The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-03-23

lifts her eyes he is gazing ardently In.
TO their blue depths.
Rose. my little Rose" he whispers,
you do not know how much love
you"
"oh, MASTER mean dear David
you must not love mel"
And why not?"
We'll, you are different from me,
you know-we are good. very good
friends, ut-but-but-that is all-lt
must be all"
Well, We can still be dear friends,
but I want you for my little wife be-
Sides"
Your wife. David? IN your home,
among your friends, l would be"
You would be there or elsewhere
what you are here-the one woman
love. If you would but marry me,
Rose"
No. no, not that-David. What
could | ever be to you? An ignorant
girl, who knows nothing but what you
learned mean taught-her. Your
wife! We have been such good friends.
how can YOU mock me so?"
Rose darling! | mock you! You are
unkind!"
"unkind to you? AS If | would not
gladly give my life to sage you one
moments pain! Unkind to you dear
David You do not know me. L
wn1l | pan't hplN 4
but that is all | aslS-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 30 away from here-why why
you must so away some day, dear
David"
She turns from him as she speaks,
her little brown hands are pressed
slightly to her heaying breast, her lips
are blanehed and set. She tries to con-
ceal the tears that well into her eyes.
Rose, he whispers gently. Still 81
lenee. 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 II moment
his arms are about her
Rose dear Rose, have panied your
Rose. dear. do you love me?"
Yes"
Il shall ask your hand of Btll IL
he gives you to me Will you come?
Rose. | love you 50. Will you Gomez"
Yes, David"
On the hard earth plot before Paw
nee Bills cabin Bill and the lad LODI
ding are eonversing in low whispers.
You know Bill. Loddng is saying.
Il never told you afore, but Rose says
as how she don't love me, save as
friend and, Bill. don't say nothin' to
the little girl. She can't help It, you
know, no more nor | 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 sei2es one of the brown, hard
hands of lod in his. while with the
other the lad brushes the tears from
his eyes
way now, Bill. and II must be goin'
You wont say nothin as how | 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 AZ
Pawnee Bill kisses his little Roses up
turned lips he pereeives that the great
blue eyes are humid with the remem-
brance of tears. "IIaye you come
back, little 'un?" il all he says, and he
leads the way into the little sitting
room, which Is Roses especial charge
II say Bill. David commences, i've
II great favor to ask of you!"
Nov, Master David, what can you
be askln of me? You have all you
want and "A little over. I'm thlnkin'."
Not quite all want, Bill. There Is
something | have not which want
very badly, and 1t Is that for which
I've come to ask
Roses face IL red with bushes. and
a strange look is In her eyes. Bill
looks kindly at David, but the gentle
curves OF his mouth have grown to
austere lines.
Well, Master David" he says
Il want your little Rose for my wife,
Bill"
Bill does not start. Rose scans his
face eagerly.
Rose" Bill said. tenderly. come
here. little 'un. DO you love Master
Davld?"
Yes" The monosyllable Is half a
sob.
SO do l. little 'uh. If you was my
son. boy ! couldn't love you more nor
what | do The love for my near kin
couldn't be dearcr You see, Master
David. my Rose IL Il Wild prairie flow
er; she has nothin but her love to
give you. Tell me. in your great home
out East, mong serciety and fln'rles,
whar will my little Rose be? You see,
/ love you myself. lad and | could not
let you do this foolshness
But, Bill"
"Let me talk some Master David.
I'd be the last one who'd mar my little
girls happiness. or yours. but this
] can't do-see her become your wife.
1t wouldn't be fair 10 you; 'twould
pear az If we was taking a advantage
OF you and. blmeby. maybe. both on
you would be sorry II you married
and now-as 1t Is, you Will bless me
some day. You'll forget each other
"Bill, you don't know what you're
saying" David cries. Then there was
profound silence in the room, broken
| by no sound save tbs low stifled sobs
OF Rose against her fathers knee.
Master David, Blls cabin will al.
ways be happier for your comm neal
II. and Rose will always be glad to sef
you. Now. goodby lad. and God bless
you. Leave my little 'un to me. fef
her sorrow Is deep, Master David
"Goodby, Bill"
David respected Bills word too high.
| ly to thwart it-eyen so much az in
| thought. After that evening Rose
ind he spoke of their love as some.
| Thing that made their Hives more Hweet