The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1901-09-12

know, Sir Jasper Carew is only wait
ing for a little encouragement to come
to the point"
Time passed-time which waits for
no man-and as each day slipped by,
and not a word came from across the
sea, Rosemary grew more and more
hopeless. She was forgotten And the
sprig Of rosemary was doubtless lying
unheeded in the fire, or had doated
away in the rolling waves,
The June sun beat down flercely on
the green meadows Of Padstow court
as Rosemary walked slowly down the
avenue to meet the postman. He gave
her one leter-a thin, foreign letter,
with a blurred-looking postmark Hay
1t come at last? With trembling ~
gers she tore it open. There lay
and discolored, a sprig Of rosemA. 4. A
mute reproach.
Dear Miss Maitland" the letter
ran-"My dear old chum Jim Duncan
asks me to write these few lines, which
he cannot write himself. His hours
are numbered, and, stricken with fever,
he has not long % live. He begs to
enclose the sprig Of rosemary, and to
remind you-though without reproach
that 1t was given for remembrance.
He has never forgotten you. / am,
yours sincerely, 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 spring ana
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
shaking fingers,
Don't speak to mel" she said,
hoarsely. 81 can't bear 1t yet Moth
er"-with a wild cry-"mother, my
heart is broken"
1t was a year later.
Time, the great healer. had laid a
gentle hand on Rosemary's wild sor-
row, hushing it to rest, soothing the
dull agony. STILL there lay in a little
drawer Of her bureau that euvelop,
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.
81 have always loved you, dear" he
said, "Is there no hope for me at all?"
Rosemary looked away into the sun.
shiny garden regretfully.
Listen to me first before answer
your question" she said softly; 81
know can trust you, and should like
to tell you all There was--some one
alse-and he went away. never heard
anything of him till last year, when
one day. heard from a friend of
lis-that he was dying--dead.
.hought he had forgotten me-bht-he
lad not, loved him-and l can never
owe 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 a very little love, If you will only
let me take care of you. Will you be
my wife?"
Rosemary looked at him stea lily.
IF you can be content" she said
softly, 81 will do my best to make you
happy" W.
1t was strange, an almost pathetic,
wooing, but Jasjer Carew felt amply
rewarded for his years of faithful de-
votion and patient waiting. %
1t was September when they were
all at Padstow Court again. The we'd
ding was to take place in December,
and Mrs. Maitland, quite in her ele-
ment, was very busy arranging all
those hundred cad one details which
must attend tAe marriage Of an only
daughter.
Jasper felt that his cup Of happiness
was full to the brim as he and Rose
mary sauntered slowly homeward one
glorious evening.
Passing along a green lane they
heard footsteps behind them, and a
voice at their side said, courteously:
Gould you kindly tell me the near
EST way to Paistow Court?"
They turned and faced the speaker.
At the sight of him Rosemary stag
yered back. pale to the very lips.
while he started forward with a cry:
Rosemary"
"Jimm
With all the deadly rapidity Of a
lash of lightning Jasper Carew real
zed what had happened, and he saw at
'nce that all his dreams of futurehap.