Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-07-28
OLD ROSES.

It was in a 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
| " TO himself, though when not trav-
cling he went down to OFallen's he
tel once a day for glass of whisky
and water-whisky kept especially
for 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 over to Long Neck Billa-
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,
said Dicky in O'Fallen's sitting room
one night, ''in marble halls, or I'm a
Jack. Run neck and neck with al.
mighty swells once. Might hvelhere
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 could-bully Old
| Rosesp
Victoria Bowling, 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 it,"
Dicky had profound admiration
for Vic. She had brains. was per.
fectly fearless, no man had ever
taken liberty with her, and every
one in the Wadgery country who
visited OFallen'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 cam6 the question of
the address of welcome to be de
hvered at the banquet Dicky Mer
ritt and the local doctor were pro
posed as composers. but they both
declared they'd only make rot Of
it. 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 i'm.
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
attentvely as he listened. they did
not see anything unusual
After a moment of silence and in.
scrutable deliberaton, he answered
that he would do as they wished.
Dichy limited that he would require
some information about Lord Mai
ices past career and his family his
tory, but he assured than that he
did not need il. and his eyes idled
somowhat ironically with Dickys
faca.
When the two had gone. Old Roses
sat Ia his room, a handful Of letters,
q photograph and a couple Of deo0ra-
tions spread out before him. his
fingers resting on them and his look
engaged with = very far horizon.