The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-22
. family In distress, defy you to discover,
search where you may. ...........
Il this Lady Verinder'st" he asked.
..v-- OF. -

"Yes Sir"
"I am Sergeant Cuff"
"This way, Sir. II you please" .,-
On our road to the house I mentioned my
name and position In the family to satisfy him
that be might speak to me about the business
on which my lady was to employ him. Not .
word did he say about the business, however
for all that. He admired the grounds, and 10
marked that he felt the scs-air very brisk and
refreshing. privately wondered, on my side,
how the celebrated Cuff bad goi his reputation.
Wo reached the house. In the temper Of two
strange dogs. coupled up together for the first
time In their lives by the samo chain. .sr "a
Asking for my lady and hearing that she was
In one Of the oonseryatories, We went round to
the gardens at the back and sent servant to
seek her. While We were waiting Sergeant Cuff
looked through the evergreen arch on our left
spied out our rosary, and walked straight In,
with the first appearance ofany thing like inter-
cst that he had shown yet. To the gardener
astonishment, and to my disgust, this celebra-
ted policeman proved to be quito mine Of learn
ing on the trumpery subject Of rose-gardens.
"Ah, you've got the right exposure hero to
the south and sou'west," says the Sergeant,
with .wag Of his griIzled head, and streak
Of pleasure in his melancholy voice. "This Is
the shape for-a rosary-nothing like circle
ret In square. Yes, yes with walks between
all the beds. But they ought'nt to be gravel
walks like these. Grsss, Mr.. Gsrdener-grass
walks between your roses (; gravel's too hard
for them. That's sweet pretty bed Of white
roses and blush roses. They always mix well
together, don't theyf Here's the white musk
rose, Mr.. Bateredgc-our old English rose
holding up its head along with the best and the
newest Of them. Pretty dear Z" says the Ser
gcant, fondling the Musk-Rose with his lanky
fingers. and speaking to II as II he was speaking
to child.
This was nice sort Of man to recover Miss
Rachel's Diamond, and to find out the thief who
stole IL!
"You seem to be fond of roses, Sergeant :" I
remarked.
81 haven't much time to be fond Of any
thing" says Sergeant Cuff. But, when haze
moments fondness to bestow, most times, Mr..
Betteredgc, the roses get II. I began my life
among them In my fathers nursery garden, and
I shall end my life among them II can. Yes.
One Of these days (please Cody I shall retire
from catching thieves, and try my hand al
growing roses. There win be grass walks, Mr..
Gardener, between my beds. says the Sergeant,
on whose mind tho gravel-paths Of rosary
seemed to dwell unpleasantly.
"It seems an odd taste, Sir,"I ventured to
say, for man In your line Of life."
"If you will look about you (Which most peo-
pie won't do)," says Sergeant Cuff, "you will
sec that the nature Of q mans tastes Is, most
times, rs opposite as possible to the nature Of q
mans business. Show me any two things moro
opposite one from the other than q rose and q
thief, and I'll correct my tastes accordingly
IL IL isn't too late at my time Of life. You find
the damask-rose goodish stock for most Of the
tender sorts, don't you, Mr.. Gardener All
I thought 50. Here's lady coming. Is II
Lady Verinderi'
lie had seen her before either or the gar
dcner had seen her-though we knew which
way to look, and he didn't. began to think
him rather quicker man than he appeared TO
bc at FIRST sight.