The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-25

! 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 know. Here, Rosie. child, run
to theshed, and fetch your apron full OF chips.
this oven must be leetle hotter. Hurry. don'
Rosie hurried out, but q good half hour
I went by before she returned. At the garden
| gate she met her hero-her stranger lover
and Aunt Eunice and her oven We're
"Come here, Rosie" he callod,"I want to
speak to you"
Rosie went to his side with burning checks
and downcast eyes.
"I've' come to say goodby. Rosie" he said,
looking down upon her with tender, dark eyes
81 am going away for a little while; You'll
! not forget me while Pm gone, ROsle"'
Rosie made no answer.
"And you'll wear this for my sake? Let me
put it on your finger RosieW
But Rosie put aside the sparkling diamond
"No, Mr. Ambrose, you can'tput it on my
finger" ,o w ., 49, 49,.
ment ring. love you, Rose, and you belong
to me, you know, by virtue OF the hemp-seed
charm. Rosie, you care for me Just little
don't you?
81 care for you great deal, Mr. Ambrose;
bat I cannot wear your ri ". You see that
clumsy, cd thing on my finger? Well, that
and my promise Psts to my dying father bind me
She broke down utterly, and began to sob
like q child.
But If you love me, Rose. began her
| lover. ...,,
"Whether do or not, it is all the same.
tell you Pm plighted to another, and I'll break
my heart sooner than I'll break my promise"
"Then goodbye, little Rosen'
He kissed her hand and turned down the
garden path. Rosie fed back to the ktcnen,
| sobbing fit to break her heart.
"My dear, did YOU fetch the chips" asked
! Aunt Eunice. -"
| wish I were deadp cried Rosie, bury
| ing her face in the cushions of the corner arm
! chair, and bursting mo very storm of
| weeping. --e
Aunt Eunice smiled with infinite content as
she crimped her pie.
Don't cry, Rosie. Wait till Ben gets here
and see what he says!"
But he's gore-Mr. Ambrose, I mean. Hes
gone, and | shall never see him again! Oh,
dear, if were dead!" ,.i
And all night long, while the Christmas
stars rose and went down, she tossed upon
her bed, that cry upon cry upon her lips-'I
wish I were deadn'
At last the Christmas morning dawned, and
from steeple to steeple rang that sweet old
song, Spence on earth, and good will toward
men,"
Aunt Eunice stole softly into the darkened
"Rosie, it is Christmas morning, and Ben
has come. You'll get up and see him, nay
dear?
She Oh yed without word. her young face
white and sorrOw-worn.
Aunt Eunice robed her in her pretty crimson
dress with dainty laces at tie throat and
sleeves; then she brushed back the ripping
yellow curls, and fastened them with a spray
of hollyberries.
"Comc now, Rosie, you must 90 and speak
to Benz
Aunt Eunice led her down the stairs and to
the door Of the old sitting room.
go and bid him welcome, DEAR she said,
enclosing the door, and pushing her gently
Within.
One startled glance, one little gaspiEg cry,
and Rosie was in Ben's arms.
"Can you forgive me, Rosie?' he said kiss
ing her pouting lips. Il was obliged to
deceive you, little one, you never would
have cared for me. You do care for me a lit
tie, Rosie; but I owe it all to the hemp seed"
"No you DON'T Benz she answered with q
shy, fond glance; Pm sure ] should have
liked you all the same if I had never strewn
hemp"
"rhen you'll take the ring now for a Christ
mas gift, Roster
She held up her dimpled finger. AS he put
It on, the bells changed out again in honor of
the Christmas morn.
"Peace on earth and go~d will toward
men," said Aunt Eunice. softly, as she threw
open the shutters to let the sunshine in.
"Ah! my children, let us be grateful for this
blessed Christmas"
And Rosie, resting her bright head on Ben's
arm, burst into flood of happy tears.