The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-11

MOUNT Joy, Carrying HOlne tue completed
dresses that would be wanted next day at the
great fair at Lexington. She walked the
whole way this time, as far as the the Five
Corners, and there stopped to rest in the shade
OF the fruit trees in front of the smiths cot.
tage. The notice Was still conspicuouslv nail
ed OH the front of the shop.
"You havn't yet had an offer for your nlaca
Mr.. Simpson," she asked of the smith who
passed her, appearing very busy.
:, flen'y ohers-money amt paid down.
though: Expect young Watson'li take it
just lett little while ago, and promised to
get the money out o'bank tomorrow at Lex
inglon. DON'T intend to take down notice
M M; bargains made and money paid cash.
have it."
Rose walked on. Her feeling of indifference
toward William Watson had changed into one
OF Indignation. What could he want OF the
smlthy, who was gardener, and had col,
tage of his own? No doubt the proposed
purchase was to spite her aud Robert, ana, as
the thought occurred, she perceived the oo)ect
of her indignation approaching on horseback
round a turn of the road. She did not desire
to meet him. Not only was she angry with
him. but he was not, as she well knew, the
sort of Young man with whom a girl would
be willing to be caught walking alone on
secluded road and Rose, seeing that she had
not been perceived turned hastily into the
bushes, crossed a low fence, and struck straight
through the wood in the direction of Mount
Joy. There was no pathway through this I'M
frequented wood, and when Rose had walked
some distance, she lost the "bearings," as
sailors say, and had wanderhd out of her di-
rect course. She paused on a slightly elevated
and open space, and looked around. The
first object that arrested her attention was
something red-gorgeously red and vivid
cleaning out from neighboring thicket like
blazing Jewell 1t must be flower, of
course-though not even the superb cardinal
HOVER had ever seemed to the girls eyes half
SO splendid in its gorgeous hue. And when
she reached it, she stood in almost rapturous
surprise and delight at recognizing in this
jewel of the woodland dahlia-and such a
dahlial
There were several buds already nearly
opened, though but one in full blossom
blossom just opened and perfectly developed.
II will get Robert to remove 1t TO our gar
den," said Rose to herself; "and this lovely
blossom will take to Mrs. Rivers. She is so
fond OF flowers. | wonder how it came here,
away in the woods; and there is part of a
basket, half buried in the earth, near it. Yes.
1t is actually growing out OF an old wicker
basket"
AS she passed the Mount Joy garden, Dun
can was throwing over the palings a handful
of rooted-up weeds. His eye was instantly
caught by the glow of the flower which Rose
carried in her hand, its stem wrapped in some
wet moss to keep it fresh. And when she
showed the blossom, and told him how she
had found it, the old mans shrewd grey eyes
klndled. He knew all in an instant. 1t was
Mrs. Harmon's lost dahlia
III gle you guide price for the plant, Miss
Rose," he said persuasively.
What price?" asked Rose, wonderingly;
Tor 1t had moi occurred to her that any one
would wish to buy the flower.
"Aweel," said the old man, refectively, as
he scratched his head-"say $1.'
Duncan was Scotchman, shrewed and eco
nomical, yet he felt halt ashamed to impose
on the girl with such an offer for this rare and
splendid plant. And seeing that she hesitat.
ed, he fancied she knew something of its val
ue.
you think it's worth mair, perhaps ?" he
suggested.
ooh, no." said Rose, with half-absen.
smile; Il was only wishing it was worth
$780,"
Sch, guide guide us 500 for a wee flow.
err'
So Rose, in defending herself from the
charge of such unheard-of mercenarness I'M
consciously 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 successor at Fairview-Watson
"Pll tell ye wha' tbs, Miss Rose" he broke
in at the END OF her story-"Gin yell gle me
that flower, and the hail plant root, bud, an
a. III nae see ye put out for want O. 500. 1
hae that, an mair, i the same bank VII that
donnie chief yonder, and iii be before hand
ed WI MIN, or may names nae Duncan"
so the bargain was agreed to on the spot
ana the Old Scotchman, with spade and bas-
ket accompanied Rose back to the place
where grew the dahlia, and carefully. a.
though he were digging up buried-treas-
ure, removed the plant with the earth un-
disturbed about its roots.
Hech, slrs " said he, with chuckle. "bnt
IT'S the Teddy O. Mount Joy will win tie
prize this Tune; an I'd gle anither hind red
ooliars amalst to see how Madame Hs.rmon
Wuil open her big black eyne when the. v fa'on
this at the fair tomorrow. Dell ker.s how if
KEN here, thenp "
., Inc way IN which the root had really come
there was afterwards remember ed nv Mrs
Harmon herself. She bad placed IT. with
the drled moss in which it had been enyelop-
ed, not on the shelf, as she. had supposed. but
IN ilttie wicker basket. on that SHELF and
this basket the children had the same even
ing appropriated for gathering gentian roots
In the woods, and thus lost, with the precious
dahia root still within it.
When, late the following day, William Wat
son, returning from the fair, presented him
self and his $500 at the Five Corners smitby,
he was tod that the place had been sold
some hours previous to Robert Ward. And
every time he is under the necessity of pass
ting that way, he beholds Robert busiy at
work in bis shop. with plenty of customers
around; whilst Rose, prettier than ever in
her youthful matronly bloom, is equally as
busily attending to her garden, setting roots
and tying up punches, with frequently old
Duncan to criticize, instruct, and assist. The
and the Wards are great friends. He still
shows his splendid dahlia at all the flower
fairs, and relates, with a chuckle, how he
gained possession of it; and if any one ques-
tons the strict honorableness of the proceed.
ing, he puts down the objective with-.Hef;h.
sirs! but it was a. providential, an Pm nae
ane to fly i the face O. Providence.n