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

angry. and the gardener was III u'sSrace'
threatened with dismissal; ana all inc lamiiy
were more or less uncomiortapie IIiou9h Tue
800 temper of Madame. And yet the
censa Of il all was very slight thing in it
saFNmerely the loss of hower-root-a dab
Lila. 80,
But then Mrs. Harmon would have told
you what she had already repeated hundred
times, that this dahlla was very unique and
consequently precious species; that she had
purchased it In France, at high prce, one OF
two plants which an old disabled soldier, with
a taste for flowers, had, he SAID, succeeded In
producing by means OF several successive
wears of careful culture and experiment; and
above all she had been certain of this dahlia
taking the prize offered at the approaching
great horticultural fair, for the finest and
rarest specimen of flowers. Several other
valuable ones she had, but this particular
dahlia, "tImperatrice," as the old French
man had called it, in honor of "la belle En-.
genie"-lhis was to be the GROWING glory Of
all. Never before had been seen dah,ia Of
such size, of such perfect formation. and of a
hue SO gorgeously unique-a vivid tinge be
tween richest carmine aud most glowing
crimson, tipped at. the edges with imperial
purple. AND now the precious root was lost;
ana Mrs. senator Rivers, the other great and
rich lady OF the neighborhood-Mrs. Senator
Rivers would certainly obtain the prize and
honor OF possessing which the mistress OF
Fairview was so apxiously and some people
said so foolishly, ambitious.
ut must have been Duncan's fault said
Mrs. Harmon, excitedy. HE was careless
with it. remember perfectly that after my
self taking it out of the jar OF sand placed
the bulb in some dry moss in corner of the
greenhouse shelf, and pointed it out to Dun
can, telling him that it must be set out to-day.
And now it is not to be found and no one
but Duncan has entered the greenhouse since
left it yesterday. He has been making some
arrangements there. he says, clearing away
rubbish, and DO doubt he misplaced and lost
the bnlb. have several times lately obsery-
cd him to be careless and suspect, lazy"
"Oh, no, mammal" observed Emma, gen.
tie, kindly-looking girl of fifteen-not lazy
only old, you know, and not so brisk as those
who are younger. He has been complaining
OF rheumatism"
"You know nothing about it, child" said
her mother, impatiently. "My splendid dab
LAP here the tears actually came into hel
eyes, and she added, 81 gave the value Of
twenty-five dollars for it; and l would give
as much again for its recovery"
FIFTY dollars mamma, for floWer!'
FOR Hover such as that. There is but
one other like it in the world"
"Then we will find it, mammal" shouted
Walter, few years younger than his sister
me and Willie. You promise to give TWEEN.
ty-hve dollars to any one who will find Won,
lost dahlia root?"
"Yes i" replied his mother, ssto YOU or any
one else who will find and bring it to me un.
hurt"
But though the boys, as well as Emma ant
Inc gardner, and some of the servants search
ed all the afternoon, the missing root was moi
to be discovered.
So Mrs. General Harmon, never at any time
very reasonable woman, mourned over her
loss, and partly soothed her aggrieyed feelings
by dismissing the old Scotch gardener, Dun
can, and taking in his place one younger and
more active, though by no means as skilful as
his predecessor. And Duncan, smarting un-
der sense OF injustice, went forward and
offered his services to Mrs. Rivers, who had
long been DESTROYS of possessing them. Thus
Mrs. Harmon "spted nobody but herself" as
Is generally the case when people act hastily
in passion.
Now Duncap's successor at Fairyiew was a
young man named William Watson, who had
long been in love with the pretty daughter of
lno WIDOW Luttrel, who occupied that poor
little cottage at the far end of the VILLAGE
street, and eked out scanty pittapee bv taxi
ing in washing or any such lob that offered
whist hose went out sewing when she could
ma t9e work to do. Watson had LONG been
anxious to supplant Duncan, and it was. in
iact, partly owing to his artful representations
ina. ne nae at length succeeded; and his hope
was Row, that in view of the comfortable sal
AIRY and the pretty gardeners cottage at Fair
view, Rose might be induced 10 marry him.
Great therefore was his chagrin as well as re-
sentneRt, when he found his oder of marriage
for second time rejected by the daughter of
the poor widow; and his ill feeling was in
creased on learning that Rose had all along
preferred his own cousin, Robert Ward and
that the two were to be married so soon as
Ward could afford to purchase or build a
small cottage. But then the young man was,
like his afianced, very poor, doing small
trade in the village as blacksmith's assistant:
and it would probably be long time that he
and Rose would have to wait for their cot
tage. Meantime, thought Watson, who was
vindictive, something might be done to break
on the match; and he never wished this so
ardently as when he saw the youcg couple.
bright and happy-looking, despite their power
ty, saunter slowly past his own door ON Sum
DAY evenings on their way to and from church,
and fancied in their smiling looks that they
were triumphiDg over him.
SO the spring passed, and the summer came
nioSsominS INTO The gorgeous righteousness
o Of July and Angus. On the first of septen-
IeI was 10 De t.ne great horticultural fair at
14ee,1.uston., the county town, about twelve
Mrs. Senator Rivers wanted some dresses
made tor the little girls for this particular oc-
casion, and, as was frequently the case, ap'
piled for Rose Luttrers services. So one
morning, about week before the first of Sep
TENDER, the young girl set out for three
mile walk to MouEt Joy, whose turreted roofs
and many chimneys, rising above magnif-
cent grove of old trees, she could see quite
plainly from her own little cottage. She was
to pass the day at Mount Joy, and in the even
ing return, bringing the work with her for
completion at home.
Rose was used to walking, and two or three
miles along the pretty picturesque valley road
was very little to her. Nevertheless she ac-
cepted from farmer Brown, by whom she was
presently overtaken, the offer Of a ride in his
wagon.
Little less than two miles from the village
they came to what was called the Five Cor
ners, point where no less than that number
OF roads met There was nice country tav-
ern here, together with "store' and a
smithy. As they passed the latter they saw
the smith come out, and with black and
brawny hands nail up a board in front of his
door, on which was written, "This property
for sale, cheapw
sc "Heliop said farmer Brown, drawing up,
"Selln' out, heya"
wouldn't put up this 'ere if 1 wa'n't,n an
swered the smith, who was a gruff fellow.
"Wal, now! and you're DOM the best black
smith business in the hull country!" said the
old man in tone of disappointment.
"Mebbe can do better STILL" answered
he coolly.
"You don't say? Whereabouts now?"
SIN California. Dicks maxim lots o. mo-
ney over thar, and he's writ to me to come
out the first minute can, and iine him in a
business he's about to undertake."
10 be sure! and You'll 90 soon's the lot is
sola?" '-'O NV 40
Yes; the lot, and the smithy, and the
house over thar" nodding toward a nice little
white cottage with its portico embow cred in
multifiora roses, which stood a little apart
from the shop. ''Going to let it of cheap as
in this case times O. more valley TO me than
money. Five hundred the whole lott"
wal, now, that is a low figurew
"Must be paid, though, before the first of
September, as Pm bound to be off by that
time. Wouldn't let it go off SO easy if walnt
pressed for time, and obleeged to give such
short notice."
The smith finished mailing on the board as
ne spoke, and returned TO his shop. whilst
farmer Brown drove on.
Il say Rosey, thatd be frst-rate chance
Tor Bob Ward" said the old man, turning to
her with look of interest. Better speak to
in ,n apout II, my girl. He's fine steady fell
low, and you both deserve to do well.n
II don't think he has the money!" said the
girl, blushing, but with wistful look back at
the smlthy and the cottage, with its garden.
Its field, and ''cow-lot."
"Wal," said the farmer, thoughtfullv. 81
might possibly help him along little. He's
sure to succeed at the Five Corners, the best
place for sniithy in the country round, and
snouSn amt much to spare, | wouldn't see
nini al loss for want of few dollars or so