The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-07
again over IL. and went on talklpg

again over IT. and went on talking
about flowers, ~ -
AZ wish i could get Bsome slips Of
Colonel Porter's gsfanipms, 'isshe said;
''he' has 80 many kinds, and Ihave only
this little pink one. And I want root
of day-llly very much, and some tea
rose cuttings, and q double Genoese
Pvioleta a blue, SALIVA too, aid oh,
Mr.. Callendef, loSk! There is Rose
Porter now, driving up, the. streetlin
her pony phaeton. Isn't she lovelyp"
AS the jaunty basket phaeton moved
| slowly by, q bright, pretty face glanced
from it, smiling. cordially at Rhetta,
and then was oYerspread by,aslooks Of
sudden RECOGNITION and pleased SUR
prise at sight tdf Ralph Calender, who
took his hat off respectfully.
"Why,5 do you know her?" asked
~ find do. She and my sister Sally
became great friends two years ago lat
Newport was it NahahtY Yss And,
Miss Porter spent the holidays at otir|
house the next winter. Thought .ft'
must be she, when you described herr
Ralph Calender paused and gazed
reaectiveiy at the ground. He was re.
calling that gay holiday season when
Rose Porter and his sister were the
bellies of their set. He could have
counted his friends by the hundred,
Land nOw-'POve does make differ
ence,' 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 WOrid.y y
Rhetta; growing suddenly shy ipulledf
away the dead leaves from a pink root
ard said nothing. Newport Nahanti
And people. like the Porters for inti-
mate friendsl 1t seemed to remove
Ralph far from her quiet. even life, and
to set him where she had no part ,l
The basket phaeton was now seen
returning down the street with It's
pretty occupant, who stopped her po.
nies opposite the cottage with such an
evident intention to speak to Ralph
Callendersthat 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 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 seel''
But when he did not come home to
dinner she thought it strange. Her
father anil Aunt Dorcas made no COM
menet, for Ralph had often been absent
at that hour when seeking for employ
ment. 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 great interest too, and,
Rhetta found 1850 trying to listen to,
their sremarks 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.
time; and Rhetta, in fresh gown, with
pansies at her belt, hummed little songs
as she moved about setting tho table
for Aunt Dorcas.
II wouldn't put on that dish Of
honey" Aunt Dorcas-"not 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.
Where's Calender" he asked, look.
ing around.
why, haven't you heardp' said
Aunt Dorcas. ''He drove off with
Rose Porter, and we haven't caught
sight Of him since. y" ~
''The Porters are old friends Of his,'
said Rhetta, flushing up.
"Huml hump muttered her father,
as he drank his tea from the saucer, in
which he had cooled 1t.
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: swell, like
as not they'll make match OF IL.
Birds of a feather flock together"
Supper was over, cleared away, and
all the dishes washed, but still Ralph
Calender did not come. AS 1t grew
dark, Mr.. Wood strolled off to chat
with the netlhbors, and Aunt DOrcas,
putting on her bonnet and black silk
shawl, went to the weekly prayer meet
ing. Rhetta, left free from comment.
went up into her little garden, and
leaned against the plum tree, with o
strange dull pain gnawing at her heart.
1t seemed like days and weeks since
Ralph drove away with smiling, pretty
Rose Porter. And she herself has be,
gun to think of him as somehow her
own. That very morning, under that
very tree, there had been in his looks
and in his tones touches Of tenderness
that had filed her heart with subtle
happiness. But now it was all over;
In an instant she had lost HIM. Rose
Porter had taken HIM away, and