The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-07-25


one had to wear white all the time. We
women all began to talk about spring
bonnets and Mrs. Smith left the room.
She suddenly remembered that she had
left something in the oven.
Jim grew reoonciled to the sewing,
but he found other things to worry him.
he elected himself bulletin committee
of one and made frequent reports
When there were no facts he gave Us the
benefit of his speculadons. One day he
announced that he guessed Over-the-W
would begin to pack up before long; she
had pretty much finished her sewing
He could see that she was just puttering
and putting in fancy stitches. Another
time he said he was afraid that Over
the Way was i'll; there was q light In
the bay window when be got home at 4
o'clock that morning.
A few mornings after that there was
news We women all knew it long be-
rOre DreaKrasr C1me ana Jonn Berry and
the other men were told by Mrs. Smith
when they came down. The bulletin
committee was little late and we were
all at breakfast when he appeared. The
moment be entered the room he said he
was sure that Over-the- Way was i'll;
when he got home everything was ablaze
with light and there was a doctors
phaeton in front Of the house. We could
SEQ for ourselves that the bay window
shades were down.
"Umphr' said Mrs. Smith. lis that all
you have to tell us?"
"Why, what's happenedp'
'NOver-the- Way has visitor"
$50 he's back at last, is he? Well, it's
time"
II wish her husband was here; it's
dear little girl"
'+Good Lordl' said Jim.
Nobody laughed right then, but
minutue later when Miss Elliott made
one Of her vivacious remarks everybody
roared-except Jim. Even John Berry
and Elizabeth Hawkins, who were look
ing powerfully glum, had to laugh.
Things get out 80 in q boarding house.
We all knew that be had proposed and
she had said no.
Just as we were getting through
breakfast John Berry gave groan at
the window and turned to us with his
face working and his lips trembling. He
couldn't speak: just pointed across the
street.
Old Aunt Amanda was tying long
steamer Of white crepe to the door bell.
"Over-the- Ways dead" said some one
in strained whisper.
whites for little children" said Mrs.
Smith. Its Overthe Ways little baby.
O dear! O dearT" And the good woman
burst out sobbing. None of US were
much better off, for that matter.
So it happened that then we made our
first call across the street. John Berry
and Mrs Smith went Mrs. Smith went
in, but John paced up and down in front
Of the house. Elizabeth Hawkins never
took her eyes off him. She was as pale
as ghost, and yet she didn't look exact
ly unhappy either.
By and by they came back. As soon
as they came in John took out a roll Of
money and dropped bill in his hat.
"Flowersl" said he, and looked around
as much as to ask If any body wanted to
follow suit. We all put in something.
Elizabeth Hawkins put in q dollar.
knew she had saved it to buy some Sun
day gloves. After John had gone out
Mrs. Smith told Us how she had talked
with the poor young mother in the dark
ened room, and how the little baby was
to be buried the next day, and how John
was to see to everything and go to the
cemetery, and how the little coffin was
to be put in the vault and kept till the
father got home.
BY and by John came back with a
great box. 1t was full to the brim with
lilies Of the valley-not another flower.
Well, Johns services were not needed
after all, for that very night the young
husband came home from South Amer
lea, and the next day, when the carriage
drove away from the little cottage with
a little white casket on the front seal
heaped high with lilies of the valley
the poor young husband looked over tx
us in the windows and made sort of 6
bow and put his hand on his heart
| That evening, when it was time to e
to work, John Berry came down with
satchel in his hand and began to Say
| goodby to us, saying he was going t.
leave. When he came to the last one
Elizabeth Hawhns-he hesitated, the1
held out his hand just rs he had to TIT
rest Of u.s. She just barely touched it
and both of them looked white an(
trembling. Just as he was going out O
the door she called to him:
"Johnl'
1t wasn't bit like Elizabeth Hawk
ms voice, and we all stared John cam,
back, but didn't say word-just STOCK
waiting. And now they both were red
Are you going because-because"-
John nodded. don't believe he coult
have said word to save him.
"Well-well-I-John, don't go!"
Long before she finished John had he
in his arms right before us all.
IL said No. John, because l wa
afraid you were hard and unfeeling-
till today. Now know better"
God bless YOU, my children" sait
motherly Mrs. Smith. The stereotypet
old phrase was u relief, and we al
laughed in teary sort Of way, then sh
added: