The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-24

some 6OrtS lOO->tn6 ItHerenJ mfrlts
thyme, lavender, coriander, rosemary
and others. 1t was an unusual bust
ness fl two women to engage in, bu
it increased. and they prospered. &C
cording to their small ideas. But Mrs
Flower grew more ana more bittel
with success. What regrets and long
ing that her husband could have livel
and shared it, and been spared his fina
agony, she had in her heart, nobody
but the woman herself knew; she nevel
spoke Of them. She died when Aurel (,
was twenty, and woman far b,yonC
her years. She incurred for her mother
but although she never knew it, bel
warmest love had not been called out
1t had been hardly possible. Mrs
Flower had not been lovable mother
she had rarely spoken to Aurelia bu
with cold censure for the last few years
People whispered that it was a happy
release for the poor girl when hel
mother died; they had begun to think
she was growing like her husband, ant
perhaps was not 'just right"
Aurelia went on with the bushes:
with calm e4uanim ty, and made ever
profits every year. They were small
but more than enough for her to live
on. and she paid the last dollar of the
mortgage which had so fretted hel
father. and owned the old house clear.
She led peaceful, innocent life, with
her green herbs for companions; she
associated little with the people around
except in business way. They came
20 see her, but she rarely entered theil
houses. Every room in her house wa:
| festooned with herbs; she knew every
kind that grew in the New ngland
woods, and hunt0 them out In theil
season and brought them home she
was simple, sweet soul, with none OF
the morbid melancholy of her parents
about her. she loved hel
work, and the greenwood things
were to her as friends,
and the healing qualities of sarsaparilla
and thoroughwort, and the sweetness Of
thyme andlavender, seemed to have en-
tered into her nature, II she almost
could talk with them in that way. She
had never thought of being unhappy
but now she wondered at herself over
this child. 1t was daring of child
as dainty and winsOme girl baby as
ever was. Her poor young mother had
had a fondneSs for romantic names,
| which she had bestowed, as the only
heritage within her power, on all heI
children. The one was Alyrtlla -Myr.
tie for short. The little. thing clung to
Aurelia from the first. and Aurelia
found that she had another way of low
ing besides the way in which she loved
la ender and thuroughwort. The COM
fort she took with the child through the
next winter was unspeakable. The
herbs were bauished from the south
room, which was turned into nursery,
and a warm carpet was put on the floor
that the baby might not take cold.
She learned to cook for the baby-her
own diet had been chiefly vegetarian.
She became charming nursing mother.
People wondered. at does beat all
how handy 'Kelia is with that baby"
Mrs. Atwood told Why.
Aurelia took even more comfort with
the little thing when Spring came. and
she could take her out with her; then
she u hit little straw carriage. and
the two went after herbs together
Home they would come in the tender
Spring twilight, the baby asleep in her
carriage. with great sheaf of flowers
beside her. and Aurelia with another
over her shoulder.
She felt all through that Summer as
if she was too happy to last. Once she
! said SO TO one OF the neighbors. Il feel
as if it want right for me to be SO per-
fetly happy" sad she. 81 feel some
days as if was walkin' an walkin' an
walkin' through a garden OF sweet
smellin' herbs, an nOthin' else; an as
for Myrtle, she's bundle of myrtle an
camphor out OF King Solomon's gar
den. I'm SO afraid it can t last"
Happiness had seemed to awake in
Aurelia faint Of her ialher's forebod-
ing melancholy. But she apparently
had no reason for it until early fall.
Then, returning with Myrtle one night
from trip to the woods, she found an
old lady seated on her doorstep, grim
ly waiting for her. She was an old
woman and tremulous. but still I'M
daunted and mistaken as to her spirit.
Her tall, shrunken form was loaded
with silk and ct. She stood up as
Aurelia approached wondering, and
her dim old eyes peered at her aggres-
sively through fine gold spectacles,
which lent an additional glare to them.
81 suppose you are Miss Flower"
began the old lady, with no PREPARATORY
parley. -
ayes" said Aurel;a, trembling.
"Well, my nams's Mrs. Matthew
Sears. an I've come for my grandchild
there"
Aurelia turned very white. She let
her herbs slide to the ground. 81
hardly underestimate guess"
tered she. 1an't YOU let me keep
her?'
"Well, 1 guess I won't have one OF
my grandchildren brought up by an old
yarb woman-not if | know it"
The old lady shifted. Aurela stood
looking at her. She felt as i: she haa
fallen down from Heaven, and the hard
reality of the earth had Jared the voice
out of her. Then the old lady made a
step toward the carriage. and caught
up Myrt g in her trembling arms The
child screamed with fright She had
been asleep. She turned her little
frightened face toward Aurelia and
held out her arms, and cred, Mamma.
mamma! mammal in per iect frenzy
of terror. The old lady tried to hush
her in vain. Aurelia found her voice
then. You'd better let me take her
and give her her supper" she sa d.
sand when she is asleep again W II
bring her over to Jou.'
"Hell," said the lady, Goubtfully.
She was glad to get the frantic Little
thing out OF her arms, though.
Aurelia held her close and hushe1
her, an she subsidized into occas onal
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