The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-09-12

was off very soon. Rosemary, you are
pouring the cream into the sugar BASIN"
Rosemary murmured something vague
ly about the heat and escaped into the
garden, while Mrs. Maitland proceeded to
cnllghten her worthy husband on the sub
Ject, wisely emitting. however, the cpl
sOde of the burnt letters.
We'll, my dear Jim Duncan is a very
nice young fellow" he ventured to say
''and if the child likes him
Really, George you are quite absurd.
W ny, the boy has scarcely enough to
keep himself. Besides, you know, Sir
Jasper Carew is only waiting for little
encouragement to come to the point"
Time passed-time which waits for no
man-and as each day slipped by, and
not word came frOni across the sea.
Rosemary grew more and more hopeless
She was forgotten. And the sprg of
rosemary was doubtless lying unheeded
i'll the fire, or had fiOated away on the
rolling waves
The June sun beat down fercely OIL
the green meadows of Padstow court as
Rosemary walked slowly down the ave
nue. to meet the old pOstman. He gave
her one letter-a thin, foreign letter,
with blurred looking postmark. Had
it come at last? With trembling fingers
she tore it open. There lay. dry and dis
colored. sprig of rosemary. A mute
reproach.
Dear Miss Maitland" the letter ran
My dear old chum Jim Duncan asks me
TO write these few lines, which he can
not write himself. His hours are num-
bered. and, stricken with fever, he has
not long to live. He begs me to enclose
the sprig of rosemary, and to remind
you-though without reprOach-that it
was given for remembrance. He has
never forgotten you. | am, yours sim
cerely. Rupert Moore"
A little gasping sob escaped her lips.
He was ill-dying-dead.
What did he mean by reminding her Of
the rosemary for remembrance!
He had not remembered-and now?
with vacant, aching eyes she looked again
at the little withered sprig and took her
way homeward.
In the hall Mrs Maitland met her,
and, in horror at the sight of the white,
agonized face. she exclaimed:
Rosemary. What is it,"
The girl held out the letter with shak-
ing fingers.
Don't speak to me.' she said, hoarse-
~, can't bear it yet. Mother" with z
wild cry-"mother, my heart is broken
=
1t was Il year later
Time. the great healer. had laid Il
gentle hand on Rosemary wild sorrow,
hushing it to rest, soothing the dull
agony. Still there lay in a little drawer
of her bureau that envelope, with its
sprig of faded rosemary, and the faint
odOr never failed to bring back the old.
sad memories.
Sir Jasper Carew was very tender in
his honest devotion. One day he told her
of his love- very gently, very tenderly, all
the devotion, silent and strong, of years
growth he laid at her feet.
Il have always loved you, dear he
said. lis there no hope for me ut ALL"
Rosemary looked away into the sun
shiny garden regretfully.
Listen to me first before / answer
your question:" she said, softly: Il know
L can trust you, and | should like to tell
you all. There was-some one else-and
he went away. | never heard anything
of him till hast year. when-one day-l
heard from a friend of his-that he was
dying-dead. / thought he had forgotten
me-but-he had not. / loved hinl-and
| can never love in the same way again.
But
She paused, and Jasper took her hands
in his.
Rosemary he said. and his voice
trembled, Rosemary, [ can be content
with very little love, if you will only
let me take care of you. Will you be my
wife,
Rosemary looked at him steadily.
IF you can be content she said soft
ly, 81 will do my best to make you hap
1t was a strange, an almost pathetic,
Wooing, but Jasper Carew felt amply re.
Warded for his years Of faithful devotion
and patient waiting.
1T was September when they were all
at PadstOW court again. The wedding
was to take place in December, and Mrs
Maitland, quite in her clement was very
busy arranging all those hundred and one
details which must attend the marriage
of an only daughter.
Jasper felt that his cup of, happiness
was full to the brim as he and Rosemary
sauntered slowly homeward one glorious
evening.
Passing along a green lane they heard
footsteps behind them, and voice at
their side said, courteOusly:
Could you kindly tell me the nearest
way to PadstOw court?'
They turned and faced the speaker
back, pale to the very lips, while he
started forward with a cry:
"Rosemary"'
"Jim.'
With all the deadly rapidity of a flash
Of lightning Jasper Carew realized what
had happened, and he saw at once THAT
all his dreams of future happiness were
at an end. He turned away for a, mo-
ment for at first the sight Of his CALAIS!
his no longer) Rosemary lying sobbing
IN .llm's arms was too much for him to
witness. till at last Rosemardy remem-
bered all, and she turned pleadingly to
Jasper.
Jasper" she pleaded, Jasper, forgive
me--forgive me-"
Dear" he said, hoarsely. Il see it all.
And now"-he turned to Jim and held
he said. you see, l know who you are