Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-03-12

| am about it. But | don't know why
l should bore you. Only, felt l sim
ply had to tell some one"
Il am glad you told me-" said Shir-
ley gently. And you must win the
prize. That is certain"
The long June days wore away, each
bringing fresh promise of new life and
beauty to the roses. A week before the
show, after a blssful evening spent
with Rita in helping her to minister to
| the precious roses, the girl suddenly
lifted her flushed face from a rose
bush.
They're coming on beautifully" she
announced II feel my chance is a
very healthy one. But | mustn't be
for mine. If you don't mind, l will
come over and inspect my pupils prog
ress."
Delighted :" said Shirley, all ignor-
ant of his impending doom.
Rita strolled around the garden, ex-
IL
effect. But as she walked to the bed,
where a battalion of rose trees, each
bearing a single bud, reared their
heads, a slight crease appeared be-
tween her eyes. She criticised and in
Spected every row, and as her face
grew dark Shirley's spirits fell.
The queen of the flowers is as tickle
as most despotic soyereigns, and, with
the caprice of her sex, had chosen to
thrive under Shirley's careless treat
ment and ignorant experiments in a
manner that surpassed all the results
of Rita's tender care A fatal blunder
had been made by the lover-for the
pupils roses were finer than the teach
er's
They look wonderfully promising"
said Rita, with CULVER in her voice
You will have TO compete, and l am
sure you will get the prize"
Not against you. | WON'T
You will, Do you think l will let
you give me the prize out of pity?
Ard IL you don't win it with such love
ly buds as these, shall be fearfully
disappointed! :"
Shirley stared hard at the flowers to
avoid seeing the tears gather in Rita's
eyes. He had grown roses solely to
please her. and they had given him
away.
For two days he worried over the
problem, reckless of the advice of the
nerve specialist. At the end of the
second evening he thought he saw 4
way out of his difficulty. with beaming
eyes, he called out joyfully to Rita.
who, as usual, was lowering over her
roses.
You are bothering over Bessie
Brown. l know" he called And Won
are fighting the blight with a woman's
Just like a woman-not an idea above
spring cleaning. Now l have brought
you some splendid scientific stuff
used for my flowers. Give 1t a trial,
and Bessie will be as clean as the dew
by the show"
Rita accepted the tin with gratitude,
and Shirley went home happy.
He slept the sleep of the just that
night; but about > o'clock he woke up
suddenly, and sat up in bed, his mind
invaded by a horrible suspicion. Hast
lily slipping on dressing gown and slip
pers, he stole out to the Toulouse. BY
the light Of his candle, he espied tin
on one Of the shelves. at the sight of
which he gave a groan If his heart
had been light when he fetched the
blight destroyer, the shed had been
dark, and, with the calmness of des-
pair, he realized that he had given Rita
the strongest weed-killer in his possess
sion.
Further sleep was impossible. He
dressed, and sat reading till the suns
rays grew high. Then, with furtive
steps. he stole like a murderer to the
scene Of his crime. Climbing Miss
Clay's garden wall, he SUNK over to
the fated Bessie Brown. In moment
he knew the worst. The dainty flower,
whose dignity had been insulted by
the rank odor, had curled up each deli
cate petal in disgust, and hung on the
branch, a wilted ball.
A light step behind him made the
man turn. To his horror, he saw Rita
tripping down the path. radiant N the
| summers day. Shirley fixed his eyes
on the gravel. and stood. waitiuR for