The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-02

% al eWoaoneee coo etppF1ty W phis man,
WHOM DO leYed With al her soul.
but--hqw II was Shs could never tell-
somehow her Old wiilful spirit Of coquetry
seemed 10 take poeession Of her all In o
moment, and abe laughed, teased and
eysded her lovers questioning with q per.
Estent wiilfulness that amazed herself.
n win answer you tomorrow evening""
was tho replyNshich he finally coaxed from
her sauoy lips. n must have little time
10 reflect upon SO dwadfully serious a mat
tor Mr.. Severance"
But there was that In the happy, laugh.
ing blue eyes that belied the willful lips,
and Wilbur Severance went away with o
cheerful heart In spite Of all.
The following day Rose paid her prom.
Used visit to Miss Stewart, and it was then
that the invalid made her confdant.
Caryl Stewart had been betrothed, when
scarcely more than child, to youth but
little older than herself
Tho arrangement had been made entire
ly by the parents Of the two.
But as they grew older, with better
understanding of the situation, Caryl real
lied that her whole heart was involved In
the matter, while her flance proved indif.
lertilb anu uiitIiy IcDtlleu OutIiBhu ut3dhio'
tho 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 off, - she end
ed pathctically unless can win his love-
And don't quite despair Of doing that
yet, Rose, away from all rivals and free
from the businesslike letters that once
prejudiced him against me-nore 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"
mo, indeed, do not, Miss Stewart"
she earnestly replied. II don't think he
could help but learn to love you did he
know oil the truth. II he could be here to
sec you''-
ale is here, and have met him several
times, though he doesn't know the mad
hope that brought me here-as yet l have
merely told him that l 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.
Wilbur Severance!'
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, know Mr.. Severance. We arc
quite good friends" she said. "And ]
think he will come back to you yet, Miss
Stewart Indeed nm-am almost sure
he will"
And rising quickly she murmurcd
few parting words, then touching her cold
lips lightly to Caryl Stewards brow, has
tened from the room.
"Oh, why didn't tell him Yes at once
last night when l 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 it,
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 triac this time, Rose. What
ever your answer is now 1t must be your
final one"
1T is flnal," she answered steadily. II
shall regret the loss Of your friendship,
but can never be your wife, Mr.. Sever.
ance. That is my deliberate final answer"
"And l hurled back the lilo in the teeth
Of all those who tried to warn me against
you for what you area soulless coquettc,"
he said with bitter laugh "Imight have
saved my happiness, but would not, and
well, deserve my fate for being such
fool"
He turned on his heel to 60, but Rose
stepped quietly before him.
She held a small basket of fruit and
flowers in her hand
II should like to ask you to do me one
little favor" she said coldly, not seeming
to have noticed his bitter words. ~ have
a friend at the hotel which you will pass
as you go home. She is ill-very ill in
deed-and ! wish to send her these.
promised, but as l could not go myself, 1
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 tho careless servants there. 1t Is
the only service l shall ask of you, she
added, with half pleading little smile as
She saw him hesitate
OF course he had no choice but to accept
the trifling task, and with cold, distant
bow he took both basket and note from
her hand and went his way.
And when tho door had closed behind
him, Rose sunk back into her chair and
sobbod until her heart was ready to burst.
II have sent him to her, and surely she
can find some way to win him back
again." she lnoanod 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 tonderly calling her name.
Look up, my Rose and let mo tell you
what has happened" he was saying sadly,
yet with deep undertono of joy in his low
ing voice, Il executed your GRAND, and
before could leave Caryl in some way
made me understand the state of her feel
ings toward me. You know the whole
story, Rose, so need not repeat it, Then,
in my pity for her and my bitter anger to-
ward you, was weak enough TO offer to
renew that old engagement. l need not
sell you that she eagerly accepted, and
chen, in her joy or the agitation of the
moment, she fell to coughing severely and
ruptured blood vessel. Yos"-in answer
to Roses Mortified cry-"she Is dead now
my darling, but not before she had made
me understand the sacrifice you tried to
make for her. She knew that you loved
me, Rose. And now I shall not ask you
for that answer, dear. l shall take it
thus" and no kissed her quivering lips
"Aiy loye-my heroino!' he added proudly.
Rose had never once thought of it in
that light. But no one now ever hears
from her sweet lips that old time foolish
wish:
ooh, if could be hcroinel'-Dublin
World.