The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-04-23
A FALSE
LOVER
(Copyright.)

>~s".e~S Ss>,S~sSAA>.AsNA eAos~NS
and l live with an aunt, who has
brought me up since was five years
of age.
Now, when this story opens. Aunt
Mercy was about SO years of age, and
l was 10. l was about to appear at
my comfng-out party, and very excited
l was in consequence. Just the day
before the party she said might wear
her pearls. She showed them to me,
and said they were of almost fabulous
value. and could with difficulty be
matched by any jeweler in New
York. She further told me that she
meant to leave them to ME in her
will.
Besides the pearls she had many
would show to me by and by; but the
string of pearls, which | was to wear
on this suspicious occasion, were in
themselves of so dazzling an order
that l gave no thought to anything
beyond them.
1t was at my first dance that I met
Mr.. Frank Joscelyn. He was a
stranger in our town. and we girls
were very much taken with his ap-
pearance. for he was tall and dark,
and had fascinating. semi foreign
way about him. The moment he en-
tered the dancing-room l saw his eyes
light upon me, and very soon after
wards he begged for an introduction.
! happened to have a dance to spare.
which l gave him. and finally he
danced two or three extras also with
me; and before the evening was over
had told him about the pearls. and
how precious Aunt Mercy considered
them.
Il can quite believe it," he said in a
gentle voice: and then he added.
bending towards me. but they're not
nearly as beautiful as the person who
wars Them
That first meeting is an old story
now. and l must hurry on to what
followed.
Mr.. Joscelyn called at Aunt Mercy's
house on the following day. and had
long chat with her. He told her
quite boldly that he was relation,
and he proved this both to her salts
faction and mine. He was the son Of
q cousin of hers-who had also been
her best friend-who had married and
gone to South Africa many years ago
After this there was no reason for
Aunt Mercy or me to be reserved with
Frank Joscelyn. She called him Ivy
his Christian name. and invited him
to come and stay with us. AS for me,
must honestly confess that l lost
my heart to him.
liked him very much indeed; and
| one day, when we had known each
other for couple of months-he was
still staying on with Aunt Mercy. al
though he fully intended going back
| to Johannesburg in the autumn-he
| asked me again if it was true that my
aunt meant some day to leave me her
pearls.
Yes, she has said So" I replied
y Week later to my great amaze
| ment. Mr.. Joscelyn asked me if
would marry him. OF course, loved
him with all my heart and soul: and I
said Yes" without a moments hest
tation. To my delight Aunt Mercy
was pleased when she heard of our en-
| gagement
There are many reasons why l
would have asked something different
for you, Rosamund." she said, for al
though I am much attached to Frank
] would rather you married man who
would have kept YOU in the old coun-
try: but | hope | am not selfish
enough to stand in your way will
| certainly give you to Frank; and this
very evening | will write to my
cousin Mary Joscelyn to tell her of
the strange coincidence which brought
her son TO our doors. and who now
wishes to take my niece away with
| him as his wife,"
The next day Frank made a curious
request.
did not Aunt Mercy promise to
leave you all her jewels, Rose?"
YES" replied, slightly knitting
my brows. That is, after her DEATH"
But the old lady has no use for
them. Why shouldn't she give them
| to you as wedding present? Is there
any difaculty?"
y wouldn't ask her. replied. You
haven't the least idea how she srizes
them. Besides. what right have / to
then? People don't ask for presents
presents of that sort. from those
they lsve."
But that is just what they do. I
tell you what it is, Rose: I'll ask her
myself"
Il wish you Wouldn't would much
| rather you didn't" I replied.
He teased me little, and kissed
and petted me. and finally he went out
of the room. so that for the time
thought had won my way.
But that was not Franks style. He
was quite the most masterful man I
had ever come across. What he did
now was to go straight to Aunt Mercy
and sit down by her side, and boldly
make his request. She told me aft
| erward ali about it. She said she
was amazed and at first annoyed, but