The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-13

look Mt the lilac bush, and thinks OF
the purple plumes hidden 80 closely in
the bright green buds.
"How kind Nature is to all life en-
trusted to It's carel" she says; "and
it never makes n mistake"
She thinks how sweetly the birds
sing, and how much OF life thero is in
the bright spring morning. She finds
herself singing
''If It were always May, sweetheart,
II 1t were always May"
She stops suddenly, remembering
tho weight of nearly fifty year. But
she cannot close her eyes to the swell
ing buds aud sweet awakening that
shows Mt every step along the road
side. They cross tho narrow brid ge,
| and Johnnie, growing impatient, runs
ahead and calls,-
''Lot us hurry. now, Aunt Patty,
for mover Is waitin'."
She follows Johunie into the house,
through the long entry. and stops Just
at tho parlor door to leave her bon
net and shawl. She hears the childs
voice.
~ didn't tell didn't tell Now,
Uncle John, div me tho candy"
Mrs. Hastings meets her at the door
and says in glad voice.
"Uncle John hns come back, Aunt
Patty, and We want you here for a
nice long day"
She hears another voice speak her
name, she feels warm hand clasp
hers, and like ono in dream she on
ters the room. She hears the ques-
tions and replies, but all sound for
away--only Johnnie's happy voice
seems real.
"You amt got 10 do muffin today
Amt Potty-not sew, mend, nor
nuffin'. Mover said so --didu't she,
Uncle John?"
"Unless she will mend broken
life," he slowly answers.
81 dess she can, says Johnnie, "for
my wocking hoss dot his tnil bowked
of. and she stuckt il on jist as good as
ever"
Aunt Patty takes tho mending bns-
ket, thankful for oncs to busy herself
with its contents.
SO the quiet spring dny goes on.
Neighbors drop in to see the wan
derer. Talk of travels, Western life,
and many changing scenes she hears,
but her own heart is treading tho path
that thirty years have made. Many
pictures wero dim and almost for
gotten; but today the fires OF memory
are all lighted, and every image is
shown in truthful outline. The hasty
words, the parting, the waiting and
uncertainty, and then tho lonely years.
Tho sunbeams had just failed to
enter the west window as Aunt Patty
folded the last garment aud put the
needles and thimble into the workbag.
She spoke of Sancho and the hens
needing their supper. aud hurriedly
put on her bonnet and shawl.
A tall form waits at the door, aud
together they walk down the path,
across the bridge and along the coun-
try road. They talk but little. Each
heart is asking and answering its owl
questions. They enter the yard; she
closes the gate, and turning to the
road, they stand and gaze at the pic.
ture. There is the green meadow be.
low with the winding river, the blu,
hills beyond, all softened with the
lights of the spring sunset. She sect
it all tonight with n girls clear eye,
of years ago. He speaks her name
she turns to see him standing will
head bowed and hands clasped.
PATTY" he says, "will you repent
the words you said here at the gate
thirty years ago: 'You are all to
blame, John Hastings / will nevel
marry You, and leave the never out?'
i Her faco shows startled look tha,
changes to tender smile, and softly
she answers:
81 will lenve the never out"
And that's what happened.