Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-18


was holding the stick ii q tourniouet
made OF asscorner OF her best white
ruf1ed apron.
The blood on the edge Of the tin
beneath his wrist told that In some
way he had severed an artery. but
HepDy did not ask any questions,
One look at that still white face sent
ner running to the little spring,
where she wet her handkerchief in
q cool water and bathed his face.
! e father went for a vessel and
plenty OF water. and in a little while
Ru1us opened his eyes. Hebby smiled
and spoke quietly.
Well, Hebby," said Miss Patty. adj
mlr1ngly. as the girl deity removed
MS head to her own knee and took
gentle hold of the tourniuuet. 4you
are a wonder! That's right, Just be
quiet and don't take on a single Bit.
Rufus'H be all right just as soon as
the doctor can bind up that wrist.
ana the wedding can go right on.
Don't you take on a bit-iust keen
him quiet"
Hebby was not given to stalking
on u her lips trembled, and the
eyes that were bent down to her low
er's were full Of tears, as she sat and
a how Miss Patty had stopped on
ner way to the postofhce early that
morning to bring Rufus a root of her
r~ose-bush, and had found him in a
faint beneath the new chicken-house.
with the blood squirting out Of his
wrist.
By and by the doctor came. and
Rufus was carried inside the house
and made comfortable; but Hebby
ran back down the hill alone. ard
looked about her.
everywhere were evidences OF his
loving care for her-the new houses
and yards she had planned, the little
sprlng-house already begun, and lying
close to where he had lain was a little
rose-bush, all withered under the sun.
Off, where Miss Patty had dropped
II IN her excitement, and forgotten it,
was a shoe-box wrapped in brown
paper and addressed to the Governor.
Hebhy stopped and picked it up, but
instead of smiling at it's absurdity.
she dropped some tears upon it.
Hebby was not a crying girl, but some
thoughts and feelings were taking
root in her heart that made it very
tender. and called for expression.
"Oh, don't be crying!" came the
nearly voice of the old doctor, who
had followed her. RUFUS is all right.
and the preacher has come. Your
young man will be about in a day or
two, and next time he will have better
n than to be tinkering with tin
on top of a house on his wedding dav
he'll know his hands are liable to
be shaky."
II hope he'll not have another
wedding day." replied Hebby, snil-
Ing. That afternoon, when the two
were alone and the new house very
quiet, Hebby sat hold his hand ard
looking down at him.
you seem different, somehow,
Hebby." he said. Il never saw your
eyes look like that before"
You never saw your wife's eyes
BEFORE" she answered, blushing.
Maybe, though, you don't like the
change"
But l do" he protested, and
Hebby looked away out of the win
dow, to where on a shelf on the back
porch sat the shoe-box of roses. She
had opened and locked into them.
They were wrapped in wet cotton, and
the heat was already whitening them.
Poor Miss Patty knew SO little about
packing flowers! The little soul had
forgotten all about the Governor in
Rufus accident, and had not even
thought Of her box of roses when she
hurried back home to make prepara-
lions, very proud that Hebby had
asked her to come back and stay with
them that night.
Rufus" said Hobby, after a pause,
"the doctor thinks you will be out by
day after tomorrow. Do you think
you could stand the trip up to the
city? If you can, I'd like to take that
trip you spoke Of"
Would you, Hebby?" he cried.
gladly. well, I'd like that, and we'd
See the Governor"
II wonder if you would mind tax
ing Miss Patty, too?" said Hebby.
timidly.
well, rather not, considering that
If it hadn't been for Miss Patty I
wouldn't be caring any more about
Governors or wedding trips, either.
Yes, let's take her, by all means, if
she'd like to 60"
A few days later a young woman
in bridal gray and q tall young man
with his arm in a sling walked into
the grounds about the Capitol. Be-
tween them was an eager-faced little
old woman, whose blue eyes were tax
ing in all the sights and whose tongue
was going cheerily.
It'd think they were the traditional
bridal couple, if it wasn't for the
old lady," said the Governors special
friend to the tall, handsome woman
at his side. and inst than tho *r;o