The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-03-18
Red Irish Roses.
ny SUSIE BOUcHELLE WIGHT.

l know he'd hate to give her n
worry, but it'll mean worry for her
and him, too, If he decides to be his
own man while he is in Office. There
Is a ring up there at the capital"
A yaWn interrupted him, and
Hebby laughed and apologized.
Il believe o are as daft over him
as Miss Patty is, Rufus" she said.
LET me tell you what an absurd
thing Miss Patty is meaning to do.
This afternoon I ran up to her house
on an errand, and I found her com
posing a letter to the Governor. She
read 1t over to me, and had me help
her to get 1t into some sort of shape,
but / didn't dare correct her spelling.
She has written her good opinion of
him, and sending her a box of her red
Irish roses, to show him that the
West could make as fine roses as
Florida, and she went over the same
old tale o have heard before of
those Irish roses being the first civil
lied flowers planted on the prairie.
She is going to send the letter to-mor-
row, Inc a bunch of roses by the
same mail in a shoe-box! The Gov
ernor will laugh at her poor little
letter, and he won't even look at her
flowers. Why, Rufus. I've seen the
kind of roses they have in the city,
great things as big as a teacup, with
stems a yard long, and such colors!
By the side of them, Aunt Patty's
tight little red roses would look like
humble prairie blossoms indeed. I
told you what he said in his speech,
didn't -"
"Yes," replied Rufus, obviously.
"If I were the Governor, I would not
are how big and fine the city roses
were; I'd appreciate those from some
body that admired and thought kind
ly Of me-"
Hobby stretched up her strong
young arms above her head, and
laughed.
Il don't know whether you'll ever
be Governor, Rufus, but I'll tell you
what you will be inside of twenty
years, if you and I both live-youTI
be the richest nan in>this community.
Pa says so, and I know it is the
truth"
He made nc immediate reply, and
again that look came into his eyes
that she could not understand: but
presently he began speaking of per-
sonal matters, and Hebby's face
kindled as he told her of a new poul-
try-house he had that day begun from
some plans she had once mentioned
to him. Their new house was already
finished and furnished, and he was
living there, and in leisure moments
working hard to fit out the runs and
yards to Hebby's hearts desire.
When Hobby went to sleep that night
she was thinking happily of the new
life she was to enter with so much
energy, and now and then came an
occasional thought of Rufus good
temper and gentleness. He was a
dear fellow, even if it was true, as her
father had said, that their worldly
success was going to depend on her
own shrewd management more than
upon Rufus hard work.
The wedding was to take place at
ten o'clock, but although Hebby and
her family sat waiting and ready,
the groom did not appear at that
hour, nor at eleven, nor at twelve;
and then some one rode over to the
new house to investigate.
Hebby was the first to see the mes
senger come flying back down the
road in a cloud of dust.
Quick" he shouted. Some of
you go over to Rufus-he is badly
hurt! I'll go Oh to town for the
doctor.
He did not tarry for any exp1ana-
lions, and Hebby, apxious-eyed and
pale, was soon driving fast toward her
new home with her father. She hur-
ried up into the house and through
its rooms, calling Rufus name, then
through the back yard, and down
under the slope, where the poultry
runs extended to a little spring.
Here, Hebby!" answered the voice
of Miss Patty Parker, and there, just
beside one of the new poultry-houses,
amid a litter of freshly cut tin, lay
Rufus, pale as death and with his
eyes closed. Miss Patty held his head
upon her knee, and with one hand
was holding the stick in a tourniquet,
made of a corner of her best white
ruhed apron.
The blood on the edge of the tin
beneath his wrist told that in some
way he had severed an artery, but
Hobby did not ask any questions.
One look at that still white face sent
her running to the little spring,
where she wet her handkerchief in
the cool water and bathed his face.
Her father went for a vessel and
plenty of water, and in a little while
Rufus opened his eyes. Hebby smiled
and spoke quietly.
We'll, Hebby," said Miss Patty, ad-
miringly, as the girl deftIy removed
his head to her own knee and tool
gentle hold of the tourniQuet, "you
are a wonder! That's right, just be
I quiet and don't take on a single bit.
Rufusll be all right just as soon as
the doctor a bind up that wrist,
and the wedding can go right on.
Don't you take on a bit-just keep
!, him quiet"
Hobby was not given to taking
on" but her lips trembled, and the
t eyes that were benz down to her Low.
t er's were full of tears, as she sat and
heard how Miss Patty had stopped or
her way to the p~ostoffice early that
| morning to bring Rufus a o o of hel
| rose-bush, and had found him in g