The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-07

night was kind to- make such darkness
anu solitude in the garden that no ore
could see her or hear her, poor. miser.
able, little Rhetta Wood, CRYING for q
lost happiness that had never really
been herg. And now 1t 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 q lifetime.
For Rhetta was sure that in all the
years to come she should never, never
marry. That was all over from this
time forth
S5g The crickeSs hummed about her, the
brushed by her unheeded: !:
the moon rose, but she did not know it..
She was thinking how she should live
all nor life long in the little, old house.
After a while her Aunt Dorcas would
die, and she would be left alone with
her father. Then after while he
would die, and she would live on there.
Rn old. lonely woman. iitsti
From this reverie she was aroused by
the stopping Of wheels, and cheerful
voices at the gate.
'tRbettal Rhettal' shouted some.
body, In joyous, manly tones.
She.aarose to her feet in the moon
light, .bewildered and uncertain. Was
she dreaming, or was 1t really Ralph
calling herp
"Rhetta, is that YOU under the plum.
treep&eC Come here for q moment at the
gate."
Yes,, that was Ralph calling her.
Withsgirlish celerity she smoothed back
her ,disordered hair, and ran to the
gate. There ,he stood, with his arms
filled with flowers, which he loaded
upon her, while Colonel Porter's coach-
man, who had brought him home, was
almost staggering under the weight Of
an immense basket, full of bloom and
fragrance, which he made haste to de.
post ON the garden walk.
Everything is here" , said Ralph,
gaily---"the geraniums, the day-lllies,
the ttea-rose bushes, and the double
violets. Roots, slips, cuttings, all you
wanted, you have them now, and I'll
SET them every one out for you."
"Oh, how beautiful how beautifull"
murrmrured Rhetta, very softly and
gently. She was wholly overcome by
this strange ending Of her passionate
grief
The coachman departed, leaving the
two lovers alone III 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 this means darl.
ngp" he said fervently. s'My way Is
clear before me now. Colonel Porter
has given me chance in his own bust.
ness, beyond anything l dared to hope.
You don't know how hard 1t has been
for me to wait till had right to ask
you to be my own little Rhetta always
-alWaySln
Happy Rhettal The moon ought to
have laughed right out to see how her
face had changed, 1t was 80 full now Of
smiles and bushes.
Aunt Dorcas, hurrying home an hour
later, eager to explain how she had
gone to sit awhile with poor old Mrs.
Davis, who has ciatica; was taken all
aback by hearing merry voices under
the plum-tree, and finding Ralph and
Rhetta there at work with troWels set
ting out roots and tying up plants.
''Rose Porter sent me all thesel, ex-
claimed Rhetta trlumphantIy-"al this
great basketful of ,loveliness and lux,
ury, and we must set every one Of, them
out tonight, because night is the best
time, aud they Will get the dew"
"For the land sakesl" calculated
Aunt Dorcas. tsDon't you want the
lantern?" N%&, nm,
"Oh, the moon As bright as day."
said Ralph, as he paused to choose a
place for a fine blue salyla. Ti
"Welll wellln the old lady exclaimed; |;
and then, rs If she dlmly comprehended
that something in the glamour Of youth
and romance might make it a thing to
be desired to dig In gardenssat un-
usual hours, She said no. more, but
went quietly into!thet house.