The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-09

1 nave every commence OF Deln8
able to do so next year."
IT haven't" retorted the lady. 81
forbid any engagement. Good-morn-
Ing"
Rose will be twenty-one next year."
he observed. taking up his hat.
Perhaps she'll be wiser at twenty
one than at twenty" snapped Miss
Falconer, as he bowed at the door,
and, giving her the luxury Of the final
word. he retired in silence, but with
an extremely confident smile.
Miss Fa1coner decided to say moth
ing to Rose Of this interview. The girl
had slept badly and felt troubled. Did
she love the young doctor? Rose
asked herself. She really knew very
little of him. He was only an &C
qua1ntance Of two months standing.
He was good-looking and agreeable,
but was he the man to entrust her fu-
ture to? That was what concerned
her, but there was also the matter Of
his impecuniosity. She feared he
would always be poor. Would their
love bear that strain?
That day there was an afternoon
picnic party given by the Beau
champs to their friends and neighbors.
About twenty Bennington people as
sembled at Congreve castle, ruin a
few miles away, and had tea under
the shadow Of one Of the crumbling
walls. Rose drove with Mrs. Beau
champ, the doctor came on his BIZ
cycle, and last Of all Mr.. Gaythorpe
drove up in a dog-cart. Lord Gay
thorpe's condition was critical but
there had been rally, and he could
leave for a few hours, he explained;
and as the most important parsonage
present he was made much Of.
But a sudden commotion disturbed
the peace Of the party after tea. Young
Johnny Beauchamp, just into his teens
and adventurous Of disposition, had
preceded the rest in ascending to the
top Of the tower with two younger
lads. There was a legend that a sail
or had once descended from the tor
outside by the help Of the lightning
conductor and the numerous dints II
the masonry which afforded fair foot
hold. Johnny had been dared tc
initiate this feat and had started tt
| do SO, but when about one-third dowr
his nerve gave way, and, stopping
where a missing brick afforded safe
foothold, he bawled loudly for help.
| To fall was to lose his life. for the
empty fosse was below and the DROP
| considerable. One man Of the party
rushed off to the farmhouse, a quar-.
ter Of mile away, for a rope, and DR.
Smart, who with the rest, had reached
the top, exhorted Johnny to hold on 6
bit, and he would speedily be rescued
But Johnny, sobbing and frightened
cried out he could hold on no longer.
climbed over the parapet and began t.
descend; he reached the lad, who
| thereupon clutched him and tainted
Smart's position was critical in the ex
IRENE; he had but precarious foothold
an inaninate lad to support, and blu
I,o To %osp {I1o ~ y,
| Mrs. Beauchamp swooned, most of tn
ladies cried, and there were no sign
of Hammond returning with the rope
| Rose peered over the top and saw be
low her Smart's face white and set
her own was no less blanched.
| Don't worry" he called out. I"
I can hold on. I see Hammond com
Ing"
But the seconds went like minutes
and Rose could see how terrible tn
strain was on the young man, B
dropping the lad he could save him
self, but he set his teeth and he'll
Johnny, tho the strain on his RICH
arm was almost uncomfortable.
But now help was at hand. Ham
mond raced up and flung a rop
noosed at the end to the doctor
! Choosing his opportunity, he let go hi
hold and clutched it., slipping john
thru. He had a hand free, and wa
J able to seat himself in the loop an
/ take the boy again. Then the men {
the party hauled them both up.
Smart was very much spent, bl
: made light Of it and CURLY deprecate
, the gush Of some or the ladies on h
heroism. Johnny speedily can
round and the party broke up.
;. Rose had not long been home whe
v a groom drove up from the Hall wit
t some flowers and note for her fro
= Mr.. Gaythorpe. The latter containe
. a formal proposal Of marriage. f
/ had tried to speak that afternoon, sa
= Mr.. Gaythorpe, but found no oppo
Y tunity. She was probably aware
e the feelings with which he regarde
: her, and his anxiety to know he
: could brook no further delay. Wi
some stiff expressions of love and d
votion the letter concluded, tt
t writer stating he would call next de
4 for the answer.
:. Not for one second did Rose hes
n tate. She tossed the letter aside COZ
temptuously. That afternoon she hs
made her choice between the two me
e for good and all. In the face Of {
emergency, while Gaythorpe hs
I fiddled with his eyeglass and dol
e nothing, Smart had saved the life
life in danger at the risk Of his ow
J, II love him." she said to herself, "ar
when I see him alone again I'll te
It him so as many times as he likes"
d That evening the aunt and ME,
d were sitting by the open window