Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-30
IN RHETTA'S GARDEN.

1t was only little spot south of the
house, but the Violets blossomed sooner
there than anywhere else, and great burst
ing pinks made the air spicy while other
peoples were only in bud. There were
daffodils in the grassy border, and blue
bells and blue spider lilies. There were
two rose bushes, and one cinnamon and
one damask, while double sweet gilly-
flowers soWed themselves and came up
every year along with mignonette and
chrysanthemums.
1t was a sweet old-fashioned little gar
den, which Rhetta's mother had tended
and taken pleasure in, and now was
Rhetta's.
There she worked all her spare half
hours, sowing and watering, wedding and
transplanting, till her little hands were
brown and her cheeks like her own Gin
namon roses. Aunt Dorcas in the kitch-
en- used to wonder:
CHOW on earth that child can be so
content out in her posy bed?"
But Rhetta was not SO often alone of
late, since they had taken a boarder,
Ralph Calender had found that the
pleasantest path to the house lay through
the little flower garden; and when his
Jobs of copying failed to occupy his
time, what could be more natural than
to use his leisure time helping the blush
ing gardener! It was he who carried
away all the weeds, divided the white
peony roots and reset them, and dug,
more thoroughly than Rhetta ever could
have done, around the dear old rose
bushes.
Over their work they fell to talking, as
young people will, and already Rhetta's
am4l \ 10 Enh
iouslY above his spectacles, as he sat on
the porch, while one of the ne1ghbors
had remarked privately to Aunt Dorcas
that it was pity that young Calender
was not man of fortune as well as of
family.
In truth, riches had taken unto them
selves wings and flown away from the
calendars year before, so that Ralph,
instead of becoming junior partner in
an old an prosperous business, saw moth
ing before him but what his two hands
could earn, and, being totally IN prepared
for such prospect, he had to take little
time to get used to it, and to find out
which way to turn.
Meanwhile he had drifted to this sub
urban town, and while waiting to find a
situation as clerk or accountant, did
copying to support himself, and boarded
at Rhetta's.
1t was the day they had been transplant
ing teuch-me-nots, and Ralph had thrown
himself down under the plum tree for a
respite, while Rhetta pulled the faded
blossoms from a primrose. He might
have been misanthropic enough at that
moment if he had chosen, for the last
line of copying lay upon his table, fin
ished, with not SO much as a hint of an
so hot ha
clerks place he had been hoping for had
that morning been given to another. If
he had got it he could have spoken to
Rhetts 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 instinctiyely, a little
ring in his vest pocket The old Chal-
lender pride had come to this, that he
only waited for the barest chance of be-
ing able to earn a living before he offered
his heart and hand to pretty little Rhetta
Wood, whose bonny face was all her
dowry.
But he could not help letting love col
or his words a little when he said, pres
emily, 80 Rhetta, as he watched her:
when make my fortune you shall have
greenhouses and hot-beds and gardens
laid out on terraces"
Like Colored Porter's?" laughed Rhet-
IA, blushing over her trowel. "Oh, have
you ever seen his place, Mr.. Calendar?
it's over on the west side"
81 think l have passed it," answered
the young man, indifferentIy. big trees,
thres terraces, ribbon beds, and a pea
cock on the lawn. Is that the placer
Eyes; Isn't it splendid?" exclaimed
Rhetta-
Il always go that way when 1 take a
walk by myself; and oh, how 1 do long,
sometimes, for things see the gardner
throwing away-slips and cuttings and
roots that he thins out! Perfectly lovley
plants!'
'Why don't you ask him for them?"
ASK him?" and Rhetta caught her
breath at the very idea of her doing so
audacious a thing. "Why, 1 wouldn't
are"
'But don't you know them? The fam
lily, meant"
mo; how could I? Rose Porter and l
went 80 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 as princess. 1t is time for
her to be at home now; she has been in
Washington all spring"
Ralph Calendar made no answer. He
was busy weaving a true-love knot of
grass blades, and when it was done he
gave 1t to Rhstta. She bIushed again
over it, and went on talking about flow
ers.
Il wish I could get some slips of CSlo-
mel Porter's geraniums," she said; she
has so many kinds, and 1 have only this
little pink one. And I want a root of
day-lilly very much, and some tea-rose
cuttings, and a double Genosse violet; q
blue ralvia, too, apd-oh, Mr.. Calendar,
look! There is Rose Porter, now, driv-
ing up the street in her pony ph@ton.
Isn't she iovely?"
As the iaunty basket pheton moved
slowly by bright pretty face glanced
from it, smiling cordially at Rhetta, and
then was overspread by look of sudden
recognition and pleased at sight of Raj ph
Calender, who took off his hat respect
fully.
why, do you know her" asked Rhetta
amazed.
"I find do. She and my sister Sallie