The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-16

the tragedy, "comin' this way. This
was why l wanted to know if you
knew she was a-comin'. But" Mrs.
Brewster's voice broke in sob, "no-
body knew"
"You don't mean i'll" said Miss
Abigail, taking the paper with little
air of desperation. 81 can't believe
it. Dead! l can't seem to sense it.
Such clipper little creetur she was,
in spite of her lameness. Always
had pleasant word and smile for
folks, and all the children loved her.
WE'LL" with a tremble in her voice,
"if l had it to do over again, I'm free
to confess I'd do different by Susan
Petit"
With another huge sob Mrs.
Brewster covered her face with her
hands, and cried.
GAIL the time that woman's lived
here amongst u.s." she presently be-
gan, Give had it Oh my mind that
when | got round to it I'd try to
make things little easier and pleas
anter for her. How long is it since
she Gomez"
"Six or seven year, guess"
eyes. And there was some of us
that felt to lay it up agin her that
she was niece to old Jacob Hart that
was always suspected of that mort
gage fraud. And when she came here
to take care of him when he was dy-
ing, and then lived on in that little
mite of house he'd left her, why
if I haven't done neighbours part by
her, which l haven't-may the Lord
forgive mel"
"You needn't talk" said Miss Abb
gail. "Many and many's the time
I've went by there, and see her set
tin alone lookin' out in such kind
of pitiful way-like she was long
ing for some one to come in and be a
little sociable with her. | thought l
hadn't time, and | hadn't-much--
but | might a. made time, and been
none the worse for it. o me! 1t was
an opportunity, and now it's gone
from me! She was stranger, and I
didn't take her inP'
Left to herself an hour later, Mrs.
Brewster sat face to face with her
lost opportunity, and with every
thought the sting of self-reproach
grew deeper.
"She was so poor, and l didn't hold
out hand to her. l might have
stopped for her as l drove by to
church, when l knew she was often
kept to home by her lameness. l
meant to send her apples and things
and l didn't. l Thought sometimes
of sending her my religious paper
when I'd done reading it-and l let
the time slip"
There was SILVER of excitement
as Miss Abigail Meeker pressed
through the village on her way home,
telling her startling news.
Does any life go out among US
poor, careless procrastinators that we
are without leaving behind it's train
of bitter thoughts of what we might
have done, and did not do? OF
the words which might have been
spoken to ears now closed, of acts
which might have brought com
fort and cheer? May we be pittied in
our aching for sound from dumb lips
in acknowledgment of blessing which
should have been bestowed-in our
craving for time, time, time in which to
dothe thousand and one things which
never now can be done.
More than one turned with dim
ming eyes toward the window from
which the patient face had looked
out.
81 meant to carry some O. them
fower-seeds to her. She'd "a liked
'em-she set such store by flowers"
II could "a stopped and plowed up
her bit of a garden just as we'll as
not"
"Why didn't l invite her to my
quiltin'7"
Il might" II could have" 81
meant to" | wish l had" "Why
didn't II"
Miss Susan Petit was brought
home to the little house for the fun
eral. Crushed and broken-the plain,
sealed coffin borne reyerently among
those to whom the awful thing came
as the excitement of a lifetime. Hys-
terical sobs and wailing were heard
as flowers were piled over the still
form.
II didn't bring one of EN-" said
Mrs. Brewster, pointing to them in
acknowledgement agitation. mo, l
didn't. I've read a piece of poetry
about layin' flowers on folkses' graves