The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-17
HE CALLED
ROSELLAN
By JOANNA SINGLE
Copyright, 1905. By T. c. Mcclure

ROSoll6nS ratQer 8tO1ueQ III l1lt llLuc
honored fashion, her mother soothed
her a little and tried to soften the sit
uation, but she agreed with her hus-
band that their one fair and cherished
daughter should not become the wife
Of John Barry The girl herself, flush
ed and lovely, declared that she would
marry him, that she loved him and
that her life would be ruined without
him.
But, my dear daughter" said her "a
ther, John Is just out Of college, and
he has studied too much-run all to one
sort of brains, and he's not fit to battle
with the real world. And, besides, be
is your cousin
"Epur times removed" remarked the
girl quietly.
But still your cousin" continued
the vigorous old gentleman, who hated
the thought Of giving up his daughter
to any man, but had decided that she
must some time marry, and that the
man must be Gilbert Crane. And we
all know that John has nothing in par
ticular and that you have always had
everything you want
II don't want anything but John.
He has himself, his ability" she put in
proudly. I'VE have cared for each oth-
er always"
'+Oh, the ability to write decent ar-
ticle or even popular novel! What
does scribbling amount to? he has
nothing till that old great-aunt Of his
dies" The father looked fondly ut
the daughter, 50 like him in feature
and spirit, though what he counted
f1rmness In himself seemed rank obst-
macy in her.
Father the girl protested, Il would
listen to you II you had advanced one
valid reason for separating us. BE is
not cousin enough to make one grain
Of difference, and the fact that he Is
not we'll IS only another reason why 1
should go to California with him till
he IS rested and can begin work on his
book" The old man drew the girl to
his knee, and the mother wiped her
eyes.
Lock here, child, we have reason.
We have bad talk with John and his
mother, and DR.. Simpson. Tie plain
truth is that be has symptoms Of con-
sumption. You know what tfat may
mean Roseilan ciutched his arm.
1T is not true! BE would have told
me first Of all! he is only tired out.
I will send for him and see, and II It
were true should take care Of him."
You don't know what you are say
ing. Even II we had 80 little sense, do
you suppose John himself would e1-
pose you to even possible danger like
that? He said last night
II had 8 right to be there! And he
never let me knoWw
wait, DEAR" said her mother. We
love You too well to- John knows
his duty. Hts going to California;
Roeellan sprang up and faced Them.
II shall 80, too!" she declared.
"Dearte," her mother spoke, 'ehe left
you this letter. He''-
LEFT noe a letter! Why, where is
he?"
HE went to California this morning
It was for the BEST
without telling me or saying good
by? You must have made him do this!
But no, you couldn't do that! 1t is his
own fault. It means that he-doesn't
care as he said he did" She stood
looking at them.
"Rosellan, pleaded her mother. 'he
did the right thing" But the girl took
Johns letter from her fathers hand
and left the room.
Well" old Roger Howard said to his
wife, ITS hard on her at hrst and
John certainly did the square thing.
but she's young and the separation
may turn her heart toward Gilbert, as
we have always planned"
And Rosellan, In her own room, was
reading her lovers letter:
Rosellan, dearest. you know I love you.
That II why am leaving you this way.
I think could not bear to say soodby; It
would be cruel to US both. Privately /
myself cannot think that am anything
worse than run down from mental over
work and neglect Of physical exercise. but
all our relatives and DR.. &mpson seem to
see q danger to the very shadow OF which
I will not expose you.
30 I am OF to my Aunt Duntco. It
would be bfuto1ly unfair to hold your
heart to q pledge I may never be able
honorabiy 70 redeem Therefore, dearest.
I .set you FREQ. Try to be happy and for
get. have promised your father not to
write. Il seems best, though you know It
breaks my heart You know. too. that I
would 1t no obstacle but this come be-
tween w. wtsh It waS decent to ask
you to wait TIN find whsther may not
yet be IN shape to make home for you,
bot it is not.
It Is hard not to kiss you soodty. and I
never loved you as do now In giving
you up. Yours always,
JOHN BARRY.
But all Rosellan said to herself was:
HE does not love me or he could not
leave me-"
That one wakeful night that follow
ed seemed to change Rosellan utterly.