Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1882 — ROSILAND’S REPENTANCE. [ARTICLE]

ROSILAND’S REPENTANCE.

BY LULU E. FURNELL.

The heavy crimson curtains are slrawn, shutting out the dreary October darkness, the gas ia lit, the fire Itanisbrightly in the polished grato 5* Mrs. Francis Maywood’s cosy dress-ing-room, as that lady sits before the satin-draped toilet-table while tho •quick, deft fingers of a rosy-cheeked maid pile up the soft dark hair into a taiiy pyramid of airy puffs and crimps. ■“Make me look my best, Mary,” says Jlary’s graceful young mistress, gaily. expect to mfeet some great people aft Mrs. Danferth’s to-night, and I want to look as nice as possible. What jewels shall I wear, pearls or diamonds Mary?” '•‘Oh! diamonds by all means, ma’am; pearls would not look half so well with that lovely amber satin, and if you’ll allow me to put the diamond arrow master gave you on your birthslay, in your hair, you will look just jperfect, ma’am.” •‘‘Very well; I’ll wear the diamonds.” Almost as she speaks a hasty knock eusnies at the door, aud without waiting for permission the door opens, and ai gentleman enters. “Why. Frank, you!” cries out Mrs. Maywood iu surprise, “and I declare, alter all my entreaties, not yet dressed tar the reception.” The intruder is a handsome man, with an aristocratic, high-bred face ami air, and is still young; but just mow there is a grave, somber expression in his brown eyes as ho speaks, fiSsat almost mars his beauty. *“lam not going to the reception, Rose.” "Not going —oh, Frank!” ‘“We must disappoint Mrs. Dnnferth Hue evening,” pursues the gentleman Evely; “we must remain at home. liland, do you know little Herbert m seriously ill?”

•"1111” repeats Rose Maywood, petififelily. “Why, what nons'iise you ttolk, Frank! Herbert is well enough; 3P»u only fancy because he’s a little Hushed and cross, that he is ill. You eamuot mean such a trifle as that shall E event our going to the Danferths’ 11 and reception, Frank?” ■“I do, indeed. I repeat, the child la teawell, seriously unwell, and we cann»l leave him,” responds the husband ! coldly and decidedly. •“But, Frank,” persists the girl, ris«< and going Over to where her hus- : ; fraud stands, “tho Claverings are to cadi for us in their carriage, and I •frrormseil Mrs. Danferth wo would atlend her reception; think how rudfl and disappointing it will bo if w« afcouldn’t go.” •'•My child’s health is of far rnoro eaonsequence to me than our acquaintances’ disappointments,and you sltould fifcink in this matter precisely as I do, Bosiland.” •‘‘And of courso I do,” says Rosiland, writh petulant toss of her pretty, darkftaired head. “I am sure I love llcrfceri very dearly, but I don’t see the of depriving myself of a great pleasure for the sake of a foolish exaggerated fancy of yours. For it is auiexaggerated fancy, dear, isn’t it?” «®utinues Rose, pleadingly, “and it wrill'be a terrible disappointment to w, if I don’t go. I have looked forward, for weeks past, with such delight to this atfair. Mademoiselle d’Jkberle has made my dress so beautiJklly, it is such a perfect fit, and then jou know tho English Ambassador auad the Countess of Elwaydeno are to fro there to-night, and I’m just? dying to see them, particularly the countess. IMadge Clavering says sho. is a very jgrand lady, and that her youngest sister married a prince. Say you will go, oh, Frank, darling, niako me hapj»y, and say you will go!” ~J3ho flings her arms around his neck, and looks up at dim with flic winning dark eyes so full of earnest pleading, ghat for a moment Francis M iywoou g m templed to kiss the lovely cxcitcu lace, and grant her request—then he suddenly remembers the bright, feverish oyesand burning l'acc of lit Lie ller--frert, anil realizes wnat a thoughtless, telilsh request it is; and he unwind* «iu oliugimr. coaxing arms, and turns

ou neaujresoiuteiy aside from the girl's beseech tug eyes. - -‘Nevertheless, Eosiland, we cannot go.* Roslland leaves Mr. Maywood’s side her oval cheeks burning a deep red, her lips tightly compressed; her black eyes, blacker than ever with swift, intense anger; she throws the ivorybacked hair-brush in her hands, impetuously from her, and turus quickly and faces Iter husband, her whole manner full of recklessness and defiance. “I tell yon I shall got You may remain at home if you choose, but 1 shall not martyr and disappoint myself for auy ridiculous whim of yoursl” And Mrs. Maywood gives an angry stamp of her slipperea foot, as if to strengthen and emphasize her declaration. Frank, scarcely seeming to notico his wife’s show of temper, turns calmly towards the maid who is busily arraying the lace trimmiugs of her mistress' ball dress. “Leave the room, Mary,” he commands, in that quiet, firm voice of his that makes eveu wayward, capricious Rose inwardly tremble, “aud don’t return uuti) Mrs. Maywood rings for you.” So, with bowed head and meek air, Mary obediently departs; then Francis Maywood addresses his youug wife : “Rosil&nd, fond of excitement and gaiotyasl know you to be, I cannot bring myself to bclievo you are so thoroughly selfish, so utterly heartless as to really wish to leave yohr little helpless child sick at home, to the mercy of careless servants, whilo you onjoy yourself in a ball-room.” ‘•Who says the servants are careless? Old Jane is the most devoted of nurses and as to leaving my sick child—that’s all follyl I don’t believe he’s sick, and ” “You won’t believe it, you mcanl” interrupts Frank, scornfully aud sarcastically. “I say I don’t believe it I” flashes Roso, passionately. “Herbert is cross, all babies are at liis age—tho teeth troublo them—that’s the illness you represent to me as so alarming. The truth of it ail is,” she runs on, becoming angrier and more excited every instant, “ you don’t care for enjoyment and 1 do—l frankly confess it—you’d rather stay quietly at home than go to this affair to-night; you would like to prevent me going, too, aud the DaDy servos as an excellent excuse and reason for desiring me to stop away from Mrs. Danferth’s ball and reception; but I have no intention of obliging you in this particular. I say I’ll not disappoint Madge Clavering when she calls this evening. I shall go to Mrs. Danferth’s whether you accompany me or not, aud enjoy myself all the same. Francis Maywood gazes at tho defiant woman before him, with grave, displeased eyes. It is not the first time since his marriage that his youn<* wife has so unnecessarily displayed her quick, uncurbed temper, and used her sharp little tongue in hot, uncall-ed-for words; but just now he is shocked at her apparent want of motherly affection and solicitude for their child; and iu that hour Mr. Maywood fervently wishes he had uever visited the Long Island village and fallen in love with and married the village baker’s pretty, dark-eyed daughter.

For Mrs. Francis Maywood, wealthy, courted, fashionablo though sho may be now, had been, a year and a half since, no greater personage than Miss Rosiland Heath, the jolly, redfaced, rough baker’s daughter, but very handsome and graceful, and although different from her undignified good-humored, easy-going parents. Miss Rosiland Heath was no favorite in her native village; the gossips called her “proud” ami “stuck-up;” she held herself entirely aloof from tho villagers and their merry-makings, and scarcely noticed the love-lorn young farmers who languished fora smile or a kind word from her; but when Francis Maywood, aristocratic and wealthy, camo bogging for her heart, all her pride and coldness melted, in tho intensity of her warm, impulsive, girlish love. Mr. Maywood was all anxiety for their wedding, and so one blazing August day, Rosiland Heath was made Rosiland Maywood in the little church of tho village, and in tho cool of the evening she kissed the honest baker and his thrifty wife, and bade farewell to the dull little town in which she had reigned a proud young queen. Before Frank had been married many weeks, he noticed how fond of gaiety and admiration and dress she was; at first he thought it quite natural, for Rose was very young and unaccustomed to the graudeur and pleasure of her new life; but as time ran on he saw how much fonder she seemed of looking pretty and dressing well than of her husband’s comfort. For some time after the baby came Rosiland grew indifferent to every other joy ; she was the most devoted and idolizing qf mothers; then by degrees, the novelty of the sweet baby face died away, and Rose was the gay, pleasure-loving Rose of formerly, sighing for the glamor and excitement of ilio ball-room, caring little or nothing for tho peaceful quiet of home life. As sho stands there now in tho loose flowing robe of wiiito cashmere, the hot flush slowly fading from her dark, piquant face, the angry light dying from her black oyes, she forms a pretty, penitent picture, for already she regrets her hasty, impetuous words, already she icels she has acted both ooldly and selfishly in wishing to defy bfli* husband and forsake little Her-

Dert, to atiena toe .uanierwi reception. But, repentant and ashamed as she feels at her behavior, Rose Maywood, has too much foolish pride to acknowledge it, so she has only glances across at Frank, and says, carelessly; “If y.oa desire me not to to the Danferths’, of course I sh’an’t go, Frank.” Frank, who has not yet forgotten. vs forgivin, her exhibition of baa temper of a few minutes before, walla calmly to the door, aud, with his hand upon the knob, he answers her: “I desire uothing; you may please yourself without reference to my wishes. If your own love and natural feelings for your sick child are so light that you can willingly go and enjoy yourself among that gay assemblage—if your child’s health and comfort are of so little consequence to you, I shall request nor force you to remain at home;” and with those plain words the gentleman opens the door and leaves his wife alone. Rose, whose former anger lias scarcely entirely evaporated, crosses the room with one long stride, and gives the bell-rone a quick, vengeful jerk. “He thiuks, by his reproaches, he can frighten me into pleasing him and staying here,” she says, to herself, with a short, mirthless laugh, and a defiant flash of her angry eyes, “but he shall soon see how very much mistaken he is. I might have stayed at home if he had acted less coldly, but when he assumes that freezing look, and that stern, unapproachable air, I’d do anything rather than please him. I missed tne Danferth dinner party and musicale , partly because Herbert had a slight cold, partly because Frank declared it would be possibly wrong to leave him, and now I’m not going to sacrifice the Danferth ball aud reception for the same foolisli reason. lean go with the Claverin<a; thank goodness I’m not dependent on Frank to take mo to-night. Mary,” continued Mrs. Maywood, as Mary makes her re-appearance in answer to her mistress’ ring, “Mary, lay out my jewels, and get me dressed as soon as you can, for Miss Clavering aud her brother may be here at auy minute now.”

In half an hour Rosiland Maywood, looking ppsitively radient in the trailing amber satin, is whirled away in the Clavering equipage, towards the handsome, illuminated Danferth mansion, where music, mirth and excitement reign supreme. Mrs. Danferth, a stately lady of five tnd forty, greets the Clavering party with quite a show of effusion, and presently Rose i 3 introduced to the countess, whom she finds to be a very formal, very chilling, very uncongenial personage indeed. The English ambassador takes Mrs. Maywood to supper, and converses on subjects so far above poor Rose’s rather meager iutellect, that site begins to repent coming, and wisli she had stayed away from this aristocratic assemblage. As the night grows so does Rose’s regret; she becomes thoroughly tired of the dancing, though she has had but two waltzes and a quadrille; she contrives to escape from the little group of talkative admirers that surround her, and screens herself in the deep recess of a French window, feeling quite weary and miserable. Frank’s displeased face haunts her, his grave, reproachful vo.ee still sounds in her ears; she loves him, in her own capricious, impulsive way, and she cannot forget how defiant and heartless has been her conduct to him; she thinks of her baby, whom she has left sick at home—she had not wanted to believe it, she told herself Frank was foolish and fanciful,and the child was not ill, but now the truth will intrude itself, and she knows how true were his words. Oh! if she were only home again, away from all this noise and merrinientjmd graudeur; what are they all in comparison to her own passionate love, her generous, noble husband, the little innocent child whom she has so cruelly neglected. The loud crashing sound of the brass band makes her head burn and ache, the heavy fragrance of the flowers decorating tho vast parlors sicken her, the incessant talking, tho gay laughter, tho life around her, almost maddens her, and she feels liko throwing all reserve aside and bursting into a paroxysm of tears, and escaping from the merry, careless crowd. Madge Clavering, looking eagerly around in search ot her friend, espies her, halt-concealed by the flowing draperies of pale violet velvet and flue lace, and, hurrying forward, she lays one white, patrician, ring-laden hand, lightly upon Rosilaud’s arm, and rouses her from her wretched reverie. “What is it? You don’t seem as if you enjoyed the reception. Do you want to iro home, dear?” Rose raises her brooding ayes, and Madge sees hej; face is quite pnlo and tear-stained. “Oh, Madge, I want to go homo to my husband and my baby. I left Herbert ill at home, and came here .against Frank’s wishes, and I fear—oh, Madge, I fear he may bo worse. Will you allow your coachman to drive me homo now, then ho can return for you and Harry?” “Cerlainly, my poor little Rose,” says Miss Clavering, promply, stooping down to kiss Rose’s upturned face. “And I’ll go home, too. Don’t worry, dear; perhaps Herbert is better, instead of worse. H„rry declares he is bored, and I have a horrid headache; the heat and crowd are intolerable. Mrs. Danferth shows poor management in over-crowding her rooni3. Are you ready to go now, Rose?” “Oh, yes!” Mrs. Maywood replies, eagerly. “I’ll put on toy wraps lat once.”

“VWy well; Til tell Harry, then we can go to the dressing-room together”’ and Madge moves away to speak to her brother. The carriage is driven around to the front of the mansion. Madge apologizes for their early departure, says the reception is very agreeable, etc., etc., and then the Claverxng party utter their adieux, and are presently enconced in the velvet-cushioned equipage. The ride home is a long one, but at last the stately, spacious house Rose calls home, looms up in sight, and the horses are pulled up before the stone step; and after kissing Madge, who is already nodding, a warm good-night, Mrs. Maywood alights, aud Harry Ciavering escorts her up the great flight of steps to the ponderous enstrauce door, which is opened by a blinking-eyed, sieepy-looking individual, in handsome livery, and who becomes red aud excited at sight of his mistress.

Mr. Clavering politely raises his hat and disappears down the steps, the door closes with a bang, and Rose stands under the dimly-lit hall light, her face quite pale. “Is anything wrong, Cappers?” she asks, eagerly. “Oh, ma’am, the young master took worse after you left for Mrs. Danferth’s, and, oh, ma’am ” But Mrs. Maywood waits to hear no more; she pushes past- him, flinging off her fur-liued wraps as she rushes up the staircase toward the nursery.— She' throws open the door and sees her husband, the family physician, and old Jane the nurse, surrounding the small satin-covered, lace-draped bed on which her baby lies, eyes wildly, feverishly bright, his lips parched and dry, his breath coming in hot, painful gasps. “Rose, is it, indeed, you?” Frank exclaims in cold surprise. “Yes, it fs I. Oh, Frank, my baby; is he worse? tell me I” She kneels down beside the bed, her face very white and scared, and kisses passionately the baby face. “Herbert—Bertie, darling, it is mama. Oh, Heaven, be does not know me I” wails the excited girl. “Mrs. Maywood—my dear madame, pray bo calm; the child must be kept extremely quiet; if he gets excited I shall not answer for the consequences,” remonstrates the doctor, severely. “VVill he live? is he very ill ?—only answer me, and I shall be quiet. Oh, doctor he is my only one; do not say that he will die 1” The pitiful cry touches a soft spot in the gruff, elderly little physician’s heart; she looks so very young and lovely there, in the shimmering satin dress, kneeling beside her sick child that Dr. Molldon answers her as hopefully as he, with truth, cau: “VVith great care there is a possible chance of his recovery, but the attack is a severe oue; the fever has Oeen gradually coming on, and had I been summoned afew hours earlier* jt ought have saved tho child much sulfiding, for I could have prevented tyieT&vcr (from getting such headway. Tne nurse there knows what to do—l gave her directions —3o there is no necessity for your sitting up with him my dear madame, I’ll stop in again in the morning. Good-nighll” The physician takes up his hat, throws a careless glance at the babypatient, gives an abrupt little nod, aud vanishes from the nursery.

Rose watched beside tho little sufferer all through the long hours of the night, her heart filled with ming led remorse and fear; and Francis Maywood, sees, then, how fervently she regrets her neglect and desertion of her only child. Little Herbert Maywood’s baby-life hangs as if by a thread, for the next few days, ready to snap at any moment ; it appears as if his recovery to health and strength was impossible—as if he must clie; and when the terrible crisis comes, and the doctor announces gleefully that he is to live, Rose, whose heart is almost broken, whose soul is sick with hopelessness and despair, falls down upon her knees in a very paroxysm of joy and deepest gratitude to thank Heaveu for its groat mercy. She steals to her husband’s siilo an hour after, when baby has fallen into a quiet slumber, and puts her thin hands upon his shoulders, and looks up into his face with smiling, happy eyes. “Frank, Heaven has spared my baby’s life, and forgiven my wicked notions. Oh! darling, won’t you?” He bends down and presses passionate kisses upon tho pale, wan facepale and wan with incessant watching over the child’s sick bed, but on which a radiant smile rests, and puts bis 6trong arms about the slender figure. “My dearest, I forgave you long ago; lho night you returned home from Hrs. Danferth’s so unexpectedly, I knew you repented evergoing.” “Ohl don’t mention that night,” Rose cries with a little shudder. “It brings the memory of my selfishness and lieartlessness so vividly back to me. I am going to turn over a new leaf, as they say, qnd prove to you and baby how dearly I love you both, Frank.” And Rosiland Maywood kept truo to her word. From that day forth, all the intense lovo of dissipation and pleasure, the willfulness and waywardness that had made her so indifferent to her husband’s happiness and hidden her real and sweet nature, vanished forever. The Fertilizer company has stopped removing garbage and dead animals from Cincinnati. The work, until a new contract is made, will be done by the city.