The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-09

[Conlinued from last Saturday. |
By SYLVANUS COBB. Jr.

and she could only be happy when
she knew that she was truly loved.
She liked respect, but she spurned
that respect which only aims at out
ward show, while the heart may be
reeking with vilest sensualism.
Rosalind sat there in the apart
ment which was hers for her own
private use, and she was sad and
thoughtful. One fair hand support
ed her pure brow, while with the
other she twisted the ends of the
silken sash that confined her heavy
robe. Thus she sat when the door
of her apartment was opened and a
young girl entered. This newcomer
was small, fair creature, bright
and quick, with that raven hair and
those large dark eyes of dreamy
light which bespeak the child of
Moslem blood. Her name was Zeno-
bic, and she was now about 16 years
OF age. Rosalind's father had pick
ed her up on the battlefield from.
which the Turks had fled, and, being
unable to find any claimant, he had
brought her home, then almost an
infant. And now she was Rosa
lind's attendant and companion.
She loved her kind and gentle mis-
tress and would have laid down life
itself in the service.
"How now, Zenobie?" asked Rosa
lind as she notice the girl hesitate.
''There is gentleman below who
would see you," the girl replied.
"Tell him cannot see him, said
Rosalind, trembling.
"But this is Ruric Newell, my mis-
tress."
"Ruric!~ uttered the fair maid
EN-, starting up, while the rich blood
mounted to her brow and temples.
"Oh, am glad he has comet NY
prayers are surely answered. Lead
him hither, Zenobie."
The girl departed, and ere long
afterward Ruric entered the apart
ment. He walked quickly to where
Rosalind had arisen to her feet, and,
taking one of her hands in both his
own, he pressed it to his lips. He
had had well formed speech upon
his lips when he entered the room,
but twas gone now. He could only
gaze into the lovely face before him
and murmur the name that sounded
so sweetly to his ears. But the emo
tons of his soul became calm at
length, and then he spoke with more
freedom
lady" he said after he had TAX
en- his seat, "you will pardon me for
this visit when you know its cause,
and you will pardon me, too, if
speak plainly what have to speak"
Surely, sir
"Oh, call me Ruric. Let us at
least not forget the friendship of
childhood"
"Then | am not lady," said Ros-
alind, smiling.
''No, Rosalind."
"Ah, Ruricl"
Gas we were in childhood" whis-
pered the youth.
"In all but years." returned Rosa
lind in the same low tone.
"And ] may wear the same i'm
age in my heart ?"
81 cannot cast it from mine if /
would"
"The image of childhood, dear
Rosalind?"
"Aye, save that it has grown to
manhood, dear Ruric."
What more could he ask for love?
He had not aimed at this confession
so soon, but he put it not from him
now. He gazed moment into the
fair maiden's kindling eye, and as
he saw the lovelit tear gathering
there and the happy smile working
its way about the rosy lips and
away in the joyous dimples he
opened his arms and clasped the
fondly loved one to his bosom.
"Oh, / am not deceived in this 7"
he murmured. "Speak, dearest one"
II cannot forget the love of the
happy times agone," the noble girl
replied, gazing up through her hap
Ply tears. ooh, how many and many
an hour have / prayed to God that
those days might return and that
the one true heart of earth l loved
might be mine once more. Ruric,
why should / hide the truth or WHY
set it aside? To me thou art all in
all. / have no one else to love and
none to love me else save the noble
girl who brought you hither. I can
tell you no more"
Happy Ruricl Happy at that mo-
ment, forgetting all else but the
love that cleaned out upon him
then, he clasped the cherished OBJ
ject ardently to his bosom.
But the moments flew on, and at
length his mind came to the sub
ject of his visit.
tpoool,rJ L. ~ IL.