Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-08-23
Blush Roses

RoWed glasses because she was near
sighted, and goldbowed ones would
nave seemed an extravaganza, and
DID her hair up in a tight little knob
because it could be done quickly so,
and there was nobody to tell her that
It was unbecoming. And she walked
very fast and straight when she went
on errands, and nobody stopped her
Tor a chat, because she looked as if
she would resent such an Interrupt
{lon. TO most people she was either
rorbidding or uninteresting. But
most people had not seen her in her
garden
Passing Miss Rebecca's story-and-
a-half house, spick and span in its
coat OF white paint, you never would
pave suspected the presence of that
garden; for in front was only mar.
row, grass covered emban1ment with
& small Towering ounce on one side
OF the front door, and on the other
an aged syringa bush. But, once be-
hind the house, something from the
country seemed to have slipped into
che midst Of this New England city.
Apple trees and pear trees dappled
the grass with their shadows, grape
vines clambered lovingly over I'M
slightly wall or shed, and line of
phlox marched beside the one garden
: path. In corner where most of the
day the sunlight fell full and warm
was clump of rose bushes-blush
rose-blushes-that had bloomed for
forty years or more. Miss Rebecca's
father and mother had set them out
and tended them in their lifetime,
and now Miss Rebecca pruned and
watched over them. Each year they
nlled the air with their fragrance, and
due season were gathered by Miss
Hebecca and borne proudly to her
church vestry, to be used as decora-
tion for its June festival. 1t was
her one vanity-to sit primly by and
feel that on the many tables, with
fheir spotless tablecloths and shin
Ing silver, there were no other flow
ers so beautiful as hers.
To this end she weeded and water
ed and fought bugs and blight, and,
reckless of twinges in her back,
coaxed the bushes with beguiling
touch to do their utmost And for
one day, when the tender pink of
her flowers shone out from bowl and
vase, she bore an exultant spirit, a
thrilling sense of public Importance
1t was nearing the time now of this
annual e-gathering delight, and
Miss Rebecca, at work in her front
yard, felt her mind concerned with
the number of basketfuls she would
have. The season had been one most
friendly to roses. Never had there
been more buds never had the
bushes been vigorous or free from
blemish. She paused a moment while
she allowed anticipation to have its
way with her Into the pause there
came the sound of a gate-latch be-
Ing lifted She turned toward the
noise and saw a scantily clad figure
wedging through the partly opened
gate.
Now Miss Rebecca was not used TO
having small figures, scantily clad
or otherwise, open her gates unbid-
den. She had waged a sharp but de-
cisive war against that very thing
many years before, and the fame of
1t had not wholly died out. All new
Corners on the street were cautioned
against letting their children ask her
for flowers or fruit. The children
tn 5nJ III i
over the back fence at night, and all
the next day lived in terror of Miss
Rebecca's avenging persence.
Miss Rebecca Strengthened up,
Scowled over her glasses, and CROPPED
round in her mind for the old phrase
she had been accustomed to find CT
fective on such occasions. 1t was a
run away, little boy" uttered in
so severe a tone that seldom was
anything necessary, But the phrase
had lain unused for a long time, and
1t failed, in this instance to respond
before the little boy had wholly wrig-
gled himself in and was standing be.
side her. He was quite dirty as to
his hands and face, and very untidy
as to his attire; but he smiled hap
PLY.
You got nice flowers" he said,
pointing to the quince-bush. 81 like
nice flowers"
Miss Rebecca relaxed her frown
in pure amazement. Little boys
mustn't come into peoples yards
without being asked she heard her.
self say. Don't you know that?"
The smile wavered uncertainty on
the round face. 81 likes nice flow.
ers." There was a pause, then the
smile shone out again brilliantly.
"You give little boy a nice f&ower?"
Miss Rebecca tried to summon
some other arrangement Of words
that should express severity, bat fail
ed. Here was something that didn't
fear her. She moved toward the sy-
ringa-bush.
WELL" she said, "Ill give you one