St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-09-26
A CURIOUS COURTSHIP.

said, remember tnat l SHAH hui Ie
turn" He made a step toward her
and continued, Have you not word
for me, Rosalie"
81 do not think of anything further
that l wish to say" she responded
coldly.
Harry gazed at her moment and
then rushed from the room.
Gold hearted, selfish girl?' he ex-
claimed.
For a few seconds after his departure
Rosalie retained her Indifferent posi-
ton, but all her senses were alive to
catch his lightest movement Of course
he would return, and when he behaved
properly and asked her pardon and
submissively he should have it. but to
be lectured and scolded in that man
ner was more than she would bear.
In vain did she listen. An hour, then
two, then three hours passed by, and
sick at heart Rosalie went up to her
room and cried herself to sleep.
Rosalie was warm hearted and quick
tempered, but was easily appeased.
She was also passionately fond Of ad-
miration and quite as much bent on
having her own way as was good for
her. These faults, however. did not
prevent the village beaus from being
at her disposal, and hitherto she had
been nearly impartial in her treatment
- hp rim RI
the general homage by fixing upon
one.
But lately there had been a differ
ence in her feelings. She had &C.
knowledged there was charm in Har-
~ Reynolds attentions such as she
had never found in any other. A thrill
new and delicious went through her
when their eyes met, and she read
the admiration which he vainly tried
to repress. Harry had a high ideal
Of womanly excellence which Rosalie
by no means came up to, but in spite
of her frivolities and his own misgiv-
ings they were frequently together and
fast verging toward an explanation
when that destiny which appears to
delight in the annoyance of lovers in
troduced an element Of discord into
their happiness.
Mr.. Clarence Dalton came up from
the city on visit to his uncle. He
was handsome, agreeable, wealthy and
noted for the careful elegance Of his
attire, The girls were enchanted with
him, and Rosalie alone regarded him
with seeming Indifference. She said
to herself with virtuous resolution, she
must be careful now. Harry might be
wounded if she received attentions
from such lion.
Happy for her had this prudent dis
position lasted. But the old spirit
came up after awhile. She was entire
ly accustomed to queening it in her
little world, and her vanity was piqued
that Mr.. Dalton did not at all seem
struck by her charms. 1t was quite a
Christian duty to give Mr.. Dalton a
lesson in good taste. So by few little
feminine lures, such as a pretty girl
well knows how to practice, he was
attracted to her side, and once there
he seemed exceedingly we'll pleased to
stay.
Harry could endure it no longer and
in the interview whose close we have
portrayed determined to put his for
tune to the touch to win or lose it ALL ;
Conscious of her power, indignant
with some justice, that he should as
sumo to dictate her conduct when he
had never openly declared his love- Ro
sale had responded by a series of flip
pant, exasperating little speeches
which drove Harry almost to despair
She intended to relent in time, bu
pride, vanity and certain triumph il
knowing that his whole manly hear
was hers to play with at will wrough
sad mischief.
Rosalie had no doubt that Harr!
would come the next evening as usua
and all could easily be made RICH
again. But the evening came and wen
and no Harry. What could it mean
Surely he loved her, and if so he coulC
not stay away. She would wait pa
tently since it was all that she coult
do.
The next evening Mr.. Dalton called
but Rosalie sent down word that sh
was i'll and asked to be excused. Ye
as night after night went by and HaI
ry did not return her submissive moo
changed. She would show Mr.. Harr
Reynolds that she was not sufferin
from the withdrawal Of his presence
There were other people quite delight
ed to be in her company.
The next time Mr.. Dalton came sh
did not decline to see him, but cam
down and was as friendly and pleasan
as could be desired. The young ma
noticed a more womanly thoughtful
ness in her manner than he had hitf
erto observed and wondered wha
might be the cause.
Poor Harry's state meanwhile wa
far from enviable. For the first 2
hours he maintained a fierce resen
ment. But as the days came and wen
he softened little by little until ever
harsh sentiment had vanished and
determination seized him to seek Re-
sale and try to efface the memory G
his previous sternness.
Toward evening he wended his wa
to her home with the sweetest anticips
tons of reconciliation and affection