The Ravalli Republican., 1898-03-16


sol'
Rose, darling! l mock you! Yo1
are unkind =
"Unkind to youI AS if l would
not gladly give my life to save yol
one moments pain! Unkind tc
you, dear David You do not know
me. l-well, l can't help loving
you, you know, but that is all ask
let me love you with all my heart
let me watch your coming and
going. Let us be the dear, dea1
friends we have been, and when
you so away from here-why-why
YOU must 80 away some day, dear
David. -
She turns from him as she speaks
her little brown hands are pressed
tightly to her heaving breast, her
lips are blanched and set. She tries
to conceal the tears that we'll into
her eyes.
Rose, he whispers gently. Still
silence. He listens painfully to the
stined sobs that wiring her bosom,
and his heart aches as, with a wild
cry of "David!' she falls sobbing
upon the rocky ledge Of the cliff.
III moment his arms are about her.
Rose, dear Rose, havo I panied
you? Rose, denr, do you love me?"
Yes. -
II shall ask your hand of Bill. IF
he gives you to me, will you come?
Rose, l love you sol Will you
come?' "m.a-
eyes, David
On the hard earth plot before
Pawnee Bills cabin Bill and the lad
Lodding are conversing in low whis-
pers.
"Yon know, BILL Lod is saying,
- never told you afore, but Rose
says as how she don't love mo, save
as a friend, and, Bill, don't say moth
in to the little girl. She can't holp
it, you know, no more nor can help
lovln her till die. Then she's bot
ter nor me anyway. Master David
has made her take to book larnin,
and I-I'-
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 he
goin. You won't say nothin as how
I was a fool and blubbere1, will you
Bill, and you won't be Cross at the
little un, will you, Bill2 Good
by!' W..
The eyes Of love are keen, and as
PaWnee Bill kisses his little Roses
lips he perceivcs that the
great blue eyes are humid with
the remembrance of recent tears.
Have you come back, little 'un?"
is all he says, and he leads tho way
into tho little sitting room, which is
Rose: especial charge.
Il say, BILL" David commences,
I've great favor to ask of you"
"Now, Master David, what can
you be askin of me? You have all
you want and Il little over, I'm
hinkin.
Not quite all want, Bill. There
S something l have not which |
want very badly, and it is that for
which I've come to ask"
Roses face is red with bushes
md a strange look is in her eyes.
Bill looks kindly at David, but the
gentle curves of his mouth have
grown to austere lines
s'Wcll, Master David" he says.
Il want your littlo Rose for my
wife, Bill.
Bill does not start. Rose scans his
ace eagerly.
Rose, . Bill said tendcrly, "come
acre, little un. Do you love Master
)avid?'
Yes" The monosyllablo is half
sob.
So do l, little un If you was my
on, boy, | couldn't love you more
>or what do The love for my near
KIN couldn't be dearel You see,
Aaster David, my Rose is a wild
prairie flower; she has nothin but
ler love to give you. Tell me in
7our great home out east 'mong ser=
'lety and fin 'ries what will my little
Rose be1 You see, love you my
elf, lad, and could not let YOU do
his foolishness. y
"But, Bill''--
Let me talk some, Master David
a be the last one who'd mar my
title girls happiness OF yours, but
his can t do-see her become your
wife. It wouldn't be fair to you;
tWould pear as if we was takin
advantage of you, and bimeby, may
'e, both on you would be sorry if [
'ou married, and now, as it is, you ;
vii bless me some day. You'll for
Jet each other''- J
Bill, you don't know what you're
aying," David cries. Then there !
vas q profound silence in the room. !
'roken by no sound save the low, t
titled schs of Rose against her ia t
hers knee.