Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-08-26

weeks since Ralph drove away with,
smiling, pretty Rose Porter. And SIZE
herself has begun to think OF him rs
somehow her own. That very morn
ing, undcl that very tree, there had
been in his looks and in his tones
touches Of tenderness that had filled
her heart with subtle happiness. But
now it was all oyer in an instant
she had lost him. lose Porter had ta-
ken him away, and though he might
come back he would never be the same
Ralph again. She felt girlish certain
ty of that. The little bright dream
was over.
At first she did not blame Rose.
Very probably she had loved him two
years ago, and had been influenced to
give him up on account of his poverty,
and now, regretting the step, had come
to reclaim him.
well, l can take my turn, and give
him up too,' thought Rhetta, with
great hot tears springing to her eyes.
Only l can never drive after him and
bring him back in phaeton.'
And at that she threw herself upon
the dewy grass ana wept unrestrain-
edly. She was too young to be capable
of the terrible, fearless sorrow with
which an older woman may meet be-
reavement and heart break. She only
knew that everything had changed
since morning, that Ralph Lad gone
away, that she was very, very wretch
ed, and that no one must know of it.
The fire flies flashed in the grass, the
flowers were heavy with dew, the air
was full of the fragrance of mignonet-
te, heliotrope and roses, but Rhetta
did not heed them. She only felt that
night was kind TO make such darkness
aud solitude in the garden that no one
could see her or hear her, poor misera-
BILE little Rhetta Wood crying for lost
happiness that had never really. been
hers. And now it seemed to her that
Rose was cruel, from the midst Of her
wealth, her luxury, and her dozens of
lovers, to come swooping down upon
this one chance of bliss in a lifetime.
For hhetta was sure that in all the
years to come she should never, never
marry. That was all oyer from this
forth.
The crickets hummed about her, the
nightmoths brushed by her unheeded
the moon rose, but she did not know it.
She was thinking how she should live
all her life long in the little old house.
After while her aunt Dorcas would
die, and she would be left alone with
her father. Then after while he too
would die, and she would liye on there,
an old, lonely woman.
From this reverie she was aroused
by the stopping of wheels, and cheerful
voices at the gate.
'Rbetta Rhetta = shouted some
body in joyous, manly tones.
She rose to her feet in the moonlight,
bewil6ered and uncertain. Was she
dreaming, or was it really Ralph calling
her ?
'Rhetta, is that you under the plum:
tree Come here for a moment TO the
gaue'
Yes, that was Ralph calling her.
With girlish celebrity she smOothed
back her disordered hair, and ran TO
the gate. There he stood, his arms fill
ed with flowers, which he loaded upon
her, while Colonel Porter's coachman,
who had brought HIM home, was al
most staggering under the weight of an
immense basket, full Of bloom and fra
GRANGE, which he made haste to deposit
on the garden walk.
Everything is here, said Ralph, gay
ly-'the geraniums, The day lilies, tea
rose bushes, and the double violets.
Roots, slips, cutting. all you wanted,
you have them now, and I'll set them
every one out for you.'
oh, how beautiful how teauti-
fnl = murmured Rhetta, very softly
and gently. She was wholly overcome
by this strange ending of her passion
ate grief.
The coachman departed, leaving the
two lovers alone in the moonlit garden.
Lovers they were, for Ralph drew
Rhetta close to his heart, while he
placed upon her finger the ring that
had waited hidden in his pocket.
You know what that means, dar-
ling p he said, feryently. My way is
clear before me now. Colonel Porter
has given me a chance in his own bust.
ness, beyond anything dared to hope.
You don't know how hard it has been
for me 10 wait ill had right to ask
you to be my own little Rhetra always
always
Happy Rhetta The moon ought to
have laughed right out to see how her
face had changed, it was so full now of
smiles and bushes.
Aunt Dorcas, hurrJi ling home an hour
later, eager to explain how she had
gone to sit awhile with poor old Mrs.
Davis, who had sciata, was taken all
aback by hearing merry voices under
the plum-tree, and finding Ralph and
Dbofto thora OF ,uf, II with trouo1c