Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-07-03
CLARA MARCHANTS ROSES.


'IOH dear, Mr.. Hunt, how you startled
mel" said Miss Marchant, as she turned
around from the open window of her
pretty sitting-room to greet gentleman
who was entering the door. "See my
poor roses are all flying right and left"
81 beg your pardon; let me help you," "
said Mr.. Hunt, STOPPING to collect the
lovely blossoms of a climbing rose which
had just been gathered.
"But they are all going up town to
Lady Merriman's," explained Miss Mar
chant, "to deck her rooms for the ball.
Oh, dear, ! should like to go with them.
No, | should mott Stupid things balls
are; and yet, Mr.. Hunt, let me tell you
in confidence, feel terribly dull down
here"
Strange words to come from the lips of
Miss Clara Marchant, the rich stOckhold-
ers daughter and sole heiress of the
beautiful house and grounds called Bar
ton Towers, which had lately been pur-
chased by Mr. Marchant Strange, but
true; she was dull. The routine to which
she had been accustomed for the last five
years of ball and party, dinner and drive,
London to the country, which had been
rendered necessary by her fathers fail
ing health.
= Come, Mr.. Hunt" she said, gayly,
"you tell us in the pulpit not to be dis
cOntented with our lives, but to make the
hest of them; now, do tell me what
ought to do. | have lived quarter of a
century, and yet | have not found out
for myself / have only one duty-look-
ing after my father; but most part of the
day he prefers his valet to me, so L have
great deal of time in which to make
myself unhappy"
Miss Marchant spoke lightly, but there
was an air of truth about her words, and
Mr.. Hunt, the good clergyman, felt sorry
for her.
"I can't teach-children worry me;
don't like dirty houses, and never gave
away tract in my life," continued Miss
Marchant; so don't ask me to do any
those things"
Let me help you to put up those
flowers" said Mr.. Hunt; and for few
minutes the two were busy laying
the beautiful roses in soft beds of cotton
wool
"Pity they should wither in Lady Mer-
riman's hot rooms!" said Clara Mar
chant. "But, after all, it is better than
to leave them nodding their heads off in
admire them"
al quite agree with you," said Mr..
Hunt, laughing. "And now may have
one for my pains?"
And he chose lovely nearly blown
"Gloire de Dijou"
"Oh, yes, but not that; it is too widely
opened for your button-hole. Here is a
little beauty-take this" said Miss Mar
chant
Il hold to my first CHOICE" said Mr..
Hunt; 1T is not for my button-hole, but
for one of my sick people"
"Oh, sick!" said Clara Marchant, con-
sidering. "By the way, suppose in the
country they expect certain amount OF
soup and kitchen physic from the great
house, don't they? Well, you must tel
me, and l will speak to the house
keeper. ] am new to the work" she
added, smiling.
"You are very kind" said Mr.. Hunt
al will come to you when such things are
needed Were you going out? l was go
ing to ask your permission to cross the
shrubberies to the lower woods; it viii
save me half mile"
"I will come with you'll" said Miss Mar
chant.
And the two set out on their walk.
Mr.. Hunt stopped at last at tiny
house by the roadside, outside tn,
grounds
Here go in," he said "Good-by."
"No; you promised to come back anC
advise me about the ferneries," said Mis-
Marchant; Il will sit on this low wall anC
wait for you. | suppose you have som,
sick old woman there?"
Mr. Hunt smiled and left her. Whel
he came out of the cottage he was &C
companied by young man-quite youny
but piteous to look upon, since he bore il
his face the sure sign of coming death
1t might be near, it might be far, but i
must come.
" Miss Marchant will excuse my askin.
favor for you," said Mr. Hunt, lookin,
from one to the other; but it would be
great thing for my friend, Mr.. Lawrence
to have permission to rest in your shrub
berries this hot weather; he has to thanl
you for the rose"
"Oh, no" said Miss Marchant, hastily
"that is nothing And, please, wheneve
you like to, come in there-the garden toe
Could you get so far?"
The young man smiled and thanked hel
he feared he was but a poor walker, bu
liberty to enter her grounds would be
great boon.
He spoke so well that Clara turned t
MI Hunt, as they parted, to ask his his
tory.
just poor clerk out of Millfield, dy
ing OF consumption" said the clergyman
we nave many such here; the air
considered good, and they send them ou
to us-generally to die, though"
"Could l not do something for him