The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-09-24

"And / am very glad that happened
to be near" he returned, with a frank
smile, ito chastise the insolent fellow.
Why, he was oyer-bold, Rose! Who is
heY"
"A worthless cousin of mine, mon
sieur," replied Rose, "who has under
taken to annoy me occasionally Of late.
| hope his well-deserved punishment will
teach him better manners for the fu-
ture."
II hope SO; but 1t will be best to be-
ware Of him now. You must keep, as
much as possible, out Of his way"
"That | have always done, monsieur.
But he has never been so daring before"
81 think heard him mention me, Rose.
What did he sayr asked the young
count.
Rose Lamonte blushed slightly, az she
replied.
HE said that you should never come
to the cottage again."
"Ah, yes; heard 1t; remember now.
And he knew Of my visit by the foot
prints? He must have been watching
me closely. Yet, where could he have
seen me? l only completed the journey
from Lyons last night"
The good marquis was standing on the
terrace steps as they went up.
"Good morning, my child" he said,
kindly to Rose. "0ut SO early with your
roses"
She smiled.
"Yes, monsieur; and they are very fine
ones. Seep'
"Yes, indeed. And you have brought
a rare supply of them. But, after all,
you will carry back more than you bring.
Your walk has done you good, ! see;"
and he smilingly stroked her damask
cheek, to which the exercise, and little
excitement together, had indeed brought
the sweetest of roses.
Coloring still more deeply, our heroine,
with laughing eyes, ran up the steps, and
disappeared within the entrance OF the
chateau.
The young count related to his uncle
the incident which had occurred during
his mornings ramble. The good marquis
listened with interested attention, and
strongly evinced sympathy.
1.-THE rascalw he said, Indignantly, as
he heard of Gasparde's rudeness. 81 am
glad you gave him a suitable correction.
That fellow marry Rose!'
1T is to be supposed that her father
will resent his insolence."
20, neutrality-suspicious. Louis.
He is stern man, that Hugh Lamonte,
and will teach Gasparde his business af-
ter this. He is a strange, stern man. ST
lent and reserved, and almost a hermit,
as one might say. He seldom leaves
home; works in his little garden, and tills
the thrifty patch Of soil adjoining it from
morning till night, or cuts in the forest
the wood which is to serve for his win
ter's fuel, and often a load to carry to
the town on market days, with the pro-
duce from his land, as may not be reQuir-
ed for his own use. He has, think, no
enemies; yet he seems disinclined to court
the friendship of any, though the few
neighbors about him, among the farm
houses, are kindly disposed toward him,
and every one of them loves little Rose.
He is apart from them-a distant charac-
ter"
"And a peculiar one, from your descrip-
tion."
Precisely. He lives a peasants life,
and wears peasants garb, and yet he
can assume-ay, and he does, at times,
the bearing of a very king. The humility
of his position Is belied by the spirit and
demeanor of the man. He is uncommuni-
cative, distant, almost naughty, toward
all others to his child, he is the tender
est, most affectionate of parents"
"You interest me, uncle. How long
have you known this MANI"
"He came into the neighborhood some
twelve or thirteen years ago, and settled
in the place where he dwels at present,
remote from every other habitation. His
wife, it is supposed, or has been gather
ed from some remarks made by him or
Rose, was dead. Rose herself was then
a little creature Of, perhaps, three or four
years. A peasant he may be by birth.
but ! cannot treat him like one. | con-
fess, he perplexes me-"
81 do not marvel at it. What a mys-
terry the man must be! have the great
est curiosity to behold him."
THAT you will doubtless do, sooner or
lateR, though it will be with difficulty,
think, that you will obtain communica-
ton with him. But here comes our Rose
of the wilderness"
And, as he spoke, the young girl ap-
peared at the door.
Uncle" said Louis, Il must go back
with her, to see her safely to the end OF
her way. She may meet that insOlent
fellow again"
"You are right, my dear boy-you are
right" returned the marquis.
Louis could not help observing how
much more beautiful, II possible looked
Rose this morning, than when be had
first seen her, although, even then. 1t was
as IL he had suddenly come upon some
lovely picture touched with the warmest
cooring and most perfect grace Of the
painters art
How pretty she is!' thought the count:
"and she is only sixteen"
And it was not her face alone that
was AhuS ShatinluBt rs ue SnOTliy Iouuut
nor the innate grace Of her manner; for
Rose Lamonte possessed quick and deli
cate perceptions, a refined love Of the
beautiful, and a mind cultivated to a de-
gree extremely unusual in one Of her sta
tion, yet scarcely surprising in her. For
both her father and Mademoiselle Mon
tauban had taken pains to improve a nat
urally fine intellect, that expanded daily
with the care bestowed upon 1t; and
Louis was more deeply gratifed than he
could express, on recognizing this mental
worth, combined. as 1t was, with such
physical perfection.
A brief walk Il was from the chateau to
the cottage. So. at least, It seemed to
the count. Hs smiled as they reached
the door.
How sooF we are hereT he said. 81
think the distance must have been esti-
mated incorrectly. think we have been
hardly halr an hour In coming. Is your
father at zone, RoseT'
He wW not there. Louis did not 60
in, but st,Od an instant by the door and
looked about him.
What pleasant little place this isl''
said he. Rose, should like to take q
sketch cf il, some day. with you sitting
fu1F 49, =. l.. = l.