Elsies Girlhood | Page 9

I might be able to win you. But oh,
Rose, could you but guess how I love you--better than aught else upon
earth save my precious child! and even as I love her better than life. I
said that our home had been a happy one, but to me it can be so no
longer if you refuse to share it with me!"
She turned her blushing face towards him for a single instant, and
timidly placed her hand in his. The touch sent a thrill through her whole
frame.
"And you will dare trust me?" he said in a low tone of intense joy. "Oh,
Rose! I have not deserved such happiness as this! I am not worthy of
one so pure and good. But I will do all that man can do to make your
life bright and happy."
"Ah, Mr. Dinsmore! I am very unfit for the place you have asked me to
fill," she murmured. "I am not old enough, or wise enough to be a
mother to your little girl."
"I know you are young, dear Rose, but you are far from foolish," he
said tenderly, "and my little girl is quite prepared to yield you a
daughter's love and obedience; but I do not think she will be a care or
trouble to you; I do not intend that she shall, but expect to take all that
upon myself. Indeed, Rose, dearest, you shall never know any care or
trouble that I can save you from. No words can tell how dear you are to
me, and were it in my power I would shield you from every annoyance,
and give you every joy that the human heart can know. I have loved
you from the first day we met!--ah, I loved you even before that, for all
your love and kindness to my darling child; but I scarcely dared hope
that you could return my affection, or feel willing to trust your
happiness to the keeping of one who had shown himself such a monster
of cruelty in his treatment of his little gentle daughter. Are you not
afraid of me, Rose?"

His arm was around her waist, and he was bending over her, gazing
down into her face, and eagerly awaiting her answer.
Presently it came, in calm, gentle tones; "No, Horace; 'perfect love
casteth out fear,' and I cannot judge you hardly for what may have been
only a mistaken sense of duty, and has been so bitterly repented."
"Heaven bless you, dearest, for these words," he answered with
emotion, "they have made me the happiest of men."
Horace Dinsmore wore upon his little finger a splendid diamond ring,
which had attracted a good deal of attention, especially among the
ladies; who admired it extremely, and of which Miss Stevens had
hoped to be one day the happy and envied possessor. Taking Rose's
small white hand in his again, he placed it upon her slender finger.
"This seals our compact, and makes you mine forever," he said,
pressing the hand to his lips.
"With the consent of my parents," murmured Rose, a soft blush
mantling her cheek.
Elsie was still in her papa's private parlor, for though it was long past
her usual hour for retiring, she had not yet done so; her father having
left a message with Chloe to the effect that she might, if she chose, stay
up until his return.
Chloe had dropped asleep in her chair, and the little girl was trying to
while away the time with a book. But she did not seem much interested
in it, for every now and then she laid it down to run to the door and
listen. Then sighing to herself, "They are not coming yet," she would
go back and take it up again. But at last she started from her seat with
an exclamation of delight that awoke Chloe; for this time there could be
no doubt; she had heard his well-known step upon the stairs.
She moved quickly towards the door--stopped--hesitated, and stood
still to the middle of the room.

But the door opened, and her father entered with Miss Rose upon his
arm. One look at his radiant countenance, and Rose's blushing, happy
face told the whole glad story. He held out his hand with a beaming
smile, and Elsie sprang towards him.
"My darling," he said, stooping to give her a kiss, "I have brought you a
mother."
Then taking Rose's hand, and placing one of Elsie's in it, while he held
the other in a close, loving grasp, he added: "Rose, she is your daughter
also. I give you a share in my choicest treasure."
Rose threw her arm around the little girl and kissed her tenderly,
whispering: "Will you love me, Elsie, dearest?