Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-26


wrong, and Charles first question after
telling me what he did. was to inquire
into the existing state of affairs bet 1een
me and the doctor. and if it were my
illness alone which had deferred the
marriage.
Don't ask me now" / replied, mot
until we are far from here, and then l
win tell you ALL"
This silenced Charlie. and once when
Mr.. Delafeld questioned him concerning
DR.. Clayton, and why he, too, did rot
come for me, he replied evasiyely, but in
a manner calculated still further to mis-
lead Mr.. Delaield. who had no suspicion
Of the truth. though he fancied there
was something wrong. One day Charlie,
with his usual abruptness. said to me,
Rosa. why didn't you fall in love with
Mr.. Delaheld? l should much rather
have him than a widowerY'
The hot blood rushed to my cheeks as
replied quickly, HE is engaged to Miss
Montrose. They were to have been mar
ried this fall, Mrs. Lansing said. but
the marriage is. l presume, deferred on
account of their recent affection. At
least, hear nothing said of it"
IF | am any judge of human nature"
returned Charlie, 'Mr. Delafeld cares
far more for you than for Miss Mon
trose, even if they are engaged. But
then you are poor, while she is rich, and
that. l suppose, makes the difference"
l knew Mr.. Delafield too we'll to sus-
pect him of mercenary motives in marry
, ing Ada, and so l said, He loved her,
OF course, and it was natural that he
should. for though she had some faults,
he probably saw in her enough good TO
overbalance the bad"
At last the morning dawned on which
was to say good-by to the scenes /
loved so well. l was to leave the sun
ny South" with its dark evergreens, its
Towering vines, its balmy air. l was to
leave him. who, ere the next autumn
leaves were falling, would take to his
beautiful home bride. Then l thought
of little Jessie's grave, which | had not
seen. and on which my tears would never
| fall and taking from its hiding place the
tress of shining hair, | wept over that
my last adieu. 1t was later than usual
when Mr.. Delafield appeared, and as he
came in l saw that he was very pale
Are you sickY' 1 asked. as lie wiped
the perspiration from his face.
mo, no." he hurriedly answered; at
! the same time crossing over to a side ia
! BILE, he poured out and drank two large
goblets of ice water.
Then resuming his former seat near
me, he took my hand, and looking me
earnestly in the face, said: Rosa, shall
l ever see you here again?
! Before l could answer, Ada chimed
! in. "Of course we shall. Do coax the
doctor to bring you here some time, and
let us see how you bear the honors Of
being madamep'
Instantly the earnest look passed away
from Mr. DelaGeld's face, and was sue
ceeded by scowl, which remained until
the carriage which was to take me to the
depot was announced. Then the whole
expression of his countenance changed
and for brief instant my heart thrilled
with Joy. for could not mistake the deer
meaning of his looks as he bent over me
and whispered his farewell.
God bless you, Rosa" he said. "My
Rosa, once hoped to call you. But il
cannot be. FAREWELL
There was one burning kiss upon my
lips, and the next moment he was gone
Are you going to the depot?" asked
his sister. as he was leaving the room.
mo, no, ne" he replied; and then as
Charlie again babe me come. l rose he
wldered to my feet. hardly realizing
when Mrs. Lansing, Ada and Lima bade
me adieu.
Halbert went with me in the carriage
and together with Charlie looked won
deringly at me. as | unconsciously re
peated in a whisper, "My Rosa. l once
hoped to call you. 1t is Ada who stand.
in the way ] said to myself, and cover
ing my face with my veil, l wept as
thought of all l had lost when Richard
Delafeld offered his heart to another. III
did love me. l was sure of that, bu
what did it avail me. He was too hon
orable to break his engagement will
Ada. so henceforth l must walk. alone
bearing the burden of an aching heart.
In the meantime. far different seen,
was being enacted in the apartment
had just vacated. Scarcely had the whis
tie of the engine died away in the dis
lance. when troop of blacks, armed
with boiling suds and scrubbing brushes
entered my chamber for the purpose o.
cleaning it. They had carried from j
nearly every article of furniture. aB(
nothing remained save the mating aDS
the bureau. the latter of which they wer'
about to remove when they were surpris
ed at the unexpected appearance of Mr.
Delaheld, who could not resist the stronl
desire which he felt to stand once NOR,
: r. the room where Rosa had spent s.
, uany weary weeks For a moment tn
blacks suspended their employment, an'
then LiiIIa who seemed TO be leading
took hold of the bureau. giving one en-
= of it shove toward the center of tn
room. The movement dislodged the long
lest letter. which, covered with dirt ant
cohwebS. fell upon the floor at her feet
She was the same woman who. week
; before, had carelesSly knocked off tn
letter, which she now picked up an'
handed to Mr.. Delaield. saying, as sh
wiped of the dirt. 1T must have lai,
thar heap of a while. and now | thinl
ont. pears like ever SO long ago. whel
was breshin' the bureau. | hearn some
thin drap, but l couldn't find nothin
!. and il must have been this"
CHANGING at the superscription. and rec
oguizing the handwriting of DR.. Clay
ton. Mr.. Delaheld broke the seal, an,
read From black 10 white-from whit
! TO red-from red to spee,lled-and fren
Speckleti back again TO its natural color
grew his face as he proceeded. while hi
eyes grew so dazzlingly bright with III
: intensity of his feelings that the negroes
who watched him. whispered among
themselves that he must be gwine star
: mad"
His active. quick-seeinS mind took i
the meaning Of each sentence. and eve
before he had finished the letter he az
dersteod everything just as il was-wh
=. Rosa had appeared SO strangely whei
she read Or. Clayton's letter to herself
, and realized perfectly what her feelirs
: must have beea as day after day went b
and he still made no sign"
: But she is mine now. thank heaven
aud nothing shall take her from me" h
exclaimed aloud. unmindful of the pres
) ence of the negroes, who, confirmed
their impression Of his insanity. locke
curiously after him as he went down III
stairs. down the walk. and cut into IN
$ street, proceeding with rapid strides e