The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-03
ROSES STRATAGEM

Rose Dare was the petted darling OF
a large circle of friends both male and
female, for strange to say, she was
greatly admired by both sexes. She
was not rich, but that did not prevent
many lovers of all sorts and conditions
coming to WOO but to Rose they were
all the same, and she gave them very
little encouragement except a smile at
odd tim s. for which they were evil
IDENTIFY t ankful. But it was not in
tended by her poor but fond parents to
allow her to lose the freshness OF
youth without in some way settling her
future. She was to marry money,
that had been decided long ago She
had rare beauty, and while she main
tanned tAat anything was possible.
This is the last time l shall aid
you in any way to obtain a suitable
husbandH said Mr.. Dare one day,
angrily "All my efforts in the past
have been useless, but you ought not,
i'll fairness to your mother and myself,
to go ON forever like this. cannot
afford to keep you in dress and fal-lals
such as you like much longer, for year
byyeal. as yod know, the value OF our
property is decreasing, and what the
end of it will be heaven only knows
But, dad, I do not want a hus-
band. | do not want to marry yet,
answered Rose, her pretty lips pouting.s
But you have said that for the last
three years. Now, my dear child, do
listen to reason.
But, dad, do not love Harold Rod
ney."
do you love any one else?"
NO
'tThen, my child, love will come;
now do not let this excellent chance
go by. You know how hard your
mother has worked to entertain him,
and what an expense his visit has
been. Now run away, child, and no
more nonsense" Mr.. Dare waved his
hand toward the door with the air OF
a pasha and a look on his face that
forbade further conversation.
Rose wandered out into the sunshine.
her white dress and childish pink sash
looking fresh as the morning itselr.
She sighed she went, nevertheless.
The sun had no charm for her that
day, and, strange to say, her dress gave
her no delight, either, although it was
new, and very pretty one, too, donned
with much pleasure and pride an hour
before:
Il wish I was like Alice in Wonder
land, she thought, so that | could
change my appearance by growing too
big or too small for. my dresses, SO that
I should look a sight, for then perhaps
Mr. Rodney would not propose. That
would serve dad right
A sudden thought seemed to enter
her head at that moment, and, with
a merry twinkle in her eye and mis-
chief lurking in the dimple in her
cheeks, she hurriedly entered the house
again and ascended to her room, from
which she came back half an hour later
looking a different Rose altogether.
''Let him propose now, if he can,
she murmured las he spoke to dad
last night, | suppose he means to do
it to-day"
She smiled satisfied smile as she
turned her head to view the hang of
the back of her skirt Presently from
amid the trees she smelt the perfume
of cigar, and made straight for the
place whence she guessed the aroma
came.
She walked very strangely, too. Per-
haps something hurt her foot, and her
boots looked extremely large for such
small dainty body to wear.
Good morning" she said with
a drawl Doesn't the weather make
one lazy?"
Good morning." answered Harold
Rodney, allowing his eyes to wander
from her head to her heels with wild
est astonishment and pain mingled.
sit is rather warm, he continued, as
he threw his cigar into the hedge and
proceeded to seat himself upon a fallen
tree, looking the picture of healthy,
handsome English gentleman
You are out early. are you not2''
she asked seating herself beside him,
and thrusting into sight boot with
half the buttons undone.
An amused smile rested on his face,
but he did not let her see it. and, in
dead, it was hard not to laugh, for Rose
had on an old gray dress too small for
her. a dirty ribbon tied around her
neck, and another of different color
around her hair. Her hat was green
one which had seen some hard winter
weather, and her boots We're her
mothers.
What in the world does it mean?''
thought Harold, for he had seen her &C
out before in her fresh white gown
and had followed her hoping to speak
of his hearts desire But he could not
find her.
This Rose was not the dainty maid
he had seen there.
.sYes.' he answered; i was restless
and unsettled SO | came here to look
for you
For met" Rose exclaimed, looking
rather frightened. clutching at the
hrim of her hat with hands covered
with white cotton gloves which had,
by the look of them. been used for
fruit packing
Yes" he answered; Il want you to
talk me into better frame OF mind.
l."
1sI can't talk; never do. At least,
am generally considered rather silly at
conversation of any sort.
Indeed. Since when, Miss Rose?"
2 l. sxnrss