Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-18

" He has plenty"
spoke to him first," said Robert. with a
shadow coming into his clear blue eyes offer
ing interest on the loan; but he hadn't the
money, he said. / think, Rose, he hasn't any
over-good will toward me now, dear" She uD-
deTstOod him.
" Let him have good or i'll will, )" she said, with
a little defiant toss of her head alt doesn't
matter. We can do without him."
But IL was with rather a sad heart that Rose,
on the last day of August, set out to Mount JOY,
carrying home the completed dresses that would
be wanted next day at the great fair at Lexing-
ton She walked the whole way, this time, a.
lar as the Five Corners, and there stopped TO
rest in the shade of the fruit trees i'm front of the
smiths cottage. The notice was still conspicu-
ously nailed in the front of the shop.
You haven't vet had an offer for your place,
Mr.. Simpson?'' she asked of the smith, who
passed her, appearing very busy.
Plenty Ofiers-mOney amt paid down, though
little while ago, and promised to get the money
out o. bank Tomorrow at Lexington. Don't in
tend TO take down notice till bargains made
and money paid cash. First that puts the
money in nv hands to have it,
Rose walked ON. Her feeling of indifference
toward William Watson was changed into one OF
indignation. What couldhe want of the smithy,
who was a gardener, and had cottage of his
own? No doubt the proposed purchase was TO
spite her and Robert, and. as the thought oc-
CURED, she perceived the object of her indigua-
uon 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
a. she well knew, the sort of young man with
whom girl would he willing to be caught walk
ing alone on a 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 path
way through this untrequented wood, and
when Rose had walked some distance, she
lost the .'bearings," as sailors say, and hal
wondered out OF her direct course. She paused
on asEghtly elevated and open space, and looked
around. The first object that arrested her at
tentlon was something red-gorgeOusly red and
ylvld-gieaming out from a ncighboring tnicket
Ike blazing jewel. 1t must be flower, OF
course-though not even the suberb cardinal
flower bad ever seemed to the girls eyes half SO
splendld In its gorgeous hue. And when she
reached it, she stood in almost rapturous sur
prise and delight at recognizing in this jewel of
the woodland dahlia-and such dahlisI
There were several buds already nearly
opened, though but one in full biossom-a bios
som just opened and perfectly developed.
81 will get Robert to remove 1t to our gar
den," said Rose to herself sand this lovely
blossom 1 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 basket
half buried in the earth, near it. Yes, it is ac
tually growing out of an old wicker basket"
AS she passed the Mount Joy garden, Dun
can was throwing over the palings handful of
roOted-up weeds. His eyes were 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 bios
som, and told him how she had found it. the old
mans shrewd gray eyes kindled. He knew all
in an instant 1t was Mrs. Harmon's lost dah-
liza
''I1l gle You guide price for the plant, Miss
Rose" he said, persuasively.
What pr.ce?" asked Rose, wonderingly for
1t had not occurred to her that any one would
with TO buy the flower.
''Aweel.'' said the old man. reflectiyely, a. he
scratched his head-'say ST.
Duncan was ScOtchman, shrewd and econ
omical, yet he felt half ashamed to impose on
ffar
splendid plant. And seeing that she hesitated,
he fancied she knew something of its value.
You think it's worth mair, mayhaps?" he
suggested.
ooh, no." said Rose, with a half-absent
smile; % L was only wishing it worth SlOO
LII, guide guide us! 500 for a wee flower!''
So Rose, in defending herself from the charge
or such unheard-of mercensriness, uncon-
sciously told her story. Duncan had a good
heart-.au fond" as the French say-anf his
81 mpathies were aroused for the lovers, whilst.
at the same time, his indignation rose against
his successor at Fairyiew-Watson.
IN tell We wha' It's, Miss Rose, % he broke in
at the end Of her story" Gin yell gle me that
mower, and the hail plant, root, bud, an a. I'll
nae see We put out for want o 500. hae that
an mar, i the same bank wi that donnie chief
yonder, and I'll before handed VII him, or my
names nae Duncan"
So the bargain was agreed to on the spot and
the old Scotchman, with spade and basket, ac-
companied Rose back to the place where grew
the dahlia, and carefully. as though he were
with the earth undisturbed about its roots
Hech, siTs." said he, with a chuckle shut
it's the Teddy e. Mount JOY wull win the prize
this time; an I'd gle anither Kindred dollars a.
mast to see how Madam Harmon will open her
big black eyne when they IA on this at the fair
to-mOrTow. Dell kens how il came here then!
The way In which the root had really come
there was afterward remembered by Mrs. Har-
mon herself She had placed it, with the dried
moss In which II had been enveloped, not on the
shelf, as she had supposed, but in a little wicker
basket on that shelf, and this basket the chill
uren mad the same evening appropriated for
gathering gentian roots in the woods, and thus
lost, with the precious dahlia root still within A.
When, late the following day, William Wat
SOD, returning from the fair, presented himself
and his five hundred dollars at the Five Corners
smlthy, he was told that the place had been sold
some hours previous to Robert Ward. And
every Tune ne 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
matronly bloom, Is equally busy Attending to
her garden, setting roots and tying up punches
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 stills shows his splendid dahlia az
all the flower fairs, and relates, with a chuckle,
how he gained possession of il; and If any one
questions the strict hOnorableness of the pro-
ceedng, he puts down the objective with:
. Hech, sirs! but il was a providential" an Pm
nae ane TO ny 4 the face o. Providence"
The Poisonous INFLUENCE OF INTENSE
II II. l..r1. Il