Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-15
4 BUNCH OF WHITE LILAC.

"
$50 much? 1t is too muchI" said
soft. plaintive voice behind me.
turned-tO see small creature
Standing on tiptoe before flower stand
.t the entrance to Covent Garden as l
was passing.
In this position, her head was about
ma level with huge bunch of white
lilac: and the rough straw hat pushed
hack, and Il fair curls gllttered in the
sunshine. as the little face was fairly
buries in the fragrant bloom.
stopped short; the bright hair and
the pale flowers both arrested me.
Swift as thought, they had caught my
memory back to bowery seat under
white lilac clump. and golden head
upon a level with my shoulder, and
face that for fairness and sweetness
might have put the white lilacs them
selves to the blush.
Somehow | could not help wondering
IL this face would be like that face, as
these blossoms were like those Of the
past. faded now more than half-a-dozen
years ago.
And it was staTtlingly like. So like,
that could almost believe that three
times half-a-dozen years had vanished,
and my little PLAYMATE, May-my May
Queen, as l used to call her stood be-
fore me IN the lilacs.
The child looked up at me, frankly
and confdingly. out Of those great blue
eyes-that might have been Mays eyes,
forgetful that there had ever been bit
ter quarrel and parting.
What folly in me TO be thinking OF
her nowl But, thinking of her, some
how / could not help answering those
soft, appealing eyes.
You wanted the flowers, little
one?''
"Yes, sir. Please sir, the big white
ones"
You Ike white lilacs?"
The flower.girl behind the stall was
singling out a great, sweet bunch, re-
sponsye TO the coin | had laid beside
it. But the child was shaking her
small head.
81 ike those better she said, point
ing to a mass of yellow daffodills.
But Little Mother, doesn't she Just
loves the big white lilacs?" They're for
her, sir; and will you make this buy
them?"
She showed me her penny, over
which the rosy fingers were shut jeai-
ously.
keep your penny, child, and will
buy the lilacs for you"
But she shook her head.
mo; Little Mother was crying this
morning when l woke up-did you
know grown-up people ever criedT-
and she told me il was because she had
nowhite lIlacs on this May-day. Wasn't
that a funny thing to cry for? And
then she told Inc she was 9 leen OF the
May once. and she had 10 get down OF
her throne, and wander away and
away from the white llacs, and out IN
to the cold, dark streets here. L don't
think they're cold and dark, do you?"
the little thing added, looking up at me
In the sunshine.
Suddenly a wondering expressing
grew In her eyes.
"You are not going TO cry, are your
she asked.
II Little Mother had felt the blank
sense Of misery which had been closing
in and blotting out the bright day from
NE, as the child prattled on, she would
have been too near to despair for tears.
could only hope her pain was less than
mine. The small hand ! took into
mine had torn open an unhealed
wound; and now it must lead me until
could see her Little Mother face to
face, and know if it were indeed my
lost sweetheart, May Elliston.
mo, mol am not going to cry" L
said. But am going home with you
to see your Little Mother. See, we Will
take her all these lilacS."
"Yes, but / must buy them AySelf,"
she declared. ~ didn tell her so; but
l promised myself to take my bright
new penny as soon as l had done my
lesson and Little Mother was at her
work and wouldn't miss me.
So the bright new penny was laid
down on the counter beside my coin,
and the little maid, her plnafore heaped
with gay bunch of daffodIls amongst
the lilacs, trotted on, her free hand
uustlngly in mine.
II was not until We were some dis
lance from the stall, and the knot OF
wayfaTers about it, that l could give
voice to the questions burning In my
heart.
What is your mothers name?'
Why, Little Mother of course!
What else should it bep"
And your own name?"
'Bertie."
What elSe?"
"Why, nothing else!' she said with
Wonder in the uplifted eyes which were
50 like Nays.
My heart grew heavier and heavier.
for Berthe was the name OF Mays
scapegrace brother who was lost al sea |
when my little sweetheart had not
much more than entered her teens. she
mad all young girls romantic deVo-
tlon TO him. What more likely than
that she should have named her child |
after himP
There were ugly stories whispered
ABOUT of BERTHE Elliston before the YES
sci was wrecked in which he was nee,
ing from his country-Out OF reach Oh
Tie law, it was rumored. But May
would be sure not to believe the stories'
she was never a half-hearted PARTISAN:
II every one had not known that the |
vessel went down with every soul on
9oard, it might have been supposed ttiat