The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-24

many months waa quite an invalid, and wa
sent to the ~almshouse, where she had eve
since remained.
This was the story OF the aged creatur,
before me; aged with the weight OF sevent,
winters. ] walked up to her. By her fec
stood a large rude basket. In which l behelt
leaves and buds. The two graves which
had seen her passing between so often wet
cover ed with fiowers-the earliest bu
sweete est flowers Of the season. They wer'
fresh and wet and very fragrant-thost
delio ate sou l-offerincs. And this. then, wal
her enjoyment. Strange! Flowe s. frai
and passing, grasped by the hand of agt
and scattered upon the tomb! White hairs
and pale blossoms, and stone tablets o.
death!
Good morning, MISTRESS" said / quietly
The withered female turned her eyes te
mine and acknowledged my greeting in the
| same spirit wherewith 1t was given.
May l ask whose graves they are that
you remember SO kindly"
She looked up again. probably catching
from my name that l spoke i'll no spirit
of rude inquisitiveness, and answered:
my husbands"
A manifestation of a fanciful taste,
thought |, this tomb-ornamentiug which
she probably brought with her from
abroad. or course, but one Of the graves
could be her husbands. and one, likely, was
that of a child who had died and been laid
awav by its father.
Whose else?" l asked.
"My husbands" replied the aged widow.
Poor creature! her faculties were becom-
ing dim. No doubt her SORROWS and her
length Of life had worn both mine and
body nearly to the parting.
Eyes, l now continued ] mildly. "but
there arc two graves. One is your hus-
bands, and the other is"
paused for her to fill the blank.
She looked at me a minute, as If in won
der at my perverseness, and then answered
as before: My husbands. None hut my
Gilbert's."
And is Gilbert buried in both9' said /.
She appeared as if going to answer, but
stopped again, and did not. Though my
curiosity was o somewhat excited, Ifore-
bore to question her further. feeling that it
might be to he: q painful subject. / WAS
wrong, however. She had been rather agi-
tated at my intrusion, and her powers
steady again, and perhaps eratified with
my interest in her affairs, she gave me in a
few brief sentences the solution of the
mystery. When her husbands death oc-
Cured she was herself confined to q sick
bed, which she did not leave for & long while
after he was buried. Still longer days
passed before she had permission. or oven
strength, to 90 into the open air. When
she did. her first efforts were essayed to
reach Gilbert's grave. What a pang sunk
to her heart when she found it could not be
pointed out to her! With the care
less indifference which ia shown to
the corpses of outcasts. poor Delaler had
been thrown into a hastily dug hole, with
out nyone noting it, or noticing it. or
remembering which it WAS. subsequently
several other paupers were buried in the
same spot. and the sexton could only show
two graves to the disconsolate woman and
tell her that her husbands was positively
49, A. A-,r -..- A.
of her recovery she had looked forward to
the consolation of coming to his tomb as to
a shrine, and wiping her tears there; and it
was bitter that such could not be-. The
miserable widow even attempted to obtain
the consent Of the proper funotionary that
the graves might be opened, and her anxi-
cites put al rest. When told that this
could not be done, she determined in her
soul that at least tho remnant of her hopes
and Intentions should not be given up.
Every Sunday morning. in the mild
season, she went forth and gath
cred fresh flowers. and dressed both
the graves. So she knew that the
shared that care. And lest she should pos
sibly bestow the most of her testimony of
love ON him whom she knew not, but whose
spirit might be looking down invisible in
the air and smiling upon her. she was ever
CAREFUL to have each tomb adorned in an
eAhCbly biuQlldr manner. Ii q strange lana
n among a strange race, she said, it was
like communion with her own people to
visit that burial mound.
"lf l could only know which to bend over
when my heart feels heavy" thus finished
the sorrowing being as she rose to depart;
then IL would be a happiness. But, per-
haps, I am blind to my dearest meroies.
God in his great wisdom may nave sent that
l should not know which grave was his,
lest grief over it should become too COM
mon a luxury for me. and met me away"
l offered to accompany her, and support
her feeble steps; but she preferred that it
should not be SO. With lnnguid feet she
moved on. watched her pass through the
gate, and under the arch; l saw her turn.
and in a little while she WAS hidden from
view. Then / carefully parted the flow
ers upon one of the graves, and sat down
there, and leaned my face in my open
hands and thought.
What a wondfous thing 10 woman's love!
Oh. Thou, whose most mighty tribute is the
incarnation of love. ! bless Thee that Thou
didst make this fair dis posltion in the
human heart. and didst root it the'e 80
deeply that it is stronger than all else, and