Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-02
rrv with him. but he was not, as she well

orv with him, Dut ne was nots as eHe wei
Knew, the sort of young man with whom
a girl would be willing to be caught walk
ing alone ID q secluded road and. Rose
seeing that she had not been perceived
turned hastily into the bushes. crossed
low fence, and struck straight through the
wood in the direction of Mount JOY
There was no pathway through this un
frequented wood, and when Rose hac
walked some distance, she lost the ''bear.
ings," as sailors say, and had wandered
out of her direct course. She paused on q
slightly elevated and open space, ano
looked around. The first object that ar
rested her attention was something red
gorgeously red and vivid-gleaming ou
from neighboring thicket like blazing
Jewel. II must be flower, Of course
though not even the superb cardinal flowe
had ever seemed to the girls eyes half 81
splendid in its gorgeous hue. AMI wher
she reached it, she stood in almost raptu
Gus surprise and delight at recognizing IN
this jewel Of the woodland a dahlia-and
such dahlia
There were several buds already nearly
opened, though but one in full blossoms
blossom Just opened and perfectly devel-
oped. ..s.
II will get Robert to remove it to our
garden said Rose to herself; land this
lovely blossom / will. take to Mrs. Rivers.
She is so fond of flowers. l wonder how
it came here, away in the woods; and
there is part of basket, half buried in
the earth. near it. Yes, it is actually grow
ing out of an old wicker basket.
As she passed the Mount Joy garden,
Duncan was throwing over the palings a
handful of rooted-up weeds. His eve was
instantly caught by the glow of the flower
which Rose carried in her hand, its stem
wrapped in some wet. moss to keep 1t
fresh And when she showed the blossom,
and told him how she had found it, the
old nies1's ehrewd eyes kindled. 81 He knew
all in an instant. 1t was Mrs. Harmon's
lost dahlia. q. asa4rs-s .es-s
''I'll gle you guide price for the plant,
Miss Rose" he said persuasively.
"What price P" asked Rose. wondering
w; for it had not occurred to her that any
one would wish to buy the flower.
"Aweel." said the old man, refectively,
as he scratched his head-'say 81.
Duncan was Scotchman, shrewd and
economical, yet he ielt half ashamed to
impose on the girl with such an offer for
tniS AoA z anu SPiCnuAo Piduts <Aiiu
that she hesitated, he fancied she knew
something of its value.
"You think it's worth mair, perhaps ?"
he suggested. Is S. 81
''Oh, no." said Rose, with a half-absent
smile; II was only wishing it was worth
"Eh, guide guide u.s. 500 for wee
So Rose, in defending herself from the
charge Of such unheard-of mercenariness,
unconsciously told her story Duncan
had good heart.--'''au fond" as the
French say--and his sympathies were
aroused for the lovers, whilst, at the same
time. his Indignation rose against his sue
cessor at Fairview-Watson.
'Ill tell We wha' It's. Miss Rose" he
broke in at the end of her story-"Gin
ye'ligtc mefhat flower, and the hail plant,
root, Bad, an a. I'll nae see ye put out
for want o. 800. l haze that, an mair, i
the same bank wi that donnie chief yon
der, and I'll be before-hahdcd wi him. or
my names nae Duncan"
So the bargain was agreed to on the
spot; and the old Scotchman. with spade
and basket, accompanied Rose back to
the. place where grew the dahlia, and
carefully, as though he were digging up n
treasure, renewed the plant with the
earth undisturbed about its roots
"Hech, sirs - said be with chuckle,
''but it's the Teddy o Mount Joy wull win
the prize this time an I'd gae anither
Kindred dollars Almost to see how Madam
Harmon will open her big black eyne
when theyfa on this at the fair tomorrow.
Dell kens how it came here, then ~
The way in which the root had really
come there was afterward remembered by
Mrs. Harmon herself. She had placed it,
with the dried moss in which it had been
enveloped, not on the shelf, as she had
supposed. but in little wicker basket on
that shelf, and this basket the children
had the same evening appropriated for
gathering gentian roots in the woods, and
thus lost, with the precious dahlia root
still within it.
When, late the following day, William
Watson, returning from the fair, presented
himself and his five hundred dollars at the
Five Corners smithy, he was told that the
place had been sold some hours previous
to Robert Ward. And every time he is
under the necessity of passing that way.
he beholds Robert busily at work in his
shop, with plenty Of customers around;
whilst Rose, prettier than ever in her
youthful m;tronly bloom, is equally as
busy attending to her garden, setting roots
and tying up lunches. with frequently old
Duncan to criticise, instruct and assist.
The old mans loan has been paid long
ago, and he and the Wards are great
friends. He still shows his splendid dahl
liza at all the flower-fairs, and relates. with
a chuckle, how he gained possession of it;
and if any one questions the strict honora-
bleness Of the proceeding, he puts down
the objective with: 'slIech, sirs! but it
was proyidentia' an Tn nae ane to fly
L the face o. Providence