Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-06-23

under the shadow. of clump Of stun
ted alders, whose huttering green tress-
es yelled the ripple of little stream
that skirted the roadside. It was
George Willow. -.
"Hullo!' he involuntarily exclaimed.
''Why, surely, Willow, you have not
turned highway robber?"
''Not bit OF it SQUIRE" said the tall
young giant. with an awkward chuckle.
II was only a-waitin' for Miss Rosebud
Lewis.''
Richard Dana started, and bit his
lip.
WAS she going to your place, Will
low?' he asked.
"N-no-not exactly the young
| farmer answered, not without some
signs of embarrassment. ''But ]
promised her I'd be here-and-''
.'Yes,-exactly,-I see,'' said Dana.
quickly. ''Good-eveaing, Willow!'
and he walked rapidly on, his heart
beating an angry reveille.
A few fields further on, he met Rose.
bud herself, hurrying along in the
shadow of the trees, almost bent double
under the weight of an enormous COW
cred basket. He remembered his
aunt's words, as he saw the girl shrink
back into the leafy gloom.
lit is all true, then," he said to him.
self, almost savagely,-and he would
have passed on had it not been for 6
sentiment of pity that flashed across
his soul, as he saw her bending be-
meath her burden.
Rosebud" he said, ''you cannot
conceal yourself from me. Let me-
carry that basket for you-until yor
get to your lover"
"My lover!'' Even in the dim moon
light, he could see the fiery crimson
flooding her cheeks. ':Mr. Dana, I d.
not understand you"
George Willow is waiting by tn
clump of alderbushes beyond the turf
of the road" Dana said, coldly.
II know it," she retorted, proudly
''But-you have no right to call hin
my lover!''
why are you going to meet him
then p
She was silent moment,-then sh'
spoke: If you really wish to know,
said she, Il will tell you. Look here!'
She lifted the lid of her basket. l
was packed full of delicate summer
vegetables. boxes of the finest luscious
berries gathered from the sunny gar
dens of the Manor House, and sprinl
chickens, dainty prepared for cook
ing and wrapped in dewy cabbage
leaves.
''Rosebud, Mr.. Dana cried, in per
plexity, 'what are these?''
"What l SELL" Rosebud answered
with an effort.
"You are, perhaps, not aware of it
Mr.. Dana, but we have no longer an,
income until-until papa's poe1a i
finished and sold to the publishers
And although papa. does not know it
people can not live without money. S.
I gather these things together an
twice week George Willow come
here for them. He can't come to tn
house, because papa would suspec
something. But he carries them ava,
and sells them for me, and then h
brings me the money
"But where is Martha?'' Dana asked
"Martha left us long ago. confess
cd Rosnbud, with q crimsoned cheek
''She did not want to go--but we coul
not pay her any wages. Whatever
t done at the Manor House, do myself
, No--you need not trouble yourself t
walk further with me.'
'But shall trouble myself Rich
ard responded, with calm tirmness
s'Henceforward. Rosebud. my path i
life lies by Your side! Your burden
shall be my burdens, and your happj
ness my joy!'
Rosebud was silent,-she accepte
all this like a glad gift from Heaven
and when the basket was safely deliv
cred to honest George Willow, she sui
fered herself to lean as confidingly o
Richard Dana's arm as if the old bon
of unspoken tenderness between the1
had never been disturbed.
Rosebud, darling,' the young ma
whispered to her. '.can you ever fol
give me for rasbly believing that 20
could be a silly coquette, when 20
were all the time fulfilling the sweet
est and most sacred duties of daughter
hood?
And Rosebud's eyes, lifted for on
shy glance to his face, made sufficien
answer.
you love NE, Rosebud? You wi
be my wife?' he persisted.
eyes, Richard," she whispered.
Old Major Lewis never knew no,
near the wolf Poverty had barked q
his door-but went contentedly on wit
his grand epic poem of the days OF An
cicnt Carthage, while Richard Dana
> money repaired the ruins of the Mano
House, and made the wilderness of tn
garden ground to blossom as the rose
And Rosebud, the best of daughters
, | was now the manifest of wives!