The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-19
IN RHETTA'S GARDEN.
Why She and Ralph Would Dig
by Moonlight.

AtOuSCs Dlb NlOlCLo DaO>SVlAl ~ SJOaiCt
there than any where else, and great
bursting pinks made the air spicy while
other peoples were only in bud. There
were da1Todils in the grassy border, and
b!ue-bells. and blue spider-lilies. There
were two rose-buSheS. one cinnamon
and one damask, while double sweet
gillyiiowers sowed themselves and came
up every year along with mignonettc
and chrysanthcmums 1t was a sweet,
fragant, old-fashioned little garden,
which Rhetta' mother had tended and
taken pleasurcin. and now it was Rhet-
ta's. There she worked all her spare
half-hours, sowing and watering. weed
ing and transplantimg. till her little
hands wore brown, and her cheeks like
her own cinnamon roses. Aunt Dor
cas-, in the kitchen, used to wonder
show on airth that child could be so
content all alone out in her posy bed. -
But Rhetta was not so often alone of
late, since they had taken a bcarder,
Ralph Calender found that the pleas
ATTEST path to the house law through
the little fiower-garden, and when his
Jobs of copying failed to occupy his
time, what could be more natural than
TO use his leisure helping the blushing
gardener? 1t was he who carried away
all the weeds, divided the white peony
roots and reset them, and dug more
thoroughly than Rhetta ever could
around the dear old rOse-bushes. Over
their work they fell talking. rs yoang
people will, and already Rhetta' father
began to watch them little anXiOusly
above his spectacleS as he sat on the
porch, while one of the neighbors had
remarked privately TO Aunt Dorcas that
it Was pity young Calender was not
a man of fortune as well Is of family.
In truth. riches had taken unto them
selves wings and flown away from the
CallenderS year before, so that Ralph,
instead of becoming Junior partner in
an old and prosperous business. saw
nothing before him but what his two
hands could earn, and being totally
unprepared for such a prospect, he had
30 take little time TO gctused TO it. and
TO find cut which way to turn. Mean
while he ha drifte1 to this suburban
town. and while waiting to find a Situa-
ton as clerk or accountant, did copying
to support himself. AID boarded ut
Rhetta's
1t was the day they had been trans
planting touch-ne-nots. and Ralph had
thrown himself down under the plum
tree for respite, while Rhetta pulled
the faded blossoms from primrose.
He might have been nissan h: Dpic
enough at thai nom NJ if he had
chosen, for the last line of copying lay
upon his table finished, with not SO
much rs hint of an order for any
more. Worse than that. clerks
place he had been hoping for had that
very morning been give to another. If
he had got it, he could have spoke to
Rhetta at once. His glance followed
her as she bent over her plants. her
garden bonnet dropping back from her
bright brown hair, and his fingers
sought instinctively little ring that
hid in his veStpocket. The old Callen-
der pride had come t. this, that he only
waited for the barest chance of being
able to earn living before he offered
heart and hand to pretty little Rhetta
Wood, whose bonny face was al her
dowrv
But he could not help letting love
color his words little when he said.
presently. to Rhetta, rs he watched
her: when make my fortune. you
shall have greenhouses and hot beds,
and gardens laid out on terraces"
Like Colonel Porter's?' laughed
Rhetta, bluShing over her trowel. ''Oh!
have You ever seen his place, MIR. Cal
lender? Its over on the west side"
Il think have passed it." answered
the young man. indiferently. Big
trees. three terraces, ribbon beds. and
Il peacock on the lawn; is that the
plaee?'' -
"Yes; isn't its plendid?'' exclaimed
Rhetta. Il always 20 that way when
take walk by myself; and oh! how
do long sometimes for things | see the
gardener throwing away-Slips and
cuttings. and roots that be thinS out
Perfectly lovely things"'
'Why don t you ask him for them?"
<'Ask him?" and Rhetta caught her
breath NJ the very idea of her doing 50
audaeioas thing. "Why, l wouldn't
dare"
Don't you know them the family,
mean.
mo; how could l? Rose Porter AMI
i went 10 the same school. and when
she rides by and sees me she bows and
smiles; but that isn't being acquainted.
She is as beautiful rs princess. 1t is
time for her TO be at home now: she has |
been in Washington all the spring"
Ralph Calender made no answer.
He was busy weaving true-love knot |
of grass blades, and when it was done |
he gave il to Rhetta. She blushed again !
over il, and went on talking about !
flowers
Il wish l could get some slips of
Colonel Porter's geraniums. she said; |
she has so many kinds. and have only !
this little pink one. And want root |
of day-lily rery much. and some tea
rose cuttings, and double Genoese |
violet, blue SALIVA too. and-0. Mr.. |
Calender, look! There is Rose Porter
now driving up the street in her pony
phaeten. Isn't she lovely?"
As the jaunty basket phaeton moved |
slowly by, a bright, pretty face glanced
from it. smiling cordially at Rhetta.
and then was oVerspread by look of |
sudden recognition and pleased sur
prise at sight-of Ralph Calender, who
took his hat OFF respectfully.
''Why, do you know her?" asked
Retta. amazed.