The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-11-19

raising her head and speaking earnestly
seriously. 'Robin was different from
those about him. He was better-more
noble than they. He was she broke
of in the midst of her words, biushlhs
and confused at her own animation.
"Nay, my child, you need have no
shame" said the marquis. kindly; TINS
young man was, indeed, something more
than those whom one is accustomed 10
meet in that class to which he was allied.
| confess that your preference for hlm
is no mystery TO me, and do not at all
disapprove Of it,"
"Ah, how good you are, monsieur!
uttered the young girl, gratefully as
she pressed his hand to her lips.
1T is no merit to me, Rose, that my
own honest convictions force me to ae-
knowledge his superiority, and the good
sense you have displayed in your choice.
And now," he added, while the old
laughing glance shone in his eyes, Il dare
say you are dying with curiosity to know
how | came into possession Of all this
knowledge"
Indeed sir, it is a matter of curiosity
to me-" she answered, frankly.
what, then, viii you say, il assure
you that Robin himself told to me the
greater part of it all, and that divined
only very little bitch, Rose?' he ask
ed
robin, sir? ah, then you have seen
himw said Rose, with hardly suppressed
JOY.
Il have seen him, my child"
"And lately"
"Quite lately" he returned, pleased and
amused at her innocent betrayal Of de-
light.
MAY | ask when it was monsieur
ut was yesterday; nay-I have seen
him as lately as to-day"
To-day? ah then, he is very near!
she said in subdued yet joyful tone,
and with her eyes bent to the floor, as
| in meditation. Suddenly raising them,
she asked: Where was it, monsieur| z
"Too many questions, Rose" laughed
the marquis-"too many questions.
must keep his whereabouts a matter OF
secrecy for short time"
"Ah, monsieur said Rose. gently, and
with a pretty air of depreciation.
"Indeed, my dear child, it will do you
no harm. Wait till tomorrow, only to-
morrow, and will tell you where he Isl;
nay, more-you shall see him. You VIII
grant me until then?"
Willingly"
''Now you can easily tell how guessed
at the object OF your errand thither to-
night"
"Since Robin told you all about this
she said, with a slight and charming
blush, ''you must have had little difficulty
In divining my purpose, when, at your
questioning this morning, | acknowledged
that it was to say to you something i'm
mediately connected with myself that /
desired to meet you here"
Exactly, Rose" said the marquis,
gaily. well, my darling, we have made
our confessions-have we not! and they
were not such terrible confessions, after
all. Robin, honestly declare to You, |
like. and am proud of. | have invited
him here tomorrow. But, Rose" and he
took her hand in his, ''yon must not ex'
pect to behold the linen blouse and ser
yiceable garments in which you were
probably wont to see him. Robin is no
longer a gardener, and, therefore, you
must anticipate quite an alteration in his
personal appearance"
"How ?--no longer gardener, mon
sieur?' iterated Rose, in some surprise.
"No longer, my child; he was offered
an employment of an entirely different
character, which he Immediately accept
ed; it was much more congenial to his tai
ents and capabilities, as well as to his
tastes and desires. He is fast rising in
the world, Rose" and the good marquis
smiled. "Ah, he will be a great man,
some day! You would scarcely recognize
him now. I'll warrant. Why, child, this
rustic lover of yours is as great gen
tleman as there is in France this day.
The throne itself smiles upon him!'
"He said sO," said Rose, musingly-
"he said so--did he not? that he should
rise to honor and preferments and
wealth? Yet how little imagined that
it would be so sOon.'
"Well, you see, have won my dia-
monds, Rose" he said, laughingly. "You
shall give them to me on your wedding
day. And now, my darling, let us join
our friends. They will be waiting for
us."
And Rose went with him, almost in q
state of bewilderment, knowing that she
had not said half she wished to say, yet
unable to recall it, or to think anything
but this sudden revelation of the mar
quis.