Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

lamentations, reproaches, and irate glances fell unavailingly

instead of wounding the heart against which they were aimed.

The days passed very quickly now, for everyone seemed anxious to

have the parting over and preparations went on rapidly. The big

house was made ready to shut up for a year at least, comforts for

the long voyage laid in, and farewell visits paid. The general

activity and excitement rendered it impossible for Charlie to lead

the life of an artistic hermit any longer and he fell into a restless

condition which caused Rose to long for the departure of the Rajah

when she felt that he would be safe, for these farewell festivities

were dangerous to one who was just learning to say “no.?

“Half the month safely gone. If we can only get well over these last

weeks, a great weight will be off my mind,” thought Rose as she

went down one wild, wet morning toward the end of February.

Opening the study door to greet her uncle, she exclaimed, “Why,

Archie!” then paused upon the threshold, transfixed by fear, for in

her cousin’s white face she read the tidings of some great

affliction.

“Hush! Don’t be frightened. Come in and I’ll tell you,” he

whispered, putting down the bottle he had just taken from the

doctor’s medicine closet.

Rose understood and obeyed, for Aunt Plenty was poorly with her

rheumatism and depended on her morning doze.

“What is it?” she said, looking about the room with a shiver, as if

expecting to see again what she saw there New Year’s night.

Archie was alone, however, and, drawing her toward the closet,

answered with an evident effort to be quite calm and steady

“Charlie is hurt! Uncle wants more ether and the wide bandages in

some drawer or other. He told me, but I forget. You keep this place

in order find them for me. Quick!?

Before he had done, Rose was at the drawer, turning over the

bandages with hands that trembled as they searched.

“All narrow! I must make some. Can you wait?” And, catching up

a piece of old linen, she tore it into wide strips, adding, in the same

quick tone, as she began to roll them, “Now, tell me.?

“I can wait those are not needed just yet. I didn’t mean anyone

should know, you least of all,” began Archie, smoothing out the

strips as they lay across the table and evidently surprised at the

girl’s nerve and skill.

“I can bear it make haste! Is he much hurt??

“I’m afraid he is. Uncle looks sober, and the poor boy suffers so, I

couldn’t stay,” answered Archie, turning still whiter about the lips

that never had so hard a tale to tell before.

“You see, he went to town last evening to meet the man who is

going to buy Brutus ?

“And Brutus did it? I knew he would!” cried Rose, dropping her

work to wring her hands, as if she guessed the ending of the story

now.

“Yes, and if he wasn’t shot already I’d do it myself with pleasure,

for he’s done his best to kill Charlie,” muttered Charlie’s mate with

a grim look, then gave a great sigh and added with averted face, “I

shouldn’t blame the brute, it wasn’t his fault. He needed a firm

hand and ” He stopped there, but Rose said quickly: “Go on. I must

know.?

“Charlie met some of his old cronies, quite by accident; there was

a dinner party, and they made him go, just for a good-bye, they

said. He couldn’t refuse, and it was too much for him. He would

come home alone in the storm, though they tried to keep him, as

he wasn’t fit. Down by the new bridge that high embankment, you

know the wind had put the lantern out he forgot or something

scared Brutus, and all went down together.?

Archie had spoken fast and brokenly but Rose understood and at

the last word hid her face with a little moan, as if she saw it all.

“Drink this and never mind the rest,” he said, dashing into the next

room and coming back with a glass of water, longing to be done

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