Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-17
MY LOVE Is LIKE THE RED, RED
ROSE.

ROSE.
The long and rigorous New England
winter was at an end. The turf in the
orchard was almost hidden beneath the
petals which each passing breeze shook
from the blossoming branches, while the
light Of the setting sun brought out all
the delicate tints of the foliage which
crowned the large elms down by the
old-fashioned farmhouse. In this or.
chard sat young man, evidently wait
ing for some one. Nor did he have to
wait long; for young girl came up the
road, directly, and stood breathless at
his side.
81 am quite exhausted" she said.
"Never were the children so tiresome
and unruly. l hurried all the way"
She had taken off her hat, and the
pretty head, with its ripping golden
hair, was turned eagerly toward him.
Rose," began he, gravely, "can
you bear q sudden shock-a surprise
But l won't keep you in suspense. Here
Is document which changes you FROM
poor country school-teacher to a rich
heiress." And he held out a letter.
She looked at him in amazement.
"What an utter absurdity," she cried.
"Not at all. But read for yourself. -
He placed the letter in her hands.
She turned over the pages two or
three times, and then read carefully from
beginning to end.
Mother had an only prUther," she
said, "with whom she lived from child
hood. When he went into business in
the West Indies, she refused to 90; and
told him, for the first time, of her in
tention of marrying father. lie was
very angry, and left without word of
farewell. We have written repeatedly,
but never received reply, and had
every reason TO believe him dead. Can
this be hep"
"Of course it is. Judge Leland has a
letter with all the particulars. Why do
look so incredulousP"
"Do you know how much it lisp Is it
ten thousand dollarsp"
more"
" Fifteen-twenty Oh, Ralph, what a
rich woman / shall bel"
" Twice that, Rose" replied he, smil-
ing.
Forty thousand dollarsP P"
"Twice that, too"
"Eighty thousandP What can ever
do with it alp"
81 might as well tell you at once.
Rose, you are far richer than Judge Le-
land. He tells me that you have a
quarter of a Million"
The young girl clapped her hands
joyously, and gave utterance to little
scream of delight.
"Now, Rose" continued Ralph, 81
must leave you. l have some work to
do in the city, and have agreed to go
down by the evening train. Goodbye"
Rose watched until he had passed out
of sight, and then walked slowly down
to the house, still holding the letter in
her hand. AS her head brushed against
the low overhanging branches, shower
of pink and white petals iluttered down
to the grass beneath.
1t was few days later. The work
at the busy farmhouse was at an end till
to morrow. In the long dining-room,
before the fire which blazed upon the
hearth, sat two women. One was rock
ing slowly in high backed chair, while
the other occupied low stool opposite.
The old clock in the corner licked so
loudly that it almost drowned the voice
of the gray-haircd man who sat by the
table bending over an open Bible.
"Charge them that be rich in this
world, that they be not high-minded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the
living God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy"
There was peculiar significance and
imprcssiveness in the old mans voice
as he read these words. Suddenly he
closed the Bible, and stretching out his
arms, he rose, and said:
"Come, Rosy, for the goodnight kiss.
There will not be many more"
In an instant the girls head was pill
lowed on his breast, and between her
sobs came the words:
"1'll never, never go away, Uncle
Hiram, if you and Aunt Esther feel so
badly about it."
"No, no, Rosy" and the wrinkled
hand stroked the golden hair gently.
ave are not going to be selfish, are we,
Estherp"
"No, Hiram. The young life should
not be overshadowed by the old ones.
Rosy will come back to be the comfort
of our old age. Get me light, child.
I don't think we had better wait any
longer for Ralph. Come, Hiram"
The young girl followed the aged
couple to the hall, and then, after wait
Ing until the door closed after them,
returned to her place by the fire. In a
fo,,, ,,.o,,nonfs tho cound of ,vboalo mn q
heard, there was step on the porch,
and Ralph Loring entered with port
folio under his arm.
SHOW CHEEKY the fire looks! 1t was
80 chilly, riding, that one would have
said it was November, rather than
March. And you, Rose, are wcIlP"
"You will not care for those" he
continued, as Rose took up the portfolio.
4" They are merely sketches, TO be
worked up some day into pictures"
"l'll buy all your pictures now," ex-
,laimed Rose, laughing. "How many
commissions shall give you! Of course,
! shall want my picture painted in q
great many different ways"
Ralph smiled. "That reminds me,
Rose. l have not yet offered my oon-
CALCULATIONS on your good fortune"
She turned toward him quickly.
"I thought you would have been glad |;
out from my very heart, | believe you
arc all sorry. l should think, from your
actions, that some deadly peril, some
unseen danger, lurked in my good for
nnc. What Is It, Ralph? I do not ex-
sctly understand"
-, "A ~ ,yait for an anawar Init