St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-09-25
her wealth. her luxury. and her dozens

her wealth. her luxury, and her dozens
of lovers, to come swooping down
upon this one chance of bliss in a life
time. For Rhetta was sure that in all
the years to come she should never.
never marry. That was all over from
this time forth.
The crickets hummed about her, the
nightmoths brushed by her unheeded;
the moon rose. but she did not know 1t.
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 live on there, an
old. lonely woman From this reveric
she was aroused by the stopping of
wheels and cheerful voices at the gate.
"Rhetta, Rhettar' shouted some
body. in joyous, manly tones.
She rose to her feet in the moon
light, bewildered and uncertain. Was
she dreaming. or was it really Ralph
calling her9
.'Rhetta, is that you under the plum.
tree? Come here for moment to the
gate"
LES, tudi Nd> htipi CshittuS hOi.
With girlish CELEBRITY she smoothed
back her dsordcred hair and ran to
the gate There he stood. his arms
filed with flowers. which he loaded
upon her, while Colonel Porter's
coachman. who had brought him home,
was almost staggering under the weight
OF an iinmease basket. full of bloom
and fragrance. which he made haste to
deposit on the garden walk.
Every thing is here" said Ralph,
gayly-"the geraniums. the day-lilies.
the tea rose bushes and the double vio-
lets. Roots. slips, cuttings. all yoa
wanted. YOU have them now. aud I'll
set them every one out for YOU.
30. how beautiful. how beautiful!
murmured 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 in the m,onlit gar
den. 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-
ing?" he said. fervently. MY way is
clear before me now Colonel Porter
has given me chance in his own busi-
ness, beyond any thing dared to hope.
You don t know how hard it has been
for me to wait till had right to ask
you to be my own little Rhetta always
-alwaysr
Happy Rhctta. The moon ought to
have laughed right out to see how her
face hal changed. it was so 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 had
scatica, was taken all aback by hearing
merry voices under the plum-tree. and
finding Ralph and Rhetta there at
work with trowels setting out roots and
tying up plants.
Rose Porter sent me all these eN.
claimed Rhetta, triumphantly-'.a
| this great basketful of lovelinesS and
luxury. and we must set them every
one out tonight, because night is the
best time. and they will get the dew. :
For the land sakcs!' ejaculated
Aunt Dorcas Don't W. want the
| lantern?"
20. the moon is rs bright As day.
said Ralph. as h paused to choose a
place for fine blue saliva.
"Well. well-' the old lady exclaimed
and then, rs if she d;mly comprehended
| that something in the glamour ofyouth
and romance might make it Il thing to
be desired to dig in gardens at unusual
hours, she said no more, but went
quietly into the house. L. b,
| Branch. in Hrpsr'S Bayar.