The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-29

s.Niss Grayson, / meant to ask Won
the other night if you were fond of flow
ers.'
II adore Them" she replied with fer
vor.
Have you ever seen my garden?"
mot near to. l noticed it as l was
driving by on Friday. 1t is beautiful.
And Mrs. Harding says you laid it out
yourself"
81 always do. I'd like you to come and
see it-not now-with Mrs. Harding"
Then he remembered that the oxen
had done for his garden, and he STAN
mered. 80, | forgot. It's ruined The
oxen ate it up.
1.-THE oxen ate it up?" said she after
him. 1t now struck her for the first
time that perhaps he was crazy He
certainly had on a very crazy costume.
If he had not been the Adonis that he
certainly was this cotton robe and the
lonely looking carpet slipper of Vene-
tian red would not have been becoming
to him. But even his touseled hair be-
came him and he would have looked
handsome in anything. But why was he
out so late on so cool a night with such
inadequate clothing?
4 There, that'll last until you get nome, y
said he. He took the reins and climbed
into the wagon. He stubbed his bare toe
on the step and the pain was excrusiat-
ing for a moment but his face did not
show it,
.I'll drive slowly and you can walk.
I don't suppose you care to ride" said
he.
Mold rather walk" said she.
How kind he was but how peculiar.
She did hope that no one would be look
ing out. 1t would seem SO queer.
He gazed at her fondly from the seat
as the old horse began to walk slowly
along. He drew the lap robe over his
knees. He was getting cool.
Miss Grayson, have you--have you
ever though seriously about marriage?"
Not since I was a child" said she,
laughing, she knew not why.
Then you haven't ceased to think of
it," he said, and realized that it WASH t
exactly what he had meant to express.
II mean-why, Miss Grayson, we have
so much In common-you love old furni-
ture and so do l and you love flowers
and / do, too, and IL adore you, and
you"
Really, Mr.. Newberry, I don't know
how to take you"
Take me as I am-that is-Miss
Grayson-what is your first name?"
Ruth" said Miss Grayson almost Ee-
fore she knew it.
He clasped the reins in his hands and
he now raised reins and hands to his
heart and said:
Ruth, | am not a man to shilly- shally.
I knew I'd marry when the right woman
l
Don't say no. / have a comfortable
house and I can restore my garden In
spite Of the oxen that are cursed OF
blessed, according as you answer me.
Come we are almost at your house.
will leave the horse and wagon here and
halloo for Mr.. Harding il you will but
say the one little word that l want. Isn't
ruling me better than ruling a lot OF
unruly children? l know what that school
! is l went there myself and no teachers
| lot is an easy one"
He stopped the horse and Miss Gray
son stopped mechanically. He wound the
reins around the whipstock and Chamber
| ed out of the wagon on the side opposite
| the school teacher. This time his ex-
| posed toe escaped injury.
"Why are you here in your--in white? %
L chased GOOuWln oxen lTOlu my
bed-from my garden bed-to the grave
yard. l will go home and get something
else on-anything to please you Miss
er-Ruth, if you will only make me happy
by one little word. Will you share my
fortune and my flowers?
! call Mr.. Harding and then go away
and come to see me after school, to-
morrow, and ! will tell you
Trueman made horn of his hands and
called Harding in his resounding bass.
At the third call there was an answer
from the house.
| "Now-do co. said Miss Grayson.
Trueman put his hand up to lift his
cap and his fingers met in a lock Of dis
heaveled hair. He waived his hand as
gracefully as he could and turned and
hurried home disappearing just as Mr..
Harding came out to see what was the
matter Trueman took longer to get
home than he had taken to come with the
oxen as pacemakers, but he was strange
ly happy--he knew not why. But the next
day he knew, and now, if you were to
visit Mr.. Newberry's house. he and Mrs
Newberry would be very likely to show
you among their treasures, an old feather
duster laid as an ornament above another
treasure, a painting by Horatio Walker
of a pair of oxen, which bears the odd
title "The Home Makers