Gilpin observer., 1915-04-08

| makes you sad? Do you think me un-
worthy to become your wife? II you
think so, 1t is not for me to hold you"
He strained her to his heart for an
swer. and Rose forgot her doubts and
fears. And meanwhile Captain Allen,
seated at home in his manor at Wild
Crag. awaited fateful message with
fevered impatience.
At last 1t came, and with trembling
fingers he tore open the envelope and
read. Then, with a groan, he let the
letter fiutter to the ground and bowed
his face upon his hands.
Your wife may live on indefinite
ly," was the gist of the message.
Years before. when little more than
a boy. Allen had become entangled
with woman whom honor had COM
PEELED him to marry. There had been
no love on either side, and only
wretchedness for the man. AS for
the woman, her position as chatelaine
of the manor house had been an ade-
quate recompense for her bondage.
She had little heart. and none for
| Roderick
The cramped heart, and the little.
narrow brain had failed her. She had
become hopelessly insane and was
confined in an asylum. Roderick Allen
had done all in his power for her.
But her disease was a progressive one
and he looked forward to her re-
lease by death, for both their sakes.
When he met Rose and loved her he
had not the. heart to tell her OF his
past. He had resolved to ask her to-
become his wife when the release
came. Then she should know. But
the letter told him that the specialists
had erred. and that there must be
years of wretchedness to come
And in their favored trysting place
he broke the news to his sweetheart.
1t broke her. She bent forward, as
Allen had done, and hid her face in
her hands.
Forgive mel" he pleaded. Forgive
me for the unhappiness that I have
brought on you"
Then Rose Farley raised her head.
1T has not been unhappiness." she
whispered tremulously. 1T has been
joy-immeasurable JOY
Thus he left her. And she knew
that life had disciplined her nature
at last.
He left her and went secretly away,
and Rose, distracted, haunted the ma
nor grounds, dreaming of the days of
her too brief romance. Doubts of her
sanity spread among the villagers.
Some pitied her. but judgments are
apt to be hard, and more pitied the
man, whom they considered to have
been led astray by willful girl.
IF he comes back I'll put the black
curse on him, mavourneen," her old
aunt mumbled. Sure, why don't you
think little about Terence Mccoy.
who's dying for love Of you?"
| Rose had not heart to answer her.
Daily she wandered about the manor
grounds. and now 1t seemed as II
her brain had really begun to fail her.
The memory of those sacred moments
haunted her. she could not bear to be
away from that trysting place where
Roderick had told her of his love for
her. and she would repeat his words
over and over. hugging their bitter
| sweetness to her soul.
Meanwhile Terence McCoy's hopes
ran high. The girl avoided him no
longer. She only looked at him with
haggard eyes when he spoke to her.
He had an ally In the good priest OF
the village. who could not understand
| Roses caring for a man who seemed
to have deceived her and to be wholly
unworthy. He urged Rose to accept
| Terence. who was we'll endowed with
I,t- a.. l.
deed, to be an excellent match.
But Terence McCoy's patience was
not inexhaustible. and he hit upon a
way OF bringing his suit to a success
| full close. When he met Rose he
ceased to WOO her; instead, he began
to feign sympathy with her in her dis
tress.
81 love you, Rose" he said. but
heaven knows I wouldn't be the one
| to stand in the way of your happi-
ness. Perhaps the woman will die,
Rose. ! know where the captains
gone. and know that he cares for
YOU"
And love him. Terence" said
Rose. raising her eyes hopelessly. T
shall always care for him. But like
your sympathy. We must be friends,
| Terence"
Nov. that's better" said Terence
gayly. linking his arm In hers. You'll
never have better friend than Ter.
ence Mccoy. or one who wishes You
happiness more"
When he had won Roses confidence
Terence developed his scheme. which
consisted in letter addressed to him.
self, purporting to come from one OF
the captains servants. announcing his
death abroad. He contrived to drop
the communication in the girls pres.
ence.
Roses eyes fell upon the underlined
words. She could not help but read