River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
STREWING HEMP SEEDS.
A Christmas Story.
Coming next week -

SNAIL Inc simple TACT thdt an " - -
to him, willy -nilly, would set my heaTt against
him If he were a Prince among men
ale is a Prince among men, my oeAr, ana
You'll be sure to like him." replied Annt
Eunce, quietly.
Rosie. "Poor papa made great mistake; he
should have left me free"
at would have been wiser, perhaps; but
YOU. father had looked upon Ben as 500 so
many wears, and felt sure of his makiEg
good husband"
IAN old poke, twice nv age pouted Rosie.
'Oh, no, not quite so old as that But wait
until you have seen him. Never cross bridge
till you come to it, Rosie. Ben won't be here
for week vet. When he is here, and you
have seen him, if you really dislike him dare
say he'll not compel you to become his wife.
But promised poor papa on his death
bed, too, aud a promise TO the dying Is sa-
cred"
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin to Aunt
EunIce, only an adopted child, cherished and
loved for ner dead fathers sake, and Fen was
Amt Eunice's only son, Calcutta agent; VINO
had not seen his native land for years, and
who had last parted from his promised bride
when she was little mss in pinafoTes.
But after his old friends death, and Ro5ie's
promise to become his wife whenever he sew
at to come home and claim her, Ben had sent
home handsome ring, and Rosie wore Il on
her pretty finger. And now he was coming
IN a week.
Don't fret, Rosie, Wait until Ben IS here
and you have seen him.
Seeing him won't make me change nv
mind" retOrted the willfSl girl. 81 have him
in my minds eye nova poky old fogy, lust
like Mr. Sykes, the parson. Oh, dear"
81 trust the case will not be quite so bad IS
that, Rosie But what are you going to do
with all those hemp seeds, my dear-feed the
pigeonsr
"Feed the pigeons, indeedI' cried Rosie,
transferring the seeds to her pocket "Why,
auntie. Pm going down to Hazel Hollow to
try my fortune. All the girls are doing. it,
Jennie Burr strewed hemp one dark evening,
a month or so ago, and the handsomest young
man came following her, aud now she's en-
gagged to him"
Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing the
room, drew the girls head to her breast and
kissed her tcnderly.
"Yoa'rc a good child Rosie, only bit way
ward, and trust you may be very happy, dear,
whether you ever marry Ben or not There,
run along, and strew your hemp seeds II sou
must and hurry back to supper"
Rosie threw on her shawl and scarlet hood,
and ran away, like the silly child she was.
The sun was quite down when she reached
Hazel Hollow, and the shadows lay dark and
thick in the wild glen. Rosie was not the
bravest little woman ia the world, and her
heart gave great thr0b of fear she walked
on under the whispering willows.
At the edge of the Hollow she felt sorelF
tempted to turn round and run back to Aunt
Eunices CHEEKY fireside, but thought of Jen
ME Burr's success urged her on. She drew
out handful of the magic seed and started
across the glen.
Hemp seeds strew hemp seeds sow
Let my true love follow me and NOW.
She repeated the charmed cOuplct In little,
quaveIing voice, strewing her seeds right and
left She was half across the gloomy Hollow
before she could muster courage to look ba tk.
When she did glance over her shoulder, a
sharp cry burst ON her lips. Not far behind
her came tall manly figure, with something
which looked like veritable scythe Ia his
hand. Rosie shTieked, stared an instant aud
then sank down on the damp ground scatter
ing her precious seeds as she fell.
She awoke to consciousness some time after
with full moon shining in her eyes, and a
pair Of masculine arms supporting her head.
''Oh, where am 1? What has happened:'
she cried out in dismay as she struggled To
her feet.
Nothing has happened" replied a deep
voice; only you were strewing hemp, and /
followed YOU"
Rosie yentured one wild glance A hand |
some, bronzed, bearded face bent above her,
"Let me 20 home,n she Efaltered, trem5- |
ling like frightened bird, "home to Aunt
Eunice."
''Ass soon as You please, my dear Rosie hut
don't forget you belong to me now. Tho
fates willed 1t, you see
"Oh, let me go home" cried Rosie, in soro
Come along; l viii escort you TO the
gate"
And her strange companion drew her hanG
within his arm and led her along the moon
lit path.
Rosies heart beat she could not 70: ier
breath. The instant they reached the gate.
she broke away from him.
What! you won't even stop to say good
bTe? Nc matter, we shall soon meet again
You belong to me remember. No man alive
can ever take you from me; and in token Of
my claim you shall wear this"
A Eenfn aauh nd NuA hRr
and quaint, carved locket hung upon her
bosom.
Through the gate, across the lawn, never
pausing once to look back, went Rosie, Sob
bling like child in her excitement.
Aunt Euuice stood on the steps OF the oio
farm house awaiting her.
why my dear how long you have beea
was just on the point Of starting to hunt
you.
into her arms and beginning to sob outright.
IL am frightened to death. Some one az
follow me and speak to me, and, Oh, look at
this on my neck
Aunt Eunice led her into the old fashioned |
sitting room, end by the light Of the blazing
wood fire she examined the locket that hung
from the heavy chain.
"Well," she said, looking at the pictured
face It contained, "a merry twinkle lighting
her ewes, "the face is very nice one. There
must be something in your hemp sowing, !
after all. Rosie!"
,'Oh, there is something. Aunt Eunice."
painted Rosie "Dicn't tell you that Jenny
Burr's engaged to the man who followed
herYn
$50 YOU did, pet "well, If IT must be it
can't be helped You'll have to marry this
handsome stranger, aud let poor Ben and
your promise go.N
Rosie flushed charmingly as she stole a
glance at the pictured face but the tears rose
In her ewes.
NO. / could never do that" she said ii
could never break my promise to po"r p&-
pa
Rosie was in futter of intense excitment.
On the Sunday morning following her aiyea
ture, when she took her accustomed place in
Aunt Eunice's pew, who should she see sit
ting opposite but the original OF the picture In
her loC6et, the hero OF her hemp-seed charm
"Oh, Aunt Eunice, look, there he Is"
gasped Rosie, her heart in her mouth.
$50 see, my dear said the old lady, qGl-
etlv; and, after service, when the stranger
came up and introduced himself rs Mr.. Am
brose she gave him a cordial invitation 70
accompany them home to dinner.
Home with them he went, and Rosi' was
ike one in a dream.
WAS ever man so handsome, so distin-
guishedlooking, SO nobley' she burst forth
when he was gone. "Oh, Aunt Eunice,
poor papa had left me freel'
"Wait, my dear. when Ben gets home he'll
see some way out OF the trouble. Ben always
was clever boy.
And Rosie waited, and learned,ln the mean
time that sweetest of all life's lessons, the
lesson Of first love.
X was Christmas Eve. The old sitting
room was hung with holly and mistletee, the
wide fireplace piled with huge yule logs, and
out in the great roOmy kitchen Aunt Funicc
was elbow deep in cakes and mince pies ard
plum buildings, making readyto give her son
substantial welcome.
Poor Ben he'll like my good things TIA
sure, she said, as she trimmed the crust Of u
ME "He ALWAYS was fond ef something niee
10 eat and he's been living on birds nests ahd
puppies and fried mice in that heather
country for so many years, he'll enjoy Christ
mas al home know. Here, Rosie. child, run
to the shed and fetch your apron full OF chips,
this oven must be leetle hotter. Hurry. do''
Rosie hurried out, but s good half boar
went by before she returned. At the garden
gate she met her hero-her stranger lover
and Aunt Euniee and her oven were
alike forgotten.
Come here, Rosie he called, II want 10
speak to you"
Rosie went to his side with burning cheeks
and downcast eyes.
'I've come to = AZ good-by. Rosie he said,
looking down upon her with tender, DARK eyes
II am going away for little while. To1n
not forget me while I'm gone, Rosie|
Rosie made no answer,
ndy0u'n wea, this for my sakes l5t DE
Put il on YOUR finger, Roster
But Rosie put aside the sparkling diamond.
NO Mr. Ambrose, Won can't put 1t On NY