Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-06
l. (. Meadow Brook
MARY j. HOLMES
tSssRy Bash FARM
MARY j. HOLMES
CHAPTER xvIll.-toontlnued.)
(SsRRy Bash Farm)

At last his mind was fully made up TO
talk with her upon the subject when
an unexpected arrival blasted his hopes
at once, and darkened the glimmering
sunlight which was dawning upon his
horizon. 1t was dark rainy night, to-
ward the last Of April that sat with
the family In the pleasant little sitting
room. As usual, Mr.. Dela6eld was with
us, and this evening he was reading
cloud from Longfellow's wonderful poem.
He was just In the midst Of Hiawatha's
wooing when a heavy tread upon the
piazza and loud ringing Of the bell
startled us, for II was not often that we
were favored with visitors on such a
digit as this. Zillah, the colored girl
hastened to the door, where she found
stranger, who, stepping into the hall, ask
al IF Miss Rosa Ice lived there"
Starting from my chair, ] turned very
white, for l recognized the voice of DIR.
Clayton, who the next moment stood be-
fore me. forgot the past--forgot that
he had been my lover, forgot that Rich
ard Delafelds eyes were upon me, forgot
everything except that he had come from
dear New England, had breathed the air
of my native hills had heard the sound
me undoubtedly tidings of that mothers
welfare. Sprlnging forward with Il cry
OF JOY | took his extended hand nor
yhrunk away when, with unwonted ten
berness, he stopped to kiss my lips, whis
pering low as he did So Dear Rosa"
Then, indeed, blushed, for | knew
he had no right to call me thus; but the
next moment 1t was forgotten, and with
something of pride In my manner, pre-
sented him to Mrs. Lansing and Mr..
Delafield, the latter Of whom greeted him
rather coldly, and after few words of
common courtesy, bade us goodnight, but
not until he had learned what until that
moment was news to me, viz, that Dell
Clayton had been dead nearly six months.
AS he passed me on his way out, he said
20 low that no one else could hear him.
Fare thee we'll oh, Laughing Water"
referring to the line he had last read.
There was a deep scowl upon his dark
face, and az l gazed upon him, l could
aot help wondering if it were thus the
old man looked when from his lonely
wigwam door he watched the departing
footsteps of his daughter.
Come again tomorrow, Uncle Dick"
said little Jessie, following him into the
hall; but, he made her no answer save
his accustomed goodbye kiss and soon
heard his heavy tread as he strobe down
the winding walk and out Into the open
field. H..
Yes, Mr.. Delafeld was Jealous, terri
bly, jealous Of DR.. Clayton, the nature
OF whose business he readily OWNED,
though did not, and nothing was furth-
er from my mind than the thought that
he intended honoring me with chance
Of becoming Mrs. Clayton second. And
yet 1t was this alone which had brought
him to Georgia, he taking the precaution
to send on In advance a letter, In which
he had made known his wishes, and ask
ed for return Of the affection which.
for five long years, he said, had never
known one moment of abatement, even
though another had slept upon his bosom
as his wife, But she was gone, and In
her place, he would see blooming, he
said, the Rosa he had loved so long. Ow-
ing to some detention this letter had
failed to reach me, hence l was wholly
unprepared for the scene which follow
ed when at last we were left alone. /
war talking to him of Anna, and from
speaking OF her and poor Herbert's
death, II was an easy transition to Dell.
OF whom he spoke kindly, nay, even of
fectionately, as he told me of her last
days; how much she suffered, and how
gentle she became, never Gliding him In
the least for thing unskillfully done,
but seeming satisfied with everything,
and loving him at last with a love which,
had 1t been earlier born, would have shed
happiness over his comparatively cheer
less life. Then he told me of the little
child, not yet three years old, whom he
had called Rosa Lee" and gently push
Ing back my c,srls, and gazing down INTO
my face. he said, at is,a fancy of mine,
IKE, you, who should have been her
mother"
With all my stupidity, l understood
him then. and blushing crimson, / moved
away to the end Of the sofa while he
continued, What did you think of my
letter. You received 1t, l suppose 2"
had received no letter, and SO said
whereupon he proceeded to tell me It's
contents, part Of which the reader al.
ready = knows, Utterly COMPOUNDED and
poweriessI TO move, 4 sat hiotioniess
while with his arm round me, he went
qyar the past, recalling to my mind the
time when first he had found me weeping
Ia the sombsr old school room, away tC
the horthward the night when, with the
soft moonbeams falling around, us, we sa,
together beneath the tall oak tree, Will,
! laid before him my childish griefs; and
lastly, the many pleasant hours we had
whiled away together, listening to tn,
sound of the running brook, which rar
past the twining grape vine, whose broat
leaves had rustled sbove our heads.
"Dn these occasions, Rosa" said he
ibid nothing ever tell you how much 70,
were belovedT
Yes l answered, bitterly. my WON
ans nature rousing up as remembered
the times to which he referred. ayes
and what did it avail me, even though
l was beloved2 Ambition proved thu
stronger attraction, Of the two, and We,
welded another. You. who, now lha
other was gone, would talk again TO m,
of love; but Rosa Lee u no longer {
child to be deceived, and you mistake he,
strangely If you fancy you can cast hel
of and take her up agaiS at will"
And then again he told me how much
had been loved; how he had striven Ia