The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-02
THEEMMA-JANEVE VERBENA.

4
pitcher, and she admired what she call
ed a set bouquet-such as her son Orrin
carried Sunday evenings to his sweet
heart, Miss Abbie Swift, over in the
, Centre. Best of all she loved them
growing in the garden.
Mrs Pease spent hours over them,
wedding, training, clipping, watering,
unweariedly. Her bent figure could ht
seen all summer long moving lovingly
about the narrow paths, hanging pa
tiently over brilliant beds. The flowers
repaid her in many ways. They hllet
the air with sweetness, they seemed to
smile and nod to her through storm and
sunshine. they seemed quite human u
their silent grace. She called them all
by name, of, en- in grateful memory OF
some friend. generally for the glver o
the plant or precious slip from which
the blossoms sprdng so thrifliiy.
Her son. too, felt an interest in the
garden. He shared her pride in the lustI
roses and genaniumS he liked to see his
mothers sunbonnet bUbbing among thu
bushes or bending intently to the
ground. He was interested in the Llddy
Ann pink, and soliticious as IT, the
growth of the Amandy chrysanthemum
do declare, said Mrs. Pease one sum
mer evening. that Marthy lily does look
dreadful peaked, just like the Ponds, /
kinder hated to call it after one OF EN-
bu, | see she WAS gOin' TO feel badly II
didn't, so l did. Now look at it, all yel
lar and droOpin'. Seems as if there wa
a sort o sympathy atween EN-.
Orrin was Il youth of few words. liz
looked interested, but said nothing.
There's that Betsey prony, continued
his mother walking slowly down tn.
path how 1t does grow! Great strappIn
thing. Every time look at 1t, stand
ing up 50 pert and sassy, think OF Bet
sey in her red jersey.
| uuw's the verbena, motheII said Or
rim. taking his ppe out OF his mouth.
The Emma Jane SAID Mrs. Pease.
stopping over plant whose little hnger'
spread in ali directions promised TO GOV
er large space with pure blossoms. lts
growing beautifully, aud she sighed.
Her son looked serious for moment
then knocked the ashes from his pipe
aud Strengthened up To his full height oI
six feet. a handsome, stalwart young
fellow in hIs shirt sleeves, with his sun
burned face freshly shaved.
guess III 20 oyer to the Centre, he
said.
He went into the house silently, and
he good woman, picking dead CHINA
mon rose to pieces, SAID in low voice ::
hope to mercy she'll be good enougl
or him and not one of YOUR filthy kind.
| s'pose sh'l like bo'quel.
And then with care, if not with skill,
he kind soul gathered a large bunch of
ne different flowers and wrapped a bit
| # newspaper around their stems.
When Orrin appeared in his hes
clothes he thanked her warmly, picked
blossom of the white verbena for hn
putrOu hole, and hilheiy strobe away.
| She watched him through the du-k \,
ung as she could see. He and the flow
RS were all she had to love; sOmetim"'
II was hard to have him leave her Of az
venIng, hard to know that fair fac
! mad such power TO win him from The
devotion and COmpanionship Of years.
| He's better than the common run, sh'
thought with pride, more quiet behave
and faithful. He has been a good so,
me. He'll be a dreadful Indulgent
husband. Eff she amt good to him
She turned away from the gate ano
hook her head as if words failed to ex
Dress her feelings. AT each side Of thu
path the blossoms leaned toward her,
illing the air with their sweet BREATH a.
reminding her
We are always here. We never leave
you.
No more you dc. said the simple W
nali, Understanding them. AID tn
she too picked bit Of the white ve''
bena.
sweet creature, she whispered, jest a.
nnercent and sweet as Emma Jane her
self.
| Meanwhile through the scented even
ing walked Orrin with hls big bouquet.
| His honest heart was full OF tender an
icpatious. Would she be out in tn
| ward watching-watchingf for him! Ano
would she smile with the look in hpl
ives he loved to see there? Or would sh
re unaccountably shy and cool, seen
surprised to see him, and take his offer
ing indlfferently Somehow he fancIet
hat his mother had always beeI
Nraighttorward and easy TO understand
Abby was different all spirit and change
one minute wild with merrlment. the
next quiet, inscrutable, mad, perhaps.
Twill take more than rden to sat
isfy her, guess, he thought half anus
ID, half tender. God bless her, he addeo
reverently
She was watching for him with all hel
soul in her great dark eyes. She wa.
linking with pang, how late he was ;
then n sickening fear flashed over her !;
perhaps he might not come at all ! Sud.
denly her heart Ieaped uimness cloud
I'd her sight. She tried to still with on
hand that beating in her breast. He was
coming. All, she would know hin
among ten thousand. with his brOau
shoulders and his springing step. Sh'
leaned against the window frame anu
watched him with kIndling eye.
When lie opened the gate she was in
the kitchen; by the time he had reacher
the door she had gained the woodshed.
Deacon Swift answered his knock
Good evenin he said politely.
Good evenin said Orrin. Is Abby al
home
Guess likely; step in. -
And the deacon opened the parlor
door invitingly.
Orrin walked in over the rag carpeted
entry into the dark and sacred bes
room. An indescrbable odor, musty
herby close ,pervaded 1t an odor peculiar
10 New England village parlors. Tht
hair cloth chairs and sofa stood stiff,
on the red and yellow ingram covering
Of the floor, the marble topped centr'
able bore lamp and few cherished
books; the mantel piece with shells. da-
guerreotypes, and wax flowers. A row
of family Photographs and wedding
certificate in black walnut frame
adorned the walls and green paper
shades covered the windows, The dea-
con tied up one Of them, saying
The wimmen folks hain't been in here
lately, guess, to jedge from appear
ances,
Abby. Abby.
Abby appeared, demure and calm.
Good evenin' Orrin, she said, nict
evenIn'.
Yes. walked over, seein' twas 81
pleasant. I've brought you some flower
Abhy.
On, amt they pretty! Your mother
does have the handsomesl fl ,wers Of any
one know. she said, 50 admiringly tha
her lover blushed with pleasure.