The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-06

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 coquetry
seemed to take possession Of her all In
moment, and she laughed. tcased and
evaded her lovers questioning with per-
sistent willfulness that amazed herself.
Il will answer you tomorrow evening"
was the reply which he finally coaxed from
her salcy lips Il must have little time
to reflect upon So dreadfully serious a mat
ter, Mr.. Severance.
But there was that I'm the happy, laugh
Ing blue eyes that belied the willful lips.
and Wilbur Severance went away with
cheerful heart In spite of all.
The following day Rose paid her prom
ised visit To Miss Stewart, and 1t was then
that the invalid made her IA confidant.
Caryl Stewart had been betrothed, when
scarcely more than n child, To - youth but
little older than herself.
The arrangement had been madc entire
ly by the parents of the two.
But as they grew older, with a better
understanding of the situation, Caryl real
tied that her whole heart was involved In
the matter, while her flance proved indif-
fcrent and finally rebelled 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 again to her dying day.
'And that will not be far of, - she end
ed pathetically, "unless i can win his love.
And ! don't quite despair of doing that
yet, Rose, away from all rivals and free
from the businesslike fetters that once
prejudiced him against me-more than all
when he realizes at last that his love and
only that can save my life. Do you think,
dear little Rose, that my hope of yet win.
ming him is such wild one, after alp
"No, indeed, do not, Miss Stewart, +"
she earnestly replied. II don't think he
could help but learn to love you did he
know all the truth. If he could be here to
see you"-
"He is here, and have met him several
times, though he doesn't know the mad
hope that brought me here-as yet. have
merely told him that came here for my
health. i think you know him also,
Rose" she added slowly, watching the
girls face from beneath her long, dark
lashes. His name is Wilbur Severance. {"
WllDur SeVelunce!
One moment Roses little hand was
pressed tightly over her heart, and her very
breathing seemed to- cease.
Then she spoke, almost in her usual
steady tones.
Eyes, i know Mr.. Severance. We are
quite good friends" she said. "And |
think he will come back to you yet Miss
Stewart. Indeed / am--am almost sure
he will
And rising quickly she murmured a
few parting words, then touching her cold
lips lightly to Caryl Stewards brow, has.
tened from the room.
ooh, why didn't tell him Yes at once
last night when 1 loved him sol" cried
Rose in anguish of heart as she hurried
home. "Then it would all have been set
tied and nothing could have changed 1t,
but now
Her resolve was already taken, and when
Wilbur called that night she gave him his
answer promptly enough. 1t was "No."
"You cannot mean, Rose, that you have
deliberately intended to deceive me?" he
cried. "Surely no woman under heaven
could have heart so hard and false as
that Do not trifle this time, Rose What
ever your answer is now. 1t must be your
final one"
"It is flnal," she answered steadily. "I
shall regret the loss of your friendship,
but can never be your wife, Mr. Sever
ance. That is my deliberate, final answer {"
"And hurled back the lie in the teeth
Of all those who tried to warn me against
you for what you area soulless coquette,"
he said with bitter laugh, II might have
saved my happiness, but would not, and
4 futa fnr ha;r
fool
He turned on his heel to go, but Rose
ste pped quietly before him.
She held small basket of fruit and
flowers in her hand
81 should like to ask you to do me one
little favor" she said coldly, not seeming
to have noticed his bitter words. 81 have
friend at the hotel which you will pass
as you 60 home She is ill-very i'll in
deed-and l wish to send her these:
promised, but as could not go myself,
must ask you to take them for me-and
this note" she added, Offering it. Don't
refuse, please; she will be SO disappointed.
And if you will kindly take them up to
her parlor yourself-I never trust these
things to the careless servants there. 1t is
the only service / shall ask of you," she
duuOu, WIN d hdi pic<suiuS iiOIic sihiic uS
she saw him hesitate.
OF course he had no choice but to accept
the trifling task, and with "A cold, distant
bow he took both basket and note from
her hand and went his way.
And when the door had closed behind
him, Rose sank back into her chair and
sobbed until her heart was ready to burst.
81 have sent him to her, and surely she
can find some way to win him back
again." she moaned as she thought of the
desolation she had brought upon her own
happiness
How long she sat there weeping Rose
never knew. But ages after, so 1t seemed,
a step sounded beside her, and Wilbur's
own voice was tendcrly calling her name.
"Look up, my Rose, and let me tell you
what has happened, he was saying sadly,
yet with deep undcrtone of joy in his low
ing voice. Il executed your crrand, and
before L could leave Caryl i'm some way
made me understand the state of her feel
ings toward me. You know the whole
story, Rose, SO need not repeat 1t. Then,
In my pity for her and my bitter anger to-
ward you, was weak enough To offer tn
renew that old engagement L need not