Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-02

be said, For the sake of Jessie you Win
love my bride. | am sure"
This party was followed by many
more, and ere | was aware of il. Mys.
Richard Delafeld was quite a belle
what she said. what she did. and what
she wore being pronounced au fait by
the fashionables Of Chester Upon all
this Ada looked jeaSlously. never allow
ing an opportunity to pass without speak
ing sGghtingly of me. though always care
ful that Richard should not know Of it
In his presence she was vastly kind. sit
ting at my feet, calling me ''aunty," and
treating me as if | had been twenty
years her senior
Toward the middle of August, Invita-
tions came for US TO attend a large we'd
ding in Charleston. was exceedingly
anxious to go, having heard much of the
bride, who was a distant relative of my
husband, and though both he and Mrs.
Lansing raised every conceivable objec-
ton to my leaving home. / adroitly put
aside all their arguments. and ere Rich
ard fully realized that he had been coax
ed into doing something be had fully de-
termined not to do, we were rafting
along in dusty Charleston omnibus to-
ward one of the largest hotels, where
rooms had been engaged for US. The
morning after our arrival, | went into
the public parlor, and as l seated my
self at the piano | saw Just across the
room, near an open widow, a quiet
intelligent looking lady, apparently TWEEN
ty-six or twenty-seven ye,irs of age, and
nea, her. sporting upon The carpet, was
. beautiful little girl, with flowing curls
and s9ft, Ozark eyes, which instantly riv-
eted my attention. they were so like
something | had seen BEFORE.
At tie sound of the music she came to
my side. listened attentively, and when
| had finished, she laid one white, club
By hand on my lap and the other on the
keys, saying, Please play again; Rosa
like to hear you"
And so your name is Rosa?" I an
swered; Rosa what?"
Rosa Lee Clayton. and that's my new
ma" she replied, pointing toward the
lady, whose usually pale cheek was for
an instant suffused with a blush sdch
as brides only wear.
knew now why l had felt interested
m the child. 1t was the father whom
saw looking at me through the eyes of
brown, and taking the little creature in
my arms, | was about to question her
of her sire, when an increasing glow on
the lady's cheek and footstep in the
hall told me he was coming.
The next moment he stood before me
DR.. Clayton-his face perfectly unruf-
fed and wearing an expression of con
tent, at least, If not perfect happiness.
l was conscious of a faintness stealing
over me, but by a strong effort l shook
it off, and rising to my feet, l offered
him my hand. which he pressed, saying,
This is indeed a surprise, Rosa-I beg
your pardon, Mrs. Delafield, | suppose 2"
| nodded in the affirmative. and was
about to say something more, when an
other footstep approached. and my hus-
bands tall figure darkeDed the doorway.
For an instant they both turned pale,
and DR.. Clayton grasped the piano nerv-
ously; but the shock soon passed away,
and then as friend meets friend after a
brief separation. met these two men.
who but the year before had watched
together over my pillow. praying the
one that might live, and the other that
l might die.
The feryid heat of summer has passed,
and the hazy Eight wlEch betokens the
fall of the leaf has come. On the north
ern hills, they say, the November SHOWS
have already fallen, but we are still bask-
ing in the soft sunlight Of a most glorious
autumn; and as | write. the south wind
comes in through the aI'en window, whis-
pering TO me of the fading flowers, whose
perfume it gathered as it hoated along.
Just opposite me, in willow chair, with
her head buried in a towering turban of
royal purple. sits Juno. a middle-aged
woman, nodding to the breeze, which oc-
casionally brushes past her so fast that
she laZily opens her eyes, and with her
long-heeled foot gives a jog to the rose
wood crib wherein lies little tiny thing
which was left here FIVE weeks ago to-
day. oh, how odd and funny it seemed
when Richard first laid on my arm lit
tie bundle of cambria and lace, and whis-
pered in my ear, Would you like to see
our baby?''
Jessie was she baptized, Mrs. Lam
sings tears falling like rain on the face
of the unconscious child, which she fold
ed to her bosom as tenderly as if it had
indeed been her own lost Jessie come
back to her again. Upon Ada the ARRIVAL
of the stranger produced novel effect,
overwhelming her with such a load of
modesty that she kept out of Richards
way nearly two weeks, and never once
came to see me until | was sitting up in
my merino morning gown. which she had
embroidered for me herself. Ada has
very nice sense of propriety.
There is a rusaing in the crib--the
baby is waking, and at my request Juno
brings her to me, saying as she lays her
on my lap. "She's the berry pictur' of
t'other jessie" and as her soft blue eyes
unclose and my hand rests on her curly
hair. which begins TO look golden in the
sunlI.ht, i. too, think the same, and
with throbbing heart | pray the Father
to save her from the early death which
came to our lost darling, Jessie. the
Angel of The Pines"