The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-03-16

Cause we're worlSin and savin' for Nellie,
The pride of my old pard an me.
ssrvlsrru<~aws~azzrrrzuza
ner lover may ''happen along" Oh, if
you knew what funny clothes were
wore in those days! And if you could
believe how serenely fine we felt in the
queer buds! Cary's dress on that par
SECULAR morningwas of homespun cotton
that is, woven in the county, fifteen
dollars yard, ten yards to dress;
total, one hundred and fifty dollars. 1t
was new and fresh, fitting her ''slim
elegance" as Howells says, "as the
sheath of the flower fits the flower"
Brown lengths of hair ornamented her
shapely head with lavish beauty, but no
girl is satisfied with Natures adjoining,
and the long blockade had brought
Cary's stock of pretty things to the
lowest ebb. The white frills were
freshly crimped, and throat and wrists
responded to their becoming effect; "but
oh for touch of color!' sighed the girl
with true instinct, for the somberish
dress needed it.
Why there, to be sure, were the Gre
vile roses, climbing right against her
window. Long clusters of small flowers,
white, shaded with many varieties of
pink, all in one bunch, and so sweet.
Half an hour later Cary stood at the
front gate, with the Greville roses in her
hair and at her throat, as intent upon
rationing those dear, dirty fellows as
chief of commissary. But they were
tremendously hungry, and after the last
bite that could be found in the house
had been given out, a straggler came up
and asked for breakfast.
"Oh, I'm sorry" said the girl eve
shall have to keep fast-day as it is,
but would keep two at time if l only
had nice breakfast for you
The soldier took off his old SLOUGH
hat, and made such low bow that Cary
turned again to look at him.
''To what regiment do you belongp"
she asked.
II am just from the Lynchburg Hos
pital,' he replied, land am on my way
to join the 101st Mississippi"
The roses suddenly blOomed in Cary
Brooks cheeks, and she came out into
the road.
'Then 1 must shake hands with you,"
she said. ~ love every man in the 101st
Mississippi
.sAhr' said the soldier, with a quick
perception of the facts in the case, $50
much the better for the 10lst Mis-
sissippi!''
"And Tn sorrier than ever not to
have breakfast for you" cried the girl.
IF you would give me your roses"
he said, with gallant grace, II should
not miss the breakfast.
She unfastened them quickly, both
clusters, saying archly, "With one con-
dition--that when you reach the regi-
ment, you will take them to Colonel
Bird with my compliments.
''On my honor as q rebel" replied
the soldier, again bowling low, and car
rying off Cary's bright flowers.
.sNow, call that skillful dodge"
he chuckled, as he fastened after the
troops. cit will not be perjury to break
no honor as REBEL / may keep the
roses and clean conscience. May the
kind fates give me chacne to tell that
pretty rebel some day that she gave her
roses to a Yankee spy"
The next two weeks witnessed many
a rapid march and countermarch, and
Lauderdale held its breath while the
dust of its streets blew first upon gray
coats and then upon blue. Meantime
our ravisher of the roses had gotten
safely back to his own place and his own
coat, and early in July entered the little
mountain town with Hunters army.
The gala look it had worn two weeks
before was gone, and sullen express
sion marked its countenance. No
women were to be seen, boys were kept
carefully indoors, by anxious mothers,
and the old men had a sudden access OF
feebleness, leaning on canes and halt
ing in their gait, in q way very cOmical
two weeks before.
Two hours after his arrival our
quondam Mississippi man rung Mrs.
Brooks door-bell, and was answered by
that matron herself, with an air of dig
nified defiance. After a great deal OF
trouble in persuading her to allow him
to see her daughter for moment only,
and in her presence, Cary was sum-
moned. Again the soldier bowed low
before her this time removing blue
cap instead of the old SLOUGH, and re-
turned her withered but carefully pre-
served roses.
II beg leave to restore unlawful
gains he said; II did not reach the
101st Mississippi, but 1 have never
doubted that It has the ablest COM
mander in the Confederate army-and
the most fortunate!' Whereupon the
soldier showed that he had practiced re-
treating.
There came time when it was Colo
ne, Birds luck to reach Lauderdale
with his Mississippi regiment. The
Greville roses had faded, and Cary
could only find October leaves with
which to crown her radiance. Colonel
Bird was more than satisfied with the