The age-herald., 1900-02-25

IT Eupon her frivolities and were quite delighted to be In her company.
 l The next time Mir. Dalton came she did not decline to see him, but came down, and I was as friendly and pleasant as could be desired. The young noticed a more 1 womanly thoughtfulness in her manner than he had hitherto observed, and wonder ed what might be the cause
 1 Poor Harrys state meanwhile, was far from enviable For the first twenty-four hours he maintained fierce resentment. II But as the days came and went he softened I little by little until every harsh sentiment I had vanished and a determination seized him to seek Rosalie and try to efface the memory of his previous sternness.
 Toward evening he wended his way to her home with the sweetest anticipations of reconciliation and affection. With every step she seemed to grow lovelier and dear CT than before. But as he neared the gate a sight met his eyes which speedily cooled down the fervid tones of his fancy-painting. It was MT. Dalton assisting Rosalie to dis i mount from her horse. The exercise had | brought a bright flush to her cheek and she fairly dazzling. She perceived Har- ry in time to bestow him a very distant l bow and then turned, with added empresse- l ment, to her compHnon Harry changed | his intentions at once, walked by the house in the most leisurely and indifferent man. ner, and proceeded to call upon that obnox- ious Nellie Kellis, whom Rosalie regarded so supereilously.
 MT. Dalton, meanwhile, found his affairs in somewhat perplexing state Filtration had been since his eleventh year the ee- unent in which he delighted to exist. Ma trmony with its cares and responsibilities was ito him the most distant of prospects, and must offer extra Inducements to make him forsake his freedom. Now, however, 1nJe began to feel himself very seriously in- terested in person who had not one claim to fashion, family or forune-a ldttle village girl who wore dresses of her own fitting and made all tine pies and cakes that aI'- peared her table, Whether she really cared for him GIT regarded him as la friend or simply as an admirer was impossible to say.
 Other people were not as slow In draw dng their conclusions, and before three weeks were over the village authorities in
 such cases declared that it would be match.
 1 Harry could not in his heart, deny the reasonableness of their predictions. He had the grief of believing that his wishes, hopes and affections were nothing to Rosahe. Aet had he anything but his own harshness to blame for the change? He was miserable, but his own act had caused the misery.
 MT. Dalton had mother living, stately lady of some forty-odd years, well-preserv-
 ed and a leader of society. Clarence was
 her only boy and the object of a great many ambitious. dreams. The marriage which looked to him misty and far away
 was to her very near reality. She had selected girl of his rank for wife, when, To! there came 0 rumor that struck her to
 the heart. Could it be that Clarence was about to make a fool of himself She wrote a letter to her son in which she expressed perfect confidence in his discretion and her assurance that he would do nothing foolish | imprudent.
 | Mr. Clarence's brow as he read the ma I terial effusion was clouded with thought Where in the name of common sense could l there be any danger in a marriage with 1 such a charming girl Rosalie Ames? l AS to the danger of her heart, he wished | he were a little surer of it. He felt at ! that moment that his own was in a much | more perilous position than hers.
 | As Harry walked that afternoon along | the broad road leading from his home he attracted by almost inarticulate 1 groans, and looking a few yards into the distance he saw a senseless form lying in ms path while mad horse dashed furi- ousy down the road As he drew nearer
 he thoroughly recognized the dark, taste- ! full riding suit which he had seen Dalton
 wear so often before. And passing from , the clothing his eyes rested the face, pale as death, of tine unconscious man. Good and bad angels tugged at Harry S | soul for one moment in mortal conflict. , What call had he to interfere In hfs. behalf. The sneering flop who had blighted all his hopesi Let him stay there and die. But in the next moment, forgetting all but the
 welfare of his fellow-being, he snatched
 off his overcoat, and raised Daftons 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 pale and agonized the accusing voice ever
 ringing in his ears. God forgive me-" he cried, "that wicked delayp'
 Alt last signs of returning dife were wis., tbe. and long the physicians assured
 the watchers around that all was hopeful Rest and good nursing alone were needed
 At this Harry quietly stole away and re- sumed his walk Wandering thus, quite forgetful of the outer world, he encoun- : tered a well-known form-Rosalie stood ir his path with her cheeks palld her eyes swollen with weeping She did not seek te avoid him as she had often done Of late but seemed waiting for him to speak He took fer hand-she did not withdraw it He felt that she knew all.
 Don't hate me-" he said. q deserve nc
 credit. almost turned to leave him foI , hatred, and jealousy had possession of me, and, IS he had died, I should have } been his murderer. But 1t was you Rosa lie. loved you so! For have saved him only to render certain tg1e destruction of } my own happiness"
 t Rosalie looked up at him with brimming
 eyes 'I don't see why" she said, softly ! "I ann sure that nobody wishes to make you unhappy"
 : Now, cannot say whether this statement appears to you particularly lucid, but Harry | WNS cieFeT enough 10 unuerSuanu IL 1nStant- | ly. All the troubles trials and misgivings of the last few weeks dispersed like mists before lthe sun and content took the place of wretchedness in those two reunited !, | hearts.
 Clarence Dalton made very stylish best | man at the wedding of his preserver and | judging from his devoted manner to the
 maid of honor, I pronounce that he did
 not suffer irremediably from his loss. As
 for d1is mother, believe she blesses to this
 day tine friendly accident that saved her
 darling from So terrible misalliance.