Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-27
Meadow Brook

NARY j. HOLMES

Africans, who with their dying breath
had blessed her, calling her "the Angel
Of The Pines" From her head he him
self had shorn her beautiful shining curls,
one Of which he gave to me, and which
| prize as my most precious treasure; for
often as | look upon 1t, | see again the
little gleeful girl, my Georgia rose"
who for brief space dwelt within her
fair Southern home, and was then trans
planted to her native soil, where now she
blooms, the fairest, sweetest flower OF
all which deck the fields of heaven.
The shock of her death very naturally
retarded my recovery, and for many
weeks more ] was confined to my room
About the middle of October, Charlie,
whose coming ] had long expected, or
rived, bringing to me the sad news that
death had again entered our household,
that by my fathers and JAMES grave
was another mound, and at home another
vacant chair, that of my aged grandmoth
err, whose illness, he said, had prevent
cd him from coming to me sooner, add
ing further that they had purposey lept
her sickness from me, fearing the effect
it might have. OF DIR. Clayton he could
tell me but little. He had not visited
Sunny Bank at all; but Immediately after
his return to Boston he had written to
them, saying | was out of danger, and
Charlie must 60 for me as soon as the
intense heat of summer was over. This
vas all they knew, though with woman's
ready tact, both my mother and my els
ters conjectured that something was
wrong, and Charles first question after
telling me what he did, was to inquire
int Ovts ,to4n ae foir hot
me and the doctor and If it were my
illness alone which had deferred the
marriage. ~
Don't ask me now" l replied, mot
until we are far from here, and then
will tell you ALL" l ~
This silenced Charlie, and once when
Mr.. Delafeld questioned him concerning
| DIR. Clayton, and why he, too, did not
come for me, he replied evasively, but in
manner calculated still further to mis-
| lead Mr.. Delafeld, who had no suspicion
Of the truth, though he fanced there
was something wrong. One day Charlie,
with his usual abruptness, said to me,
Rosa why didn't you fall in love with
Mr.. Dela6eld? l should much rather
have him than a widower?"
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, | presume, deferred on
account Of their recent aniiction. At
least, hear nothing said of it."
IF am any judge of human nature"
returned Charlie, Mr.. DelaGeld cares
far more for you than for Miss Mon
trose. even IL they are engaged. But
then you are poor, while she 10 rich, and
that, l suppose, makes thu difference"
| l knew Mr.. DelaAeld toe we'll to sus-
pect him Of mercenary motives in marry
ing Ada, and so | said. "Hs loved her.
of course, and 1t was natural that he
should for though she had some faults,
he probably saw in her enough good to
overbslsnce the bad"
At last the morning dawned on which
was to say goodby to the scenes l
loved so well l was to leave the sun
ny South" with it's 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 thought
of little Jessie's grave, which l 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.. Delafied appeared, and rs he
came in saw that he was very pale.
''Are you sick?" | asked MS he wiped
the perspiraton from his face.
mo, no." he hurriedly answered; at
the same time crossing over to a side TIA
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
! | ever see you here again?"
, Before | could answer, Ada chimed
in, "Of course we shall Do coax the
) doctor to bring you here some time, and
let us see hew you bear the honors Of
, being madame"
Instantly the earnest look passed away
from Mr.. D,ateld's face, and was sue
= ceeded by so0wl. which remained unit
the carriage which was to take me to tn,
| depot was announced. Then the Who'll,
e expression of Iis countenance changed
: and for brief instant my cart thrilled
with joy, for could not mistake the deer
e meaning of his looks as he bent over m,
y and whispered his farewell.
r God bless you, Rosa" he said. IN,
Il Rosa, once hoped to call you. But i
:. cannot be. Farewell!
There was one burning kiss upon M
/ lips, and the next moment he was gone
J. Are you "oing to the depot?" asl<e
'e his sister, as he was leaving the ROOM
| mo, no, no." he replied; and then n
Charlie again bade me come, | rose he
h. wildered TO my feet, hardly realzn
n, when Mrs. Lansing, Ada and Lima bad
Of me adieu
Halbert went with me in the carriag,
30 and together with Charlie looked wor
@, deringly at me, as | unconsciously r,
~ peated in whisper, MY Rosa, | ono
VS. hoped to call you. 1t is Ada who stand
I'd in the way" said to myself and cove
as ing my face with my veil, | wept as
h thought of all had lost when Richar
| Delahed offered his heart to another II
s. did love me, ! was sure of that, b,
us what did 1t avail me. He was too no,
1t orable to break his engagement wit
Ada so henceforth must walk alon
FL bearing the burden of an aching heart.