The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-03

to grasp her meaning. Her whole be-
havior was strange, but even this did
not dispel the vision of the other Rose
the Rose he loved and hoped to make
his. wife. So, glancing away from her
SO as not to be disturbed by her ap-
pearance, he said, slowly:
II spoke to your father last night
upon a subject that has given me a
good deal of food for reflection lately"
Yes; he told--no, mean-did youy"
she suffered.
He turned suddenly toward her and
tried to see her face, which she turned
away.
This explains it." he thought. IT
is evidently my ladyloye's intention to
shock me-to keep me from declaring
my love. 1t is a good hint, but faint
heart never won fair lady, and if she
does not love any one else / will win
her" So he drew little nearer and
said in low and tender tones: Rose
do you guess the subject on which j
spoke?"
mo, haven't the least idea, she an
swered
May tell your bending forward" |"
20, mol mol" she cried, springing to
her feet hurriedly.
ssWhy not dear? he said. Rose
darling, must tell you
He arose and stood before her anc
certainly the mischief in his eyes
equaled hers as he continued, For yo1
look very sweet to-day"
"I--look sweet?" she cried, in daz
zled sort of way.
"Yes, Rosie always sweet to me
my happiness perfect2"
mo, no, I cannot. What Must .
say?"
Say Yes, Harold, will marry you
.But | do not love you"
"Do you love any one else?"
mo, of course not. )"
Then why not give yourself to me
|. dear, for love you dearly?"
Il cannot, she commenced; then
suddenly remembering the CONVERSE
suppose I must say Yes. with a
frown.
But that, Rosie, will not do |
want your love.
Why do you worry me? You know
don't love you.
my dear what has your father said.
Did he tell you | had spoken to him
about you and that I wished to make
you my wife?''
-'Yes."
And what else, dear"
s'He said ought to marry you, be-
cause you are rich and he
Rose got no farther, but hiding her
face with her hands. began to cry piti-
fully.
Did he want you to marry me even
if you did not love me?"
Yes Her lips were trembling and
the efforts she made to control the
sighs were almost more than the man
sould bear.
How he longed to take her in his
arms and comfort heri
He looked quite aged and won as he
stood there battling with himself, and
thinking, Shall / marry her and
chance gaining her love or go away
and try and forget her?Y
The hungry, sorrowful pain would be
as bad for him either way, and il
he thought of her happiness he must
leave her.
The victory soon came the better
part of his love rose uppermost. Just
then he thought only of what would
be the best for her, SO, taking her hand
in his and gently stroking her dainty
fingers, he said in tender tones:
'sAnd this is why you dressed so
strangely If you only knew how much
I loved you you would know that what
ever you wore you would still be as
dear to me, still my little rosebud 2
Rose hung her head How awfully
silly she must be to be found out so
easily.
There, dear" he said, presently
Forget all this and be your own lively
hearted, pretty self again. | shall not
offend any more
But dad?" Rose exclaimed.
"He need never know I will so
away tomorrow morning on most inn
portant business; you understand,
dear"
20, thank you, thank youl she said
and she pressed his hand for mo-
ment to her breast in sheer thankful
ness.
He went, as he promised, next day.
Only two of three days passed before
Rose found that she missed her gray
eyed, tender lover, missed his care and
attention, and the place seemed very
lonely. Before month passed she
wished him back again, but the knowl-
edge that she loved him did not fully
develop until she heard one day that
he was married. Then it came sudden
ly to her with overwhelming force
She was sitting one day on the same
tree where he had told his love, trying
to recall every look and word he had
uttered to her there and unbidden the
tears gathered in her eyes and present
ly overfiewed and fell one by one on
her clasped hands.
20. | wish-f wish he were here,
she murmured sorrowfully.
s'Who?' inquired voice she knew
so we'll
Some one who is not worth a
thought"
Rose, it was not II"
"You--a married man, with horror.
"You have been misinformed, he
said, II am not married nor am I likely
to be unless" He paused, putting
forth his hand yearningly