The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-09-28
Iowaro evening he wended his way

eyes which speedily cooled down the
fervid tones of his fancy painting. 1t
was Mr. Dalton assisting Rosalie to
dismount from her horse. The exercise
had brought bright flush to her cheek,
and she was fairly dazzling. She per-
ceived Harry in time to bestow on him
very distant bow and then turned.
with added empressmCnt to her com
panion. Harry changed his intentions
ut once walked by the house in the
most leisurely and Indifferent manner
and proceeded to call upon that obnoX-
ious Nellie Kellis, whom Rosalie re.
| garded so supercillously.
| Mr.. Dalton meanwhile found his af-
fairs in n somewhat perplexing state.
Filtration had been since his eleventh
| year the element in which he delight
! ed to exist. Matrimony with its cares
/ and responsibilities was to him the
most distant of prospects and must Of
/ fer extra inducements to make him for
/ sake his freedom. Now, however. he
/ began to feel himself very seriously in
/ tercSted in a person who had not one
claim to fashion, family or fortune-a
| little village girl who wore dresses of
her own fitting and made all the pies
and cakes that appeared on her table.
/ Whether she really cared for him or re.
| garded him as a friend or simply as
an admirer was impossible to say.
Other people We're not slow in draw
ing their conclusions. and before three
weeks were over the village authori-
ties III such cases declared it would be
a match.
Harry could not in his heart deny
the reasonabeness Of their predictions
/ He had the grief of believing that his
wishes, hopes and affections were moth
ing to RosaIie. Yet had he anything
| but his own harshncss to blame for
the change? He was miserable, but his
own act had caused the misery.
Mr.. Dalton had a mother living, a
stately lady Of some forty odd years.
well preserved and Leader OF society.
/ Clarence was her only boy aaI The
| object of great many ambitious
! dreams. The marriage which looted
to her so misty and far away was to
her very near reality. She had So
lected girl Of his rank for q wife.
when, 10, there came a rum0r that
struck her to the heart Could IL be
/ thar Clarence was about to ma-s Il
fool of himself? She wrote d lnj.or
to her son in which sine expressed per-
feet confidence in his discretion and
her assurance that he would do moth
! ing foolish or imprudeGt
Mr.. Clareuce's brow as he read the
maternal efuSion was clouGcd with
| thour.' Whorc jn the raup IF com
mon seuse. could there ne any danger
! in marriage with such q charming
| girl as Rosalic Ames? As for The dan
/ ger of her heart. he wished he were
a little surer Of it. lie felt at that
moment that his own was in q much
| more perilous position than hers
AS Harry walked that afternoon
along the bread road leading from his
house he was attracted by almost in
| articuiate groanS. and looking n few
yards into the distance he saw a sense
less form lying in his path. white a
mad horse dashed furiously down
the road. As he drew nearer he
recognized the dark. tasteful riding
suit which he had seen Dalton wear so
often before. And passing from the
clothing his eyes rested upon the face.
pale as death of the unconscious man.
Good and bad angels tugGed at EIar.
rvs soul for one moment in a mortal
conflict. What call had he to interfere
in mis- behalf? The sneering fop who
had blighted NIL his hopes. Let him
stay there ard die. But IN the next
moment, forgetting all but the welfare
of his fellow being. he Snatchrd off his
| overc0at and raised Dalton's head and
! rested it upon it, Then. with frantic
haste, he summoned aid, and all that
skill and care could do was employed
for the sufferers restoration Harry
hung over him, pale and agonized. the
accusing voice ever ringing in his ears
God forgive mel" he cried. THAT
wicked delay"
At last signs of returning life were
visible, and ere long the physicians as
sured the watchers round that all was
hopeful. Rest and good nursing alone
were needed.
Harry quietly stole away and resum-
ed his walk. Wandering thus. quite
forgetful Of the outer world. he encoun.
tered well known form-Rosalie
stood in his path. her cheeks pallid,
her eyes swollen with weeping She
did not seek to avoid him. but seemed
waiting for bin to speak He took her
hand She did not withdraw it. He
felt that she knew all.
Don't hate me-" he said. ~ de-
serve no credit | almost turned to
leave him. for hatred and jealousy had
possession of me. and if he had died
should have been his murderer. But
it was for you, Rosalie. | loved you
so! For have saved him only to
render certain the destruction of my
own happiness"
Rosalie looked up at him with brim-
ming eyes. II don't see why" she said
softly 81 am sure that nobody wishes
to make you unhappy"
Now, cannot say whether this state.
ment appears particularly lucid, but
Harry was clever enough to under
stand it instantly All the troubles.
trials and misgivings Of the last few
weeks dispersed like mists before the
sun. and content took the place Of
wretchedness in those two reunited
hearts.
Clarence Dalton made a very stylish