Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-06-26

That was why b.
was called Old Roses. It was not other
wise inapt, for there was sometime
antique about him, though he wasn'
old flavor, an old-fashioned reposl
and self-possession. He was inspecto,
of tanks from this God-forsaken coun-
try.
Apart from his duties he kept most
ly to himself, though when not travel
ing he always went down to O'Fallen
Hotel once day for a cup of tea-tes
kept especially for him; and as ht
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. II
Dicky Merritt, the solicitor, who wa.
hail-fellow with squatter, homestead
lessee, cocatoo-farmer and shearer,
called him ga lively old buffer"
1t was he, indeed, who gave him the
name of Old Roses. Dickey sometimes
went over to Long Neck Billabong,
where Old Roses lived, for q reel, as
he put it, and he always carried away
deep impression of the Inspector
qualities. "Had his day." said Dickey
in O'Fallen's sittingroom one night,
'in marble halls, or I'm Jack. Run
neck and neck with almighty swells
once. Might live here for q thousand
years AMI he'd still be the nonesuch of
the back blocks I'd patent him-file
my cayeat for him tomorrow if could
bully Old Roses!''
Victoria Bowling, the barmaid, lifted
her chin slightly from her hands, as
she leaned through the opening be-
tween the bar and the sitting-roon,
and said: "Ir. Merritt, Old Roses is
q gentleman, and gentleman is gem
tleman till he"
"Till he humps his bluey into the
Never Never Land, VIC? But what do
you know about gentlemen, anyway ?
You were born FIVE miles from the
Jumping Sandhills, my dear!"
'Oh," was the quiet reply, ga wo-
man-the commonest woman-knovs
q gentleman by instinct 1t isn't what
they do, it's what they don't do; and
Old Roses doesn't do lots of things. ="
Fright you are, Victoria right Won
are again You do the Jumping Sand
hills credit. Old Roses has the root
OF the matter in him-and there YOU
have it."
Dickey had profound admiration
for Vic. She had brains, was perfect
ly fearless, and every one in tho
Wadgery country who visited O'Fal-
lens had 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 function was
necessary. 1t was arranged. Then
came the question Of the address of
welcome to be delivered at the ban
quet. Dickey Merritt and the local
doctor were proposed as composers,
but they both declared they'd onlr
''make rot of it" and suggested Old
Roses.
They went to lay the thing before
him. They found him in his garden.
He greeted them smiling in his enig-
matical way, and listened. While
Dickey spoke, a flush slowly passed
over him, and then Immediately left
him pale; but he stood perfectly still,
his hand leaning against a sandal tree,
and the coldness of his face warmed
up again slowly. His head having
been bent attentively as he listened,
ihey did not see anything unusual
After moment of silence and in
scrutable deliberation, he answered
that he would do as they wished.
Dickey limited that he would require
some information about Lord Malice's
past career and his family's history,
but he assured them that he did not
need it; and his eyes idled somewhat
ironically with Dickey's face.
When the two had gone Old Roses
photograph, and couple of decora-
tions spread out before him; his fin
gers resting on them, and his look en-
gagged with very far horizon
The Governor came. He was met
outside the township by the citizens
and escorted in-a dusty and numer-
GUS cavalcade. They passed the in
spection house The garden was
blooming, and on the roof flag was
flying. Struck by the singular char
scter of the place Lord Malice asked
who lived there, and proposed stop
ping for moment to make the ac-
quaintance of its owner, adding, with
some slight sarcasm, that If the offi-
GERS of the Government were too busy
to pay their respects to their Governor,
their Governor must pay his respects
70 them.
But Old Roses was not in the garden
nor in the house, and they left with
out seeing him. He was sitting IN.
der q willow at the Billabong, reading
over and over to himself the address
10 be delivered before the Governor in
the evening. And as he read his face
bad q wintry and inhospitable look.
; The night came. Old Roses entered
The dining room quietly with the
crowd, far in the Governors wake.
According to his request, he was given
. seat in distant corner, where he
was quito inconspicuous. Most of the
men present were in evening dress
He wore a plain tweed suit, but car
ried handsome rose in his button
hole. 1t was impossible to put him at
disadvantage. he looked distin-
Euished rs he was. He appeared to be
much interested in Lord Malice. The
early proceedings were cordial, for the
uovernor aad his suite made them
selves N ost agreeable, and talk flowed
lsniably.
After . time there was rattle OF
knives and forks, and the Chairman
arose. Then, after q chorus Of shear,
hears" there was general silence. The
aoorwsys Of the rooms were filed by
The women servants of the hotel. Chief
among them was Vic, who kept her
eyes Il, ostly on Old Roses. She knew
that he yas to read the address and
ypeak, and she was more interested in
IN and his -Apccea1 than in Lord