Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-06

kept secret, for Richard does not wish
to have the matter discussed"
l nodded assent, and the next moment
was alone with my sorrow, which was
far easier to bear now thai uncertainty
was made sure. SO long as there remain
ed lingering hope that my love for Mr..
DelaHeld might possibly be reciprocatpd,
| shrunk In horror from marrying an
other. But now that hope was swept
away-for l never thought Of doubling
Mrs. Lansing's words-and n kind Of tor
por crept over me, suspending for a time
both my judgment aud my will.
II will marry DIR. Clayton" l said;
and with that decision came feeling Of
gratifed pride as | thought / should
thus prove to Richard how little l cared
for him!
Ali l knew not then that the heart
coveted enshrned no image save that
Of Rosa Lee, for whom Richard Della
field would almost have laid down his
life. so great was the love he bore her.
He had readily OWNED the object
of the strangers visit, and the
thought that 1t might be success
FIJI was terrible. All the night long
he, too, had been sleepless. pacing the
length and breadth of his spacious halls
and murmurng occasionally as, peering
out into the darkness, he saw the glim-
merlng light from the windows of Cedar
Grove. "Oh, Rosa, Rosa, how can l
give you upr'
With the coming Of morn Mr.. Della
| field grew calm, for he had resolved up
ON an interview with Rosa Lee, who, IL
1t were not too late should know how
much he loved her, and perhaps-his
heart thrilled with Joy as he thought it
perhaps she might yet be won from
that fancy of her childhood But first
he would, if possible, learn from his
sister how far matters had progressed.
| She was seated at her work in her
own room when he entered, aud with a
feeling of alarm at his pale, haggard
face, she started up, asking If he were
| Ill. Motioning her aside, he said, abb
ruptly, ITS no use, Angelina, to deceive
you longer. l love Rosa Lee, and If it
should tell her so at once. Do you know
aught of his attentions? Has he come
to seek her for his wifeT
Mrs. Lansing had now double part to
perform. The falsehood she had told to
Rosa made 1t necessary that she should
| tell another to her brother, which the
|
revolted at the thought of receiving her
governess as her sister-in-law. &c. think
ing any means excusabe which would
prevent 80 dlsgraceful a catastrophe, she
answered with well-feigned surprise, 81
am astonished at you, brother-astonish
ed that a Delafeld should stoop so low
as to think of wedding a girl like Rosa
Lee. You cannot, think, be in earnest;
but If you are, am rejoiced that have
it in my power to tell you there is no
hope. l have just left Miss Lee, who
has made me her con6dant, asking If
thought 1t would be contrary to all rules
Of propriety for her to marry DIR. Clay
ton 30 soon after the death of his wife.
1t seems he has always preferred her;
and could you have heard her tell how
much she loved him, am sure you would
have no hope of winning her, even were
| she your equal"
| Not again that day was Cedar Grove
gladdened by his presence, and when
next morning he came as was his wont,
l was the betrothed of DIR. Clayton, who,
with Joy beaming in every look, sat by
my side, talking to me Of the pleasure
we should experience in our projected
European tour, for we were to visit the
be contaminated at once, so we could sail
the last Of June. In a measure l had
dealt candidly with him, frankly &C.
knowledging that the love / had felt for
him In childhood was gone, but saying,
as was true, that respected hin-yas,
| 1 Liked him, and II he was satisfied with
that, / would be unto him a faithful
wife, hoping that the affection of former
years might ere long awake again In my
| heart
Involuntarily shrank from him, for
| | knew ] was undeserving of such devo-
| ton, and my conscience smote me for
| Withholding from him the knowledge Of
my love for Richard Delafeld. But that
was q secret l could not reveal so l
kept 1t to myself, and with a kind of
apathetic Indifference listened while he
depicted In glowing colors the joyous
| future which he saw before him when l
should indeed be his wife. He was go
ing to New Orleans on business, which
| would detain him for three or four weeks,
and on his return he asked that the cere-
mony might be performed, and |. 60
with him to Sunny Bank as his bkde.
"No, not no SOON" ! exclaimed. Leave
me my freedom o little longer" but he
only smiled AZ he waived aside every
objection. and won from me a promise
that IL Mrs. Lansing were willing, we
would be married there as seon as be
should return. %.
Either by design or accident, Mrs. Ian
sing at that mpment entered the room.
She plsyfully remarked upon the happy
expression of his face, saying she should
judge his suit was progressing. and add
ing that he had her good wishes for his
success. Emboldened by her familiarity,
DR.. Clayton at once preferred to her his
wish that We might be made one under
the shadow of her roof; we would make
no trouble, he said, as we wished forano
4 display, simply quiet ceremony at
which no one should be present save her
self, her children and her brother. -,
At the mention Of him started as If
smitten by heavy blow, and l used all
the arguments of which | was mistress
to induce DR.. Clayton to defer our mar
mage until we reached Sunny Bank But
| To this neither he nor Mrs I.pSinx