The Ward County independent., 1903-05-27

voice, in the shape of the curl-clus-
tered head, caused the stranger to put
out OBTAINING hand
What" he cried, lis your name, lit
tie one?"
"Rosine!" She wrested herself
free. Let me go with Billie. Ny
names Rosine- Rosine Raymond"
Then she was dashing down the
hill after the fortunate Billie.
The man, tall, straight, and soldier
ly, with prematurely silvered hair and
dark mustache, went striding across
the green space that interviewed be-
tween him and that quiet woman by
the white shaft.
"Jean!" he cried hoarsely. Jean
Charteris!"
A low, shivering cry broke from
the woman. She stiffened erect
stood as if frozen.
"Tell me-" he begged, "about that
that child! She says her name is
Jean, is she"
The shock of his coming had left
her weak and shaking. 1t was with
an effort she spoke.
"Yes-she is your child. Do you
learn it now for the first time?"
God help me-yes. did not dream
there might be child. When few
months after our marriage learned
how Rose had deceived me was furi.
Gus. had confided in her. | told her
how loved you. And she-she spoke
of your engagement to Will Clement.
Her sympathy was sweet. There was
no question of a heart being caught In
the rebound. Never save for one
woman has my heart beaten a pulse
the faster. She knew this when we
were married. But she hoped-mtil
the day some months after our mar
riage when a chance word during a
chance meeting with Clement, brought
the whole truth out. You had refused
him. And this Rose knew when she
told me the contrary. 1 settled every
thing | possessed on her and went
away, vowing never to look upon her
face again!"
The weary, bitter voice ceased.
"We shall speak of this now" said
Jean Charteris, slowly, ''and then
never again! The bank in which you
had deposited was the same which
controlled my fathers business. When
the defalcation came Roses money
and ours was sucked down in the
whirlpool. Father did not long sur
vive the blow. Rose could do nothing.
She had been brought up in idleness-
in luxury. Besides she was ill-and
miserably unhappy. Sol was always
clever as a seamstress-she came to
me, and we were comfortable-qui
comfortable together. Two years ago
a sharp attack Of pneumonia ended
all! Rosine was then a."
"You took her into your home and
your life" said the man in voice that
though low-shook with passion.
"You supported her and her child! II
you had known her treachery--"
"Hush!" The soft word was i'm.
perious. She pointed to the flower
strewn mound below. "Hush! She is
here! Besides-I did knOw!"
"You knew it? When-how?"
"The day you went away. Rose
came to me. She told me-the truth.
The last gleam of sunset had faded.
Amethystine shadows crept up the
draws. But In the clear afterglow
they saw each other quite distinctly
the two who stood in silence there.
When he spoke it was in voice that
- %hn of
her youth.
"Jean-will you come to me-now?"
She answered: First say TO her,
forgive you, dear!"
For an instant he stood irresolute.
Then slowly he sank-on one knee
bowed his barred head over the masses
of Derfumed bloom When he rose and
held out his hand she laid her own
within it, and thus they walked to the
gate and down the road toward the
village, where the lights we're begin
ming to gleam.
'You are tired" he said, and slip
ped his arm around her. Il have
made a new fortune in new world,
Jean. You shall work no more
Rosine and Billie were feasting mer-
rily in the cottage when the two
turned in at the garden gate.
"To think" said Jean, as they went
up betwixt the low barberry borders
dew-silvered in the moonlight, that
it was only this morning walked here
-alone-and SO sad-save for the
child"
"Ah, the child" he said softly