Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-10-20

Other people were not slow in draw.
Ing their conclusions, and before three
weeks were over the village authorl.
ties in such cases declared it would be
n match.
Harry could not in his heart deny
the reaSOnablcneSs of their predictions.
He had the grief of believing that his
wishes, hopes and affections were moth.
Ing to RoSalic. Yet had he anything
but his own harshness to blame foI
the change? He was miserable, but his
own act had caused the misery.
Mr. Dalton had a mother living, q
stately lady of some forty odd years,
well preserved and leader of society.
Clarence was her only boy and the
object of great many ambitious
dreams. The marriage which looked
to her so misty and far away was to
her very near reality. She had Sc.
lected Il girl of his rank for a wife,
when, 10, there came q rumor that
struck her to the heart. Could it be
that Clarence was about to make q
fool of himself? She wrote a letter
to her son in which she expressed per.
feet confidence in his discretion and
her assurance that he would do moth.
ing foolish or mprudent
Mr.. Clarences brow as ne read the
maternal effusion was clouded with
thought. Where, in the name Of com.
mon sense, could there be any danger
in marriage with such a charming
girl as ROsalic Ames? AS for the dan.
ger of her heart, he wished he were
little surer of it. He felt at that
moment that his own was in a much
more pcrilous position than hers
AS Harry walked that afternoon
along the broad road leading from his
house he was attracted by almost in.
articulate groans, and looking a few
yards into the distance he saw a sense.
less form lying in his path while a
mad horse dashed furiously down
the road. AS he drew nearer be
recognized the dark, tasteful riding
suit which he had seen Dalton wear SC
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 Har.
rvs soul for one moment in a mortal
conflict. What call had he to interfere
In his behalf! The sneering fop who
had blighted all his hopes! 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 Daltons 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 me!' 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-
Ell his walk. Wandering thus, quite
forgetful of the outer world, he encoun.
tered Il we'll known form-Rosalie
stood in his path, her checks pallid,
her eyes swollen with weeping. She
did not seek to avoid him, but seemed
waiting for him to speak. He took her
hand. She did not withdraw it. He
felt that she knew ALL
Don't hate me-" he said. 81 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. 81 don't see why" she said
softly. Il 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
wrctchcdness in those two reunited
hearts
Clarence Dalton made a very stylish
best man at the wedding of his preserv-
er. and. Judging from his devoted man.
ncr to the maid of honor, he did not
suffer irremediably from his loss. As
for his mother, she blesses to this day
the friendly accident that saved her
darling from so terrible a misaliance.