is the only
way to win a smile.' And the young fell
| low laughed.
The gray haired man of six and forty
was thinking over this conversation as the
| train carried him down to Sussex, but he
| thought of it even more as soon as Rose,
| in her bright young beauty, stood before
| him.
Harry Rawdon was good fellow enough,
but not good enough for the Dysarts'
daughter. Who, indeed would be worthy
of such wife?
ssNevertheless, - reflected the colonel,
"I knew his father when we were both
boys at school. / must do my best for
Harry, and one of these days will sound
Rose on the subject and get an idea of the
state of her heart.
Opportunities Of private chat were not
difficult to find.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dysart regarded Colonel
Clitheroe as sort of venerable friend,
with whom Rose might be sent to walk
talk or ride without outraging even the
narrowest notions of propriety.
Yet the colonel felt shrinking from
mentioning the subject Of young Raw
don's desires and from speaking up for
his many excellent qualities. He liked
much better to talk over "dear old times, :"
as Rose called her golden days of child
hood.
II must have been positive nuisance
to you, wasn't I, colonel" she said one
day as they paced side by side the terraced
walk while waiting the summons to
breakfast II know was always running
after you, yet you never seemed cross and
bored.'
gT III r. fn6o mn
colonel laughed. "Your advances were
so flattering. l could not reckon up the
times you assured me your intention to
marry me when you grew big enough. All,
child, and now sigh followed the smile,
II suppose one of these days shall stand
among your wedding guests-and don't
think L shall enjoy that ceremony one
bit"
"You will never be a guest, and now
Rose colored, yet held out her hand as
bravely as when she was II child. Colo
nell am going to do something dreadful,
| / suppose. Please never tell any one, and
please say mo- If you would rather give
that answer But am big enough now,
and tell you exactly what l did when !
was 2 years old-'Ill marry you, or !
shall certainly never marry any one
And in that moment Colonel Clitheroe
knew that, though his hair was plentifully
streaked with gray, and though his face
had lines on it which nothing but the pas
sage of years can trace, he loved Rose Dy-
sart as man loves only once in lifetime.
1t was only when he told MIR. and Mrs.
Dysart Of his good fortune that he remem-
bered Harry Rawdon's commission.
"Never mind, 7" said Rose. Your rec
| ommendation of him as husband would
not have been Of the slightest use. have
loved you first and last and always-eyer
since was 2. 2."-Household Words.
| Scheme That Failed.