The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-23
STREWING HEMP SEEDS.
A Christmas Story.

STRIVING HEMP SEEDS.
Christmas Story.
:Coming next week?"
"Yes, Rosie, he'll be here for the New
Year, if nothing happens.''
Rosie tossed her yellow :inglets, ane
put up her red. lips IN childish pout.
II shall hate him, aunt Eunice. In
sure shall. The simple fact that I an
betrothed to him, willy nilly, would Sc,
my heart against him if he were Primo,
among men,"
"tle is Prince among men, nv dear
and you'll be sure to like him." repIiei
Aant Eunice, quietly.
II tell you I'm sure not to like him.
insistsd Rose. Poor papa made grea,
mistake; he should have left me free"
''1t would have been wiser, perhaps
but your father had looked upon Ben q.
son so many years, and felt sure Of hi:
making good husband--''
can old poke twice my age,' pouted
Rosie.
"Oh, no, not quite so old as that. Bu
wait until you have seen him. Never
cross bridge till YOU come to it. Rosie
Ben won't be here for a week yet When
he Is here, and you have seen him, if YOU
really dislike him l dare say he'll moi
compel you to become his wife,
'But | promised poor papa on his
h-bed, too, and promise to the
dying is sacred"
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin tC
Aunt Eunice, only an adopted child
cherished and loved for her dead fathers
sake, and Ben was Aunt Eunice's only
sor, Calcutta agent, who had not seen
his native land for years, and who had
last parted from his promised bride
when she was little miss in plnaforcs.
But after his old friend death, and
Rosie's promise to become his wife
whenever he saw fit to come home and
claim her, Ben had sent home hand.
some ring, and Rosie wore it on he,
pretty finger. And now he was coming
in week.
"Dont fret, Rosie. Wait until Ben Is
here and you have seen him."
"Seelng HIM won't make me change
my mind,' retorted the willful girl. II
have him in my minds eye nova poky
old fogy' just like MI. Sykes, the parson
Oh, dear!'
II trust the case will not he quite SO
bad as that, Rosie. But what are YOU
going to do with all those hemp seeds
my dear-feed the pigconsY'
"Feed the pigeons, indeed!" cried
Rosie, transferring the seeds to he,
pocket. "Why, auntie. I'm going down
te Hazel Hollow to try my fortune. All
the girls are doing 1t. Jennie Burr
strewed hemp one dark evening,a month
or so ago. and the handsomest young
man came following her, and now she's
engaged to him."
Aunt Eunicc laughed, and crossing the
room, drew the girls head to her breast
and kissed her tcnderly.
"You're good child, Rosie, only bit
wayward. and I trust you may be very
happy, dear, whether you ever marry
Ben or not. There, lun along, and strew
your hemp seeds if you 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
in the world, and her heart gave grea,
throb of fear as she walked on under the
whispering willows.
At the edge OF the hollow she felt sore
ly tempted to turn round and run back
to Aunt Eunicc's CHEEKY tiresidc, but a
thought of Jenny Burr's success urged
her on. She drew ont handful of the
magic seed and started across tue glen.
"Hcmp seeds strew, hemp seeds SOW;
Let my true love follow ire aud mow."
She repeated the charmed couplet in 8
little, .quaverlng voice, strewing bel
seeds right and and lett. She was hall
across the gloomy Hollow before she
could muster courage to look back.
When she did glance over her shou lder
sharp cry burst from her lips. Not fa1
behind her came a tall, manly figure
with something which looked like yer
liable scythe in his hand. Rosie shrieked
stared an instant and then sank down OF
the damp ground, scattering her precious
seeds as she fell.
She awokc to consciousness some tim,
after with full moon shining in be-
eyes, and a pair OF masculine arms sup
porting her head.
"Oh, where am I? What has hap
pened!' shs cried out in dismay, as sll'
struggled to her feet.
"Nothing has happened" replied ,
deep voice; tonly you were strewine
hemp, and followed you.''
Rosie ventured one wild glance.
handsome, bronzcd: bearded face ben
above her
"Let me 60 home, ," she faltered, tremb
ling like a frightened bird, ''home t.
Aunt Eunice."
"As soon as you please, my dear Rosie
but don't forget you belong to me now
The fatcs w,lled it, you see.''
"Oh. let me 60 home," cried Rosie. i,
sore alright.