Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-20
view the sunny face and soft blue eyes
Of Jessie, "the Angel Of The Pines
CHApTnR XXI

| Oh His beTNbulSs huu us ut Ine emu Oh
that time the disease had wholly disap-
peared, he returned to Cedar Grove, &C.
companied by his sister and Ada, who
had learned by sad experience that the
dangers from which we fec are often
times less than those to which we CO.
They found Rosa better, but still quito
low, and as the fever had not entirely
left her, neither Mrs. Lansing nor Ada
ventured near her room, but shut them
selves Ia their own apartment.
Over d.. Clayton = change had come.
The hopeful, happy expression Of his face
was gone, and in its place was look
Of uttsr hopelsssness which at frat rous-
ed Richards fears lest Rosa should be
worse, and In much alarm he asked II 1t
were 20.
mo, no." answered the doctor, while
a shadow Of pain passed over his hand
some features; "she will live"
Then hurrying to the window, he look
ed out to hide his tears from him whom
he knew to be his rival, and who, now
that he was unobserved, bent over the
sleeping Rosa, kissing her wasted cheek
and mourning for her as he thought how
she would weep when she learned the
fate of her favorite. oh, could he have
known the whole how passiouately would
he have clasped her to his bosom and
held her there as his own, his darling
Rosa! But it was not yet to be, and
he must bde his time.
She had seemed greatly releIed at his
absence, and on the second day after his
departure, she called DIR. Clayton to her
side, fancying him to be her brother
Charlie. Taking his hand in hers, she
| told him the whole story of her trials;
how she had tried to bring back the old
affection of her childhood, but could not
because Of the love she had for Richard
Delafeld.
"Oh, Charlie" she exclaimed, "he
would forgive me, ! know, if he knew
how much l suffered during those terri
BILE days, when | thought of giving my
hand without my heart. The very idea
set my brain on fire, and my head has
ached, OH 80 hard, since them but it's
over now, for | conquered at last, and on
the night before the wedding l resolved
to tell him l could not and would not
| marry him. But a dark cloud, which
seemed like the rushing of mighty vat
ers, came over me, and l don't know
where | am, nor what has happened, only
| he has been here, hanging like a shadow
| over my pillow, where sat another shad-
ow tenfold blacker, which he said was
Death; but grim and hideous as it was,
| preferred it to a life with him, when
my whole soul was given to another.
When | am dead, Charlie, you must tell
him how it was, and ask him to forgive
and think with pity of poor little Rosa,
| who would have loved him if she could.
But not a word of this to Mr.. Delafeld,
Charlie; never let him know how | loved
him. My affection is not returned, and
he would despise me-would never visit
my grave or think with pity of one who
died so far away from home"
Then followed message for the loved
ones of Sunny Bank; but this Dr. Clay
ton did not hear Perfectly paralyzed,
he had listened to her story until his
reason seemed in danger of leaving him,
and long ere she had finished he knew
he must give her up, but not to death.
Laying his head upon the pillow beside
that of Rosa, who, weared with her
story, had fallen asleep, he wept as he
had never wept before, not even when
he saw creeping over her the shadow
of death. Turn which way he would,
there was naught before him save the
darkness of despair; and as wave after
| wave broke, over him, his mind went
| backward to the time when she might
have been his-when he could have gath
cred her to his bosom-and in piteous &C
cents he cried aloud MY punishment is
greater than | can bear"
But as the fercest storm soonest OK
ponds it's fury, so he ere long grew calm
and capable of sober, serious thought.
Rosa Lee was very dear to him, and to
have possessed her love he would have
given almost everything; but as that
could not be, ought he to stand in the
way of her happiness? He knew she
was deceived, for he remembered many
things he had seen in Mr.. Delatield,
which, though he had not thought of it
then, convinced him now that her affec-
ton was reciprocated and should he not
tell her so, and at the same time dis
close to Richard the true state of af-
fairs? Rosa's quiet, unobtrusive and
rather reserved manned had misled Rich
ard, no doubt, or he would long ere this
have declared his love.
Eyes, God helping me, will do right"
he said aloud, clasping his hands oyer
his feverish brow. II will watch by
her until his return, and then committing
her to his care, | will leave her forever
Never did tender brother watch more
carefully over darling sister than did
he over her during the few days which
elapsed ere Mr.. Delafeld's return He
was alone with her when he came. end
with comparative calmness he greeted
his rival, who was surprised at the
change in his looks.
That night, in the solitude of his cham
Der, the doctor penned two letters, one
for Rosa and the other for Richard. In
substance, the contents of each were
much the same, for he told them all he
, had heard from Rosa, and how though
it broke his heart to do SO, he had given
her up. Deal very, very gently with
her." he wrote to Mr.. Delafeld, "for
, never was there purer gentler being
or one more worthy of your love than
she. Then take her, and when your cup
is overlooking with happiness, think
sometimes of one who henceforth will be
a lonely, wretched man."
: The letters being written, he put them
away until such time as he should meet
them. Once he thought to talk with