The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-19


Rosie shrieked, stared an instant and
then sank down on the damp ground,
scattering her precious seeds as she fell,
She awoke. to consciousness some
time after, with full moon shining in
her eyes. and pair of masculine arms
supporting her head.
"Oh, where am 1? What has hap.
pened?" she cried out in dismay, as she
struggled to her feet.
=" Nothing has happened" replied 8
deep voice; "only you were strewine
hemp, and / followed. YOU" =
Rosie ventured one wild glance. A
handsome, brOnzed. bearded face bent
above her. i,f,
"Let me 60 home," she faltered,
trembling like a frightened bird. "home
to Aunt Eunice.
LAS soon as you please, my dea,
Rosie; but don't forget you belong to
me now. The fatesw illed it, you see. -
ooh, let me 60 home," cried Rosie,
in sore alright. s.,s-- >, s.,.sz,..~ss
"Come along; l will escort you to
the gate.
And her strange companion drew her
hand within his arm and led her along
Eshe mo0nlls'past.
Rosie's heart beat SO she could moi
get her breath. The instant they
reached the gate, she broke away from
him.
"What! you won't even stop to say
good-bye? No NATTER we shall soon
meet again. You belong to me, re-
member. No man alive can ever take
you from me; and in token of my claim
you shall wear this"
A heavy gold chain flashed over her
head, and u quaint, carved locket hung
upon her bosom.
Through the gate, across the lawn,
never pausing once to look back, went
Rose, sobbing like a child in her ex-
citemeut.
Aunt Eunice stood on the steps of the
old farm house awaiting her.
"Why, my dear, how long you have
been! I was just on the point of start
ing to hunt YOU"
Oh, Aunt Eunicer' cried the girl,
rushing into her arms and beginning
to sob outright. ~ am frightened to
death. Some one dit follow me and
speak to me, and, oh. look at this on
mySneckr' - =
Aunt Eunice led her into the old
fashioned sitting room, and by the
light of the blazing wood fire she ex-
amined the locket that hung from the
heavy chain. ,.s.
"Well," she said, looking at the pict-
ured face it contained, a merry twinkle
lighting her eyes, "the face is very
nice one! There must be something in
our hemp-sowing after all, Rosie!"
ooh, there is something. Aunt Eu-
nicc," painted Rosie. Didn't tell
you that Jennie Burr's engaged to the
man who followed her?''
$50 you did, pet. Well. if it must
be it can't be helped. You'll have to
marry this handsome stranger, and let
poor Ben and your promise go!'' - -
Rosie flushed charmingly as she stole
. glance at the pictured face, but the
tears rose in her eyes.
:" No lcould never do that" she said.
81 could never break my promise to
poor papa"
The winter days drifted on in swift
succession, and Christmas would bring
Ben.
Rosie was in flutter of intense ex-
element. On the Sunday morning fol-
lowing her adventure, when she took
her accustomed place in Aunt Eunice's
pew, who should she see sitting oppo-
site but the original of the picture in
her locket, the hero of her hemp-seed
charm?
"Oh, Aunt Eunice, look, there he
is!' gasped Rosie, her heart in her
mouth.
So see, my DEAR" said the old
lady, quietly; and. after services, when
the stranger came up and introduced
himself as Mr.. Ambrose, she gave him
4 cordial invitation to accompany them
home to dinner.
Home with them he went, and Rosie
was like one in dream.
"Was ever q man so handsome, so
MISUNDERSTANDING, so noble?' she
burst forth when he was gone. "Oh,
Aunt Eunice, if poor papa had left me
free''
"Wait, my dear. When Ben gets
home he'll see some way out of the
trouble. Ben always was 4 clever boy"
And Rosie waited, and learned, in
the meantime, that sweetest of all life's
the lesson of first love.
1t was Christmas Eve. The old sit
ting room was hung with holly and
the wide fireplace piled
with huge. yule logs, and out in the
great roOmy kitchen Aunt Eunice was
elbow deep in cakes and mince pies
and plum buildings, making ready to
give her son a substantial welcome.
"Poor Ben, he'll like my good things,
I'm sure" she said, as she trimmed
the crust of a pie. He always was
fond of something nice to eat; and he's
been living on birds nests and puppies
and fried mice in that heather country
for SO many years, he'll enjoy Christ
mas at home l know. Here, Rosie,
child, run to the shed, and fetch your
apron full of chips; this oven must be
q leetle bit hotter. Hurry, dor
Rosie hurried out, but a good half
hour went by before she returned. At
the garden-gate she met her hero-her
stranger lover-ana Aunt Eunice and
her oven were alike forgotten.
"Come here, Rosie" he called, 81
want to speak to you.''
Rosie went to his side with burning
cheeks and downcast eyes.
"rve come to say good-by, Rosie,''
be said, looking down upon her with
tender. dark eyes, !" l am going away
for little while. You'll not forget me
while I'm gone, Rosie"
Rosie made NO answer.
"And you'll wear this for my sake?
Let me put it on your finger, -Rosie?'
But Rosie put aside the sparkling dia-
mond.
"No. Mr.. Ambrose, you can't put it
on my finger"
Why not, Rosie? mean it for an
ring. l love you, Rosie,
and you belong to me, you know, by
virtue Of the hemp-seed charm. Ro-
sic, you care for me Just little, don't
you?" "a
. care for You great deal, Mr.. Am
h,ut Z SyNnmnf ax,,o~~ x,o,,~ ,:~-