Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-09

Il
he liked her words and her character,
and one day he told her he loved her,
and became her accepted suitor. IL
was the time OF the blossoming Of the
golden-rod when this happened, and
Rodney brought her a bouquet OF
flowers as betrothal nosegay.
IL love Them" he said, in his slow.
grave way, passing his large fingers
over them. "They are the bravest,
bonniest flower that any season
knows"
Ray was learning to paint at this
time, and as his eyes rested on her
easel, Rodney said
"Will you paint me spray Of my
flowers some time, dearp"
And Ray looked at the blossoms he
had brought, and answered; "Some
day when i can paint we'll enough, per-
haps Some day when / love you very
much, and want especially TO please
you. Some day when we have quar-
relied, perhaps, and l want TO make
up Who knows but what all this
words is some day
"And so, when l receive my picture,
IL we have quarreled." he said, still
gravely, carrying out her thought, 81
shall know there is repentance and a
hope for meeting-a little soreness
OF heart for the things that have gone
amiss, a longing for righting? Shall
read these things, Ray?"
And Ray had answered, half-laugh-
ing at his serious mood you may
read these things"
There was happy year, and then a
bitter quarrel. No matter why these
two, who loved each other dearly, said
such hard words Because they did
love each other, they could speak far
moro bitterly. Both were stubborn
and proud, and neither would ask the
others pardon, or speak one word
that might lead to reconciliation.
Two years went by, and when Engi-
neer Rodney was forced to go to the
telegraph Office at Glencoe to sign an
important message, or to receipt for
one, he uttered only short, cold words
of greeting or business, and was an
swered no less coolly than he spoke.
Ray had learned painting rapidly in
those two lonely years when she felt
she must work constantly to keep
troublesome thoughts away. Her Of
fl &c duties were light, and her brush
was very much in her hand. And she
stood and painted the ray Of golden
rod, thinking Of her own words and
those of Rodney on certain day two
years ago. But the painting was not
for him. One Of the favorite pupils OF
her teacher was TO be married soon, and
the teacher, who thought Rays
skill something marvellous and
her taste fine, had asked her
to paint this spray as a little
gift for the bride Ray thought OF
Rodney as she painted; thought of him
as she put the finishing touches TO the
picture; thought Of him as the paint
ing stood on the easel while the colors
dried. But it did not enter her head
to send him any sign that she wanted
him. And Rodney had looked from
his engine into low-lying meadows,
and sunny pastures brave with his
flowers, had even got down when there
was waiting-time and plucked great
handfuls OF the golden, glowing stuff,
and sighed and been heartsick, but nc
thought came TO him OF sending Ray
| 81 ,rl, hat ho ~
{" II is dry, and / will send it TO Mrs.
Early to-day" Ray said one afternoon,
speaking of the painting. She took il
from the easel, and wrapping it in
paper, laid it on the desk, saying: 9
will let Jack take it to her this after.
noon" Jack was the messenger boy,
She drew an envelope toward hel
and directed it to Mrs. Early. 1t was
n large envelope, such as was used tC
cover certain kind of train order
Before she had placed the picture with
in it, she heard her signal, and push
ing the directed envelope slightly
aside, she answered the Office call, and
presently had written the following
message:
"To ENo'R RODNEY, TRAIN No. 1877.
GLENCOE
Keep your engine we'll in hand around
Keiths Ledge. Rain has loosened some rails.
The message was signed by the
superintendent of the road.
No. 1877 was not due for five minutes
Ray directed another envelope, ant
then somewhat awkwardly folded the
order sheet, which was twice rs large
as il need have been. Take these two
envelopes" she said to Jack, having
deposited both train order and picture
land when 1877 comes, hand the one
directed to him to Engineer Rodney
and take the other to Mrs. Early"
Jack took the two envelopes and de-
parted, and Ray leaned back in hei
chair and remembered how glad she
used TO be when Engineer Rodney
came to the window to sign for mes
sage.
No. 1877 pulled slowly by Glencoe
without stopping. The engineer
leaned out of the cab window and
took the envelope from Jacks out
stretched hand. 1t felt heavy.
"You may sit here few minutes
Ned" he said to the fireman, who
could run an engine almost as well as
himself. He wiped as much smut "a,
possible from his hands, and drew the
card from the envelope. His eye,
grew soft and humid and his sooty
face shone. His brave flower, perfec
as those in the meadow yonder, ricl
and golden, and painted by Ray
'Some day when love you very much
and want especially to please you
Then it was she was to send his pictur,
of the golden-rod. And when it was
sent, he was to know that there was ;