The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-09-06
OLD ROSES.

1t was in barren country, and
Wadgery was generally shriveled
with heat, but he always had roses
in his garden, on his window sill or
in his buttonhole. Growing flowers
under difficulties was his recreation.
That was why he was called Old
Roses 1t was not otherwise inapt,
for there was something antique
about him, though he wasn't old-a
flavor, and old fashioned repose and
self possession. He was inspector of
tanks in this God forsaken country.
Apart from his duties he kept most
ly to himself, though when not trav-
cling he went down to OFallen's ho-
tel once a day for n glass of whisky
and water whisky kept especially
fol. him-and as he drank this slowly
he talked to Vic, the barmaid, or to
any chance visitors whom he knew.
He never drank with any one nor
asked any one to drink, and, strange
to say, no one resented this. AS Vic
said, He was different" Dicky
Merritt, the solicitor, who was hail
fellow with squatter, homestead les
see. cockatoo farmer and shearer,
called him "a lively old buffer" 1t
was he indeed who gave him the
name of Old Roses. Dicky some
times went to Long Neck BiIla-
bong, where Old Roses lived, for a
reel, as he put it, and he always car
ried away deep impression of the
inspectors qualities Had his day, I"
said Dicky in O'Fallen's sitting room
one night, .sin marble halls, or I'm a
Jack. Run neck. and neck with al
mighty swells once. Might live here
for thousand years and he'd still be
the nonesuch of the back blocks. I'd
patent him-file my caveat for him
tomorrow if I could-bully Old
Rosesr
Victoria Dow1ing, the barmaid,
lifted her chin slightly from her
hands as she leaned through the
opening between the bar and the sit
ting room and said, ''Mr. Merritt,
Old Roses is a gentleman, and gen
tleman is a gentleman till he"-
Right you are, Victoria, right
you are againl You do the Jumping
Sandhills credit. Old Roses has the
root of the matter in him-and there
you have ii"
Dicky had a profound admiration
for Vic. She had brains, was per
fectly fearless, no man had ever
taken a liberty with her, and every
one in the Wadgery country who
visited O'Fallen's had a wholesome
respect for her opinion.
About this time news came that
the governor, Lord Malice, would
pass through Wadgery on his tour
up the back blocks. A great func-
ton was necessary. 1t was ar
ranged. Then came the question of
the address of welcome to be de-
hvered at the banquet Dicl1y Mer-
ritt and the local doctor were pro-
posed as composers, but they both
declared they'd only make rot of
it, I" and suggested Old Roses.
They went to lay the thing before
him. They found him in his gar
den. He greeted them, smiling in
his quiet, enigmatical way and lis
tened. While Dickey spoke flush
slowly passed over him and then inn
mediately left him pale, but he stood
perfectly still, his hand leaning
against sandal tree, and the cold
ness of his face warmed up again
slowly. His head having been bent
attentiyely as he listened, they did
not see anything unusual.
After moment of silence and in
scrutable deliberation, he answered
that he would do as they wished.
Dicky limited that he would require
some information about Lord NAL
ices past career and his family his
tory, but he assured them that he
did not need it, and his eyes idled
somewhat ironically with Dicky's
face.
When the two had gone, Old Roses
sat in his room, handful of letters,
a photograph and a couple of decora-
tions spread out before him, his
fingers resting on them and his look
engaged with a very far horizon.
The governor came. He was met
outside the township by the citizens
and escorted ina dusty and numer-
ous cavalcade. They. passed the in
spector's house The garden was
blooming, and ON the roof flag was
flying. Struck by the singular char
acter of the place, Lord Malice asked
who lived there and proposed stop
ping for a moment to make the ac-
quaintance of its owner, adding with
some slight sarcasm, that if the off,
GERS of the government were too
busy to pay their respects to their
governor their governor must pay
his respects to them. But Old Roses
was not in the garden nor the house,