Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1884 — AN ODDITY. [ARTICLE]

AN ODDITY.

It was toward the close of a pleasant June day, and in the porch of the Langtry Hotel stood a group of people waiting for the afternoon stage-coach. One, • faahionably-attired young lady, with a cold, passive face, stood anxious and a trifle impatient. "Do you think she will come, Miss Baldwin?" asked a young girl at her aide, "Rose Elton ? Oh, yes,” replied the other. "I do hope so,” said another ono of the group. “We are all very anxious to aee her.” Sara Baldwin smiled, and turned her eyes to the road again. The ooach was just appearing over the brow of a distant hill, and soon after the panting horses drew np in front of the “Langtry.” Three people alighted, an old lady who had come to try the Welsh mountains for her health, and her companion, and following them a tall, handsome young man, Sara’s brother. Rose Elton had not come. Sara seized the young man as he ascended the porch steps, and drew' him aside. "Frank, didn’t she come ?” ehe asked. Frank shook his head. "Nor send a letter 1 ?” "Yes, here it is.” He banded her the square, white epistle, and then sauntered away, while Sara hastened to hey apartment to read the letter, which ran as follows: “Dear Saba, — "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot come to the mountains this summer. Circumstances alter cases, you know, and circumstances with which you are probably acquainted alter this case considerably. Thanks for your kind invitation, however. ''"Yours truly, “Rose Elton.” Miss Baldwin read it over several times. What could Rose mean? “Strange,” ehe said, half aloud, as she Arose and laid the epistle in her desk with several others. “I can’t understand it at all. But Rose always was a curious person, and this is her latest and oddest freak.” When Sara descended to tho draw-ing-room that evening, her brother (knew at onpe that something had disturbed heir peace of mind. “What is it?” he whispered, during the evening. -t—_■ “The letter,” returned Sara, rather jeurtty. “A perfect riddie. No, Rose isn't coming. Don’t ask me auv more.” The news spread very rapidly. Everyone knew that Rose Elton had not arrived, and all were sorrv. No, not aIL Frank Baldwin was glad— exceedingly glad. His sister had said enough for him to know thnt Rose was coming particularly for his benefit; he was expected to entertain her, and he disliked “odd people.” So ho whistled a Ey air, thanked his lneky stars that' we stayed at home, and felt kindly towards her for doing so. Poor Rose Elton! Three days previous to that upon which the above incident took place, the postman stopped at the Eltous' residence, and left a missive addressed to “Miss Rose Elton.” Rose was down j town, however, and her mother laid the missive upon the mantel, whore she would be sure to sea it upon her re“Frora Sara T Bose cried, the moment her eyes reeled upon it. ' , ■ ■ ,

Than, without removing her out-door garments, she sat down by the window and perused its contents. Mrs. Elton looked up at her as she sat there; the letter was crushed in her clenched hands, and the face beneath the jaunty hat was white and set * “Rose,” she said, in alarm, “what is the matter? Are yon ill?" “No,” answered the girl, in a low tone. “Oh. mother, mother!” She crossed her arms upon the broad window sill, and leaning her head upon them, sobbed bitterly. The letter fell to the floor and lay there, a tiny, white flake on the broad carpet,. Mrs. Elton picked it up, and laid her hand on her daughter’s bowed head. “May I read it?” she asked. “ Yes, please. Oh, dear! could she—mean—it? Oh, dear!" came between tbe sobs. Mrs. Elton smoothed out the paper, and read it slowly. “Langtry, June 15,18 —. “My Dear Eva.— “Rose Elton is coining here next Friday. I have aroused the cariosity of the people at the hotel, and you don’t know liow anxious they are to see her. She will afford us a deal of amusement this summer, with her queer ways, and arch, innocent speeches; but, dear me, one needs something to amuse them in this dull place. That is one reason why I invito her; another, which must remain a secret between you and me, on account of Frank. She is wealthy, yon know, and would be a good match for him; besides, he is twenty-eight, and I should like to have him marry even if it must be that oddity. Yon ask me in what way she was odd, and I will try to explain, although you would need tosee her to understand her at all. She is exceedingly pretty and doesnot know it; she trusts everybody, friend or foe; she is simple and frank to a fault; ehe is never angry, at least I have never seen her so; and—well, that is all I can tell you; Bhe is entirely different from the rest of us.” Then followed a description of the “Langtry” and its occupants, all written in a cutting, satirical manner; a few friendly confidences, and the signature, “Your friend, Sara Baldwin." Now Mrs. Elton understood Rose’s white faoe and outburst of tears ; but she could not fully’realize how deeply the cruel words had wounded the girl’s sensitive nature. . ___ “Well, my dehr, you will not’think of going now?” she said. “Of course not," Rose replied, drying her tears. “I shall accept Aunt Mary’s invitation and spend the summer with her,” , “When will you go?” “Next Friday; the .same day I intended to start for the mountains.” So Rose wrote the letter that seemed suoli an enigma to Sara, and despatched it. Short ns it was, it took her a long time lo accomplish it, for the tears would fall from the long lashes and blind her so she could soarcely see the lines. But on the following day she started for her aunt’3 country residence. * * * • * « “Mary, what do you say about our taking a summer lodger?” Rose and her aunt looked up at the Bpeaker iu surprise-. “Summer lodger ?” repeated the latter. “Why, John, what gave you that ider?” “Well,” replied Uncle John, “there’s, a young man, a friend of Mr. Bradley’s, who wants to procure lodgings somewhere in this neighborhood; and as Mr. Bradley’s rooms are all taken, he asked me jf I’d accommodate him. We have room enough?” “Yes.” “And lie’s a nice young mao.” “Perhaps.” “And would he good company for our young girl here; eh,' Rose ?” Rose blushed slightly, and made a laughing reply. “Well, Mary, what do you say?" “Do as you please, John," Aunt Mary replied. “I don’t know that I have any objections.” So it was decided; and on the following day the new lodger arrived. Rose met liiin at the table that evening. “My niece, Rose Elton, Mr, Baldwin.” They looked at each other, bowed, and looked at eaoh other again; and during the meal there were furtive glances cast across the table, and Rose fancied she saw a merry twinkle in Frank Baldwin’s blue eyes, and a covet smile half hid Under the brown moustache. When the evening was over, and they had retired to their separate" rooms, they each made a mental estimate of the other. “And she is the oddity—Rose Elton!” reflected Frank. “Well, she certainly does differ from the majority of her sex; hut I like her—l. do, indeed. What would Sara say if she knew of this? But she shall not know yet awhile. And to think I should have wished to avoid this clmrming girl! Well, well, after all, Frank, you’ve not escaped the ta'-k of entertaining her. But it won’t be a task now; oh, no, not at all.” “Ho [ havereally met Sara’sbro her!” thought Rose. “Ho isn’t half as disagreeable as I had expected, and I don’t believe he had anything to do with, or knew about, that horrid letter.” The days passed by, and Rose dis covered that the summer lodger was really an agreeable person; while he, in turn, confessed that, although ho had an antipathy to “odd people,” he certainly made an exception to this one. She was so piquant and artless; so childlike and confiding; so unconscious of her own beauty and fascination, that Frank stieenmlied to her powor, and fell desperately in love with her. Uncle John and Aunt Mary cast significant glances at each other; they understood it all, and prophesied how it would end. “There wiH be a wedding as sure as Fate.” remarked Aunt Mary, shaking' her head wisely. Ami she Bpoke time; for in the following Septcmlier the marriage bells chimed loud and clear for tbe union es Frank ar.d Rose FA ton. • r r- ■ • -• •;[ *' • It was the second week of September, anfi the majority of the lodgers at tbe “Langtry” had departed for their city homes. ,4 few lingered, however, and among these was Sara. She stood upon the porch one afternoon, and waited, as

she had done three months before, for the evening stage .to arrive. She had received a letter from her brother, apprizing her of his earning, bnt no mention was made of Rose. Accordingly, when the coach door was opened, and Frank stepped out, accompanied by a pretty, smiling young girl, Sara was greatly surprised^ A second glanc6 told nor vho the girl was, and a slight blusn dyed her usually colorless faoe, for she learned of the mistake she had made in regard to the letters, and shame and confusion took possession of her for an instant; then she recovered herself, and turning toward the approaching couple, exclaimed, “Why, Frank, where did you find Miss Elton ? I had despaired of seeing you at all this summer, Rose. Of course Miss Eltou will stay with us awhile, Frank?” “I think she will,” replied Frank, with a smile. “Miss Elton no longer, Sara, but my wife, Mrs. Baldwin.”