The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-10-24
HOW SHE WAS REWARDED.
By NJ. Z. stafford.

IL was Il DeduIlIul SprlnS mOEulHS.
In the middle of a large shaded yard
stood a low, rambling farm house.
The neat walk leading to the front
gate was bordered with flowers, lilies,
roses, masses of modest old-fashioned
ANNALS, all a bloom and seeming the !
morning air with delightful perfume.
Along the walk an elderly woman,
Mrs. Markham, the mistress of the
house and yard, wandered, bending add
miringly over the flowers, and occa-
.sionally touching them with loving
hands.
She was evidently attired for a trip,
and her dress was quaint and old
timed. Presently she turned and lift
ed tear-dimmed eyes from the flowers,
as a comfortable little wagon driven
by an old man, her husband, drove
up to the gate.
Are you ready, mother?" he asked
gently as he looked into her face and
saw her efforts to hide the tears.
YES" she answered. 81 was only
looking at Annie's flowers, while I
waited for you"
"You love the flowers as much as
Annie did" he said, as slipping the
reins eel his arm, he came and open
ed the gate for his wife to pass out.
Yes" she answered again, land be-
cause they We're Annie's. Every root
in the beds was planted by her hand,
and every flower came from seed she
saved. And now they are blooming
and she is dead"
The old mans voice broke as he
said, when his wife had been lifted to
her seat beside him in the wagon.
Don't fret, mother. 1t is hard, but
it will all come right in the end"
Il know" she answered, F." but she
was our only one, and everything we
had was for her. OF what use is it all
nowY'
One brown hand was taken from
the reins and laid tenderly upon hers,
almost as toll worn as the one upon it
and in silence they drove on.
Annie, of whom they spoke was
their only child, who had died a few
months previous; just as she had
grown into womanhood. To-day the
old people were going into the neigh
boring city to do some necessary shop
ping.
When they reached town, Mother"
as the old man always called her, was
left, at a dry goods store to make her
simple purchases, while he went else
where to attend to his.
There was some thing in the ap-
pearance of the old lady which immc-
diately attracted the amused attention
of the clerks in the store, and to one
or two of them. there appeared oppor
tunity to have a little fun out of the
antiquated country woman
One young girl, particularly, found
amusement in taking advantage OF
her simplicity. This went on for a lit
tie while, when the old lady began tc
suspect she vas being ridiculed
The color flushed in her pale, patien,
face, and she turned from the girl be
fore her to another who just Their
came from a distant part of the store
"Iy dear" she said, will you come
and wait on me?' | think this young
lady does not know what I want.
There was no anger in her voice, but
the girls quick ear took in the tom
of hurt dignity.
The term, 'my dear" addressed tc
a shop girl by a customer brought :
giggle of laughter to the first girl.
lips, as she said in an aside. 'Se,
Mary, what you can do for this ole
guy. | have exhausted myself"
Mary noted Mrs. Markham's flush
ed cheeks, and understood the situa
ton in a moment. For shame. Lucy
she replied, and turning to the ole
lady with unaffected politeness AM
all the Difference she would hav,
shown to her own mother, had sh,
had one, she attended to her ever,
want.
When Mr.. Markham came for hi
wife and her purchases, Mary follow
ed red to the wagon saw the bundle
nicely slowed away and then bad
them both a cordial goodbye.
"Good-bye, my dear" said the oil,
lady, II shall not forget you" and sh
did not.
The remembrance came in the forr
of frequent gifts Of lovely flower: