The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-04-08

"Oh, Master-I mean dear David
you must not love mel"
"And why not?"
"Well, you are different from me,
you know-we are good, very good
friends, but-but-but-that Is all-it
must be ALL"
We'll, we can still be dear friends,
but want you for my little wife be-
Sides"
"Your wife, David? In your home,
among your friends, would be-"
"You would be there or elsewhere
what you are here-the one woman l
love. If you would but marry me,
Rose"
mo, no, not that-David. What
could ever be to you? An ignorant
girl, who knows nothing but what you
learned-I mean taught-her. Your
wife! We have been such good friends.
how can you mock me so?"
Rose darling! 1 mock you! You are
unkind!"
"Unkind to you? AS if I would not
gladly give my life to sage you one
moments pain! Unkind to you. dear
David! You do not know me. I
well, can't help loving you, you Know.
but that is all l ask-let me love you
with all my heartfelt me watch your
coming and going; let us be the dear,
dear friends we have been-and when
you go away from here-why-wn
you must go away some day, dear
David"
She turns from him as she speaks,
her little brown hands are pressed
slightly to her heaving breast, her lips
are blanched and set. She tries to con-
ceal the tears that well into her eyes.
Rose" he whispers gently. Still ST.
lence. He listens painfully to the
stifled sobs that wiring her bosom, and
his heart aches, as with wild cry of
David" she falls sobbing upon the
rocky ledge of the cliff. In moment
his arms are about her.
Rose, dear Rose, have panied you?
Rose, dear, do you love me?"
YES"
81 shall ask your hand of Bill. If
he gives you to me will you come?
Rose, love you so, will you Gomez"
Eyes, David"
On the hard earth plot before Paw
nee Bills cabin Bill and the lad LODI
ding are conversing in low whispers.
You know Bill Lodding is saying,
Il never told you afore, but Rose says
as how she don't love me, save as a
friend-and, Bill, don't say nothin' to
the little girl. She can't help it, you
know, no more nor l can help lovin'
her till | die. Then she's better nor
me, anyway. Master David has made
her take to book larnin', and IL"
Bill seizes one of the brown, hard
hands of Lod in his, while with the
other the lad brushes the tears from
his eyes.
There, they're coming down the
way now, Bill, and II must be goin'
You won't say nothin' as how l was a
! fool and blubbered, will you, Bill, and
you won't be cross at the little 'un, will
you, Bill? Goodby!"
The eyes of love are keen, and as
! Pawnee Bill kisses his little Roses up
) turned lips he perceives that the grea,
blue eyes are humid with the remem-
brance of tears Have you come
back, little 'un?" is all he says, and he
leads the way into the little sitting
: room, which is Roses especial charge
Il say, Bill" David commences, 1--WE
a great favor to ask of you!"
] Now; Master David, what can you
. be askin' of me? You have all yor
S want and little over, I'm thinkin'."
}. mot quite all l want, Bill. There i!
4 something have not which l wan
e very badly, and it is that for which
J, I've come to ask
v Roses face is red with bushes, ant
: a strange look is in her eyes, Bill
# looks kindly at David, but the gentl
Y curves of his mouth have grown t.
IS austere lines
e well, Master David" he says
II Il want your little Rose for my wife
e Bill"
g Bill does not start. Rose scans hi
face eagerly.
q Rose" Bill said, tenderly, com
q here, little 'un. Do you love Maste
. David?"
? Yes" The monosyllable is half
d sob.
70 so do l, little 'un. II you was m
10 son, boy, couldn't love you more no
i. what | do. The love for my near XII
20 couldn't be dearer. You see. Maste
m David, my Rose is wild prairie flow
n er; she has nothin' but her love t
ID give you. Tell me, in your great HON
g out East, 'mong serciety and fn'rie'
" whar will my little Rose be? You SCI
I love you myself, lad, and could nc
let you do this foolishness."
3. But, Bill"
Let me talk some, Master Davit
lg I'd be the last one who'd mar my ittl
re girls happiness, or yours, but tn
| can't do-see her become your wifi
re 1t wouldn't be fair to you; 'twoul
" pear as If we was taking advantas
~ of you and, bimeby, maybe, both @
you would be sorry If you marrie
Re, anu boW IL yOu Will UltSS IL
Sc some day. You'll forget each other
Bill, you don't know what your
at saying" David cries. Then there W;
IN profound silence in the room, broke
a. by no sound save the low stifled sol
Of Rose against her fathers knee.
Of Master David, Bills cabin will a
a. ways be happier for your comm ne;
it, and Rose will always be glad to s,
W you Now, goodby, lad, and God BILE
you. Leave my little 'un to me, fl
ID her sorrow is deep, Master David"
re "Goodby, Bill"
n David respected Bills word too hig
lv ly to thwart it-even so much as.
Is thought. After that evening Ro
or and he spoke of their love as som
/. thing that made their lives more swe,
yet as something that was going fro
them, hourly, momentarily, and
their hearts they asked themselve
IL