Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
strewIng Hemp Seeds.

"Yes, Rosie, he'll be here for the New
Year If nothing happens"
Rosie tossed her yellow ringlets, and put
up her red lips in childish pout.
"I shall hate him, Aunt Eunice, I'm sure
shall. The simple fact that an betrothed
to him, willy-nilly, would set my heart
against him if he were prince among
men,"
"He is prince among men, my dear, and
you'll be sure to like him when you have
seen him." replied Aunt Eunice, quietly.
81 tell you I'm sure not to like him." in
sisted Rosie "Poor papa made great mis-.
take he should have left me free"
1T would have been wiser, perhaps but
your father had looked upon Ben as son
so many years and felt so sure of his making
a good husband"
"An old poke, twice my 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 a week yet. 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, and promise to the dying is
sacred.
Pretty Rosie was no kith or kin to Aunt
Eunice, only an adopted child, cherished
and loved for her dead fathers sake, and
Ben was Aunt Eunice's only son, a Calcutta
agent, who had not seen his native land for
years, and who last parted from his prom
ised bride when she was little miss in PIN
azores.
But after his old friends death, and
80, 81 hr. mil ha,,
ever he saw fit to come home and claim her,
Ben had sent home a handsome ring, and
Rosie wore it on her pretty finger, and now
he was coming in week.
"Don't fret, Rosie. Wait until Ben is
here and You have seen him."
"Seeing him won't make me change my
mind" returned the willful girl. "I
have him in my minds eye nova pesky
old fogy, just like Mr.. Syker, the parson.
Oh, dearl"
al trust the case will not be quite so bad
as that Rosie. But what are you going to
do with all those hemp seeds, my dear-feed
the pigeons?"
"Feed the pigeons, indeed cried Rosie,
transferring the seed to her pocket. "Why,
aunty, I'm going down to Hazel Hollow TO
try my fortune. All the girls are doing it.
Jennie Burr strewed hemp one dark even
ing, month or so ago, and the handsomest
young man came following her, and now she
is engaged to him."
Aunt Eunice laughed, and crossing the
room, drew the girls head to her breast and
kissed her tenderly.
"You are good child, Rose, only bit
wayward, and trust you may be very happy,
dear, whether you ever marry Ben or not.
There, run 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 silly child, as 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 a great throb of fear as she
walked on under the whispering willows.
At the edge of the Hollow she felt sorely
tempted to turn round and run back to Aunt
Eunice's CHEEKY fireside, but a thought of
Jennie Burr's success urged her on. She
drew out handful of the magic seed and
started across the glen.
Let my true love follow me and now"
She repeated the charmed couplet in
little quivering voice, strewing her seeds
right and left. She was half across the
gloomy Hollow before she could muster
courage TO look back.
When she did look over her shoulder, a
sharp cry burst from her lips. Not far be-
hind her came tall, manly figure, with
something which looked like a veritable
scythe in his hand. 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 muscular arms supporting her
head.
"Oh, where am l? What has hap
pened 2" she cried out in dismay, as she
struggled to her feet.
Nothing has happened" replied deep
voice; "only you were strewing hemp, and
followed you"
Rosie ventured one wild glance. hand
some, bronzed, bearded face bent above her.
"Let me go home" she faltered, trembling
like frightened bird, "home to Aunt
Eunice."
GAS soon as you please, my dear Rosie,
but don't forget you belong to me now. The
fates willed it, you see."
"Oh, let me go home" cried Rosie in sore
alright
"Come along; l will escort you to the
gate"
And her strange companion drew her
hand within his arm and led her along the
moonlit path.
Rosie's heart beat so she could not 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 matter, we shall soon meet again.
You belong to me, remember. No man
alive can ever take you from me; and in to-
ken of my claim you shall wear this"
A heavy gold chain flashed over her head,
and quaint carved locket hung upon her
bosom.
Through the gate, across the lawn, never
pausing once to look back, went Rosie, sob
bing like child in her excitement.
Aunt Eunice stood on the steps Of the old
farmhouse awaiting her.
"Why, my dear, how long you have been
| was just on the point of starting to hunt
for YOU"
"lOh, Aunt Eunice cried the girl, rush
ing into her arms and beginning to sob out
right, Z" am frightened to death. Some one
did follow me and speak to me, and, oh, look
at this on my neck J"
Aunt Eunice led her into the old-fashioned
sitting-room and 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, merry twinkle lighting
in her eyes, "the face is very nice one
There must be something in your hemp SOW
ing after ALL Rosie 7"
"Oh, there is something, Aunt Euuice,"
painted Rosie. "Didn't | tell you that
Jennie Burr's engaged to the man who fol-
lowed her 7"
$50 you did, pet. Well, If it must be it
can't be helped. You'll have to mary this
handsome stranger, and let poor Ben and
your promise gol"
Rosie flushed charmingly as she stole
glance at the pictured face, but the tears
rose in her eyes.