The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-01-05

yvutnall9m IN you-one, at least,
cheek. II you succeed, your future is
certain. 1aRree Here clappingo of
hands was heard, and Grace emerged
rom the wlndow-curtains-s on
conditions. If you iail, you are to
promise to make no more pretensions
to this eavesdropper's hand"
y accept" cried Frank. Don't be
alarmed. Grace; I'm sure to win, and
I'm of I've no time to lose.''
And OF sped the young man to Mr..
Peter O'Rourke, florist. He knew
Peter very we'll, and had given him
many putt in his society reporting,
for all Of which Peter was quite crate.
full.
What can I do for you to-day. Mr..
Elton?" he asked. "t'm very busy.
but my times at your service. with
the greatest pleasure in loife-an' the
greenhouses too.''
You are furnishing tho Tomnoddy
wedding tomorrow. You need more
assistance than usual. Iwant you to
hlre me; We shan't quarrel about
wages"
Peters eyes twinkled. II see," said
he. II don't want to know yer ray.
sons for going into gyardening -may.
be can guess. But they may find ye
out, and then-the hullebaloo!'
"1'll take care not to compromise
you, O'Rourke."
The end of it was that our hero was
hired at nothing for wages, and to find
himself. He was to come the next
morning and enter on his duties.
| Now Frank was q dashing young
fellow, always dressed in the height of
the mode. He had q striking face, at
least that part of it not hidden by q
long, full, sweeping mustache, and a
full beard. His hair being wavy and
inclined to curl, was worn
a little longer than usual. But
when closely chopped and clearly
shaver young man attired in q loose
pepper-and.salt suit, of q slop-shop
cut, made his appearance early next
day, O'Rourke asked him what he
wanted.
"Sure. I'm Michael Carroll, Sort"
replied the newcomer, "an' ye hired
me yesterday"
"Murdther!' cried O'Rourke. "1t's
bully gyardner's man We are entoire.
ly. Well, I'll work We Mr.. Elton, eny.
how. Take the wagon there, with
John, and put those two palms we've
missed IN the proper places. I'll lave
that to you. Whin yer done, take
the basket of buttonhols bouquets in
time for the breakfast. Arm yer pay.
Oh! but ye have made holy show of
yerself."
Frank was driven to the church.
where he gave the finishing touches to
the decoration, and then subsided in
the corner. When the wedding guests
and ushers arrived, he went
forward and re-arranged q
pot or two, and having thus i'm
pressed every one with his official
character, went back to a remote pew,
where he sat as q mere idle spectator.
But while his face betrayed nothing,
his fingers and pencil were busy on q
note book beneat tn the rim of the pew.
He noted the dresses and positions of
the many he knew, but there were
strangers from abroad, and these he
noted by the number OF pews. The
ushers had lists. and seated every one
according to- q preconceived plan.
How to steal one OF those lists which
hung dangling from each usher's but.
tonhole, was grand question. He
could see no mode to do it, and gave
it up.
The wedding ceremony was not half
over when he slipped out, entered the
! wagon, and bade John drive to the
Tomnoddy mansion. Except the cook
! and his assistants who were in the
kitchen, no servant was visible but the
| young and good-looking girl who an.
swered the bell. Telling her that he
was the gardeners man who had
brought the boutonnieres for the
breakfast table, to see that all the
flowers were properly arranged, he
was ushered into the dining-room
with his basket. Then he laid the
bouquets by the plates, each of which
had It's card. These cards, the GIRL
having gone back to the hall, he copied
on his shirt-cuffs. He picked up and
concealed q menu.card, and went out
in the parlors, where he slightly chang
ed the position of some vases OF flow
ers, while he eyed them critically to
the great admiration of the girl.
"They'll do, purity dariin', I'm
thinkin, ," he said. otis fine presents,
l. daresay, the bride Il. be gitten,'
OuO VAA0 0A6AV W VASA4 lS wv 1OE Lllo
likes of me-
"Indade, but you will see them thin;
before they come in. They're in the
next ROOM"
Frank appeared overwhelmed at
the sight.
"1t's erand!" he said "a weeny
card aitch.'
"That's thin that stint them," said
the girl. IAN ther names is written
down on that paper there. too. But
here they come!"
She hustled Frank out, but not be.
tore he had abstracted and concealed
the list. Then he opened the door
for the guests. Bride, groom and all
| the rest passed by the bogus gardner
without notice but old Tomnoddy
| stopped and stared st l:im. Franks
heart beat, for he had met and talked
with the old gentleman several times.
| But he never changed color.
"It's Mike Carroll. am, corr, Mr..
O'Rourke's man. KEN with the but
tonhole noseways, sir, and to see that
the flowers were all proper, an he
bade me stay, an make meself useful,
av you was short-handed sorr."
"Ah, yes! that's very thoughtful of
Mr.. O'Rourke. l thought your face
seemed familiar. I must have seen
you at his shop. Well, I don't
know. Yes. you can be ofuse. Hyou
will step in the library there, and help
the gentlemen of with their great
coats"
with the greatest aize in loife,
sorr," replied Frank, touching his
hair, where the topknot had been
sheared off.
So in the library Frank went, and
buised himself. The last to come in
were the ushers, who were in high glee.
There was good luck. After each was
relieved OF his light top coat, he took
his list from his buttonhole.
"Hawkey, old boy" said one of
them, "what'll we do with these?"
"Oh, toss 'em on the table there"