Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-07-22

gave it to Rhetta She bIushed again
over it, and went on talking about
flowers.
4 wish could get some slips Of Col
oneI Porter's geraniums, = she said; che
has 50 many kinds, and I have only this
little pink one. And I want root Of
day-lily very much, and some tea-rose
cuttings, and a double Genoese violet; d
blue SALIVA too, and Oh, Mr.. Callen-
der, lookl There is Rose Porter now,
driving up the street in her pony phaeton.
Isn't she lovely?"
AS the jannty basket phaeton moved
slowly by, q bright, pretty face glanced
from It, smiling cordially at Rhetta, and
then was oTerspread by q look of sudden
recognition and pleased surprise at sight
Of Ralph Calender, who took bis hat of
respectfully.
'fWhy, do you know herr" asked
Rhetta, amazed.
II find | do. She and my sister Sally
became great friends two years ago at
Newport-or was it Nahant9 And Miss
Porter spent the holidays at our house
the next winter. Thought it must be she,
when you described her.
Ralph Calender paused and gazed re-
flectively at the ground. He was recall
ing that gay holiday season when Rose
Porter and his sister were the bellies Of
their set. He could have counted his
friends then by the hundred, and now
tPoverty does make a difference . he
thought, bitterly. All who had it in their
power to aid him had turned the cold
shoulder. He was simply poor man
seeking employment, and he felt at odds
with the world.
Rhetta, grown suddenly shy, pulled
away the dead leaves from a pink root
and said nothing. Newport! Nahant
And people like the Porters for intimate
friendsl 1t seemed to remove Ralph far
from her quiet, even life, and to set him
\ WAcAO ouC Adu HO part.
The basket phaeton was now seen re-
turning down the street with its pretty
occupant, who stopped her ponies oppo-
site the cottage with such an evident in
tention to speak TO Ralph Calender that
he at once went out Of the garden and
stood in the road at her side. Rhetta
saw them shake hands in the most
friendly manner, heard Roses musical
laughter and sweet voice, though she
could not distinguish the words; and in
a few moments more, to her surprise,
Ralph stepped into the phaeton, sat down
by Rose, took the reins in his hands and
drove rapidly away, with a backward
glance and smile, which to Rhetta seemed
to say 'She is an old friend, you see.''
But when he did not come home to
dinner she thought it strange. Her
father and Aunt Dorcas made no COM
ment, for Ralph had often been absent at
that hour when seeking for employment.
Rhetta did not mention that he drove
away with Rose Porter, but neighbor,
who had watched them, came in during
the afternoon and spoke of it with great
interest. Aunt Dorcas at once felt a
4 great interest too, and Rhetta found it
so trying to listen to their remarks and
surmises that she slipped out of the house
to her garden and did hard wedding in
her flower beds for two hours without
sparing herself But she heard every
step that passed by on the sidewalk, and
knew that Ralph Calender did not come.
The afternoon waned restlessly away
He would surely come back by supper
time; and Rhetta, in fresh gown, with
pansies at her belt, hummed little songs
as she moved about setting the table for
Aunt Dorcas.
Il would't put on that dish Of honey, =
said Aunt Dorcas-' -'snot till you see
whether he's coming"
ooh. he'll come, said Rhetta; but she
stopped singing.
Mr. Wood came in, washed his face
and hands at the sink and sat down in
his place at the table. Aunt Dorcas
passed him cup Of tea.
sWhere's Callender2n he asked, look
ing around.
ssWhy, haven't you heard2n said Aunt
Dorcas. "He drove off with Rose Por,
ter, and we haven't caught sight of him
since"
"The Porters are old friends of his, I
said Rhetta, flushing up.
HUM humi'' muttered her father, as
he drank his tea from the saucer, in
which he had cooled it.
Aunt Dorcas now questioned the girl
as to all she knew about this old friend
ship, and at the close said, with the air
Of one who meant to do her duty BY all,
no matter how mercilessly: ssWell, like
as not they'll make match Of it Birds
of a feather flock together. +"
Supper was over, cleared away, and al
the dishes washed, but sill Ralph Cal
lender did not come. AS it grew dark,
Mr.. Wood strolled off to chat with the
neighbors, and Aunt Dorcas, putting on
her bonnet and black silk shawl, went to
the weekly prayer meeting. Rhetta, left
free from comment, went up into hel
little garden, and leaned against the
plum tree, with strange dull pain gnaw-
ing at her heart It seemed like days
and weeks since Ralph drove away with
smiling. pretty Rose Porter. And she
herself has begun to think Of him as
somehow her own. That very morning,