The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-07
DARK DAYS PAST.

"Won't you buy bunch of flowers for
your ladyf'
"But, my boy, it Is the beginning of
September. Where did you get those roses
and lilacs from?''
sssThey are not real flowers, sir. They
are artificial. Mother and auntie make
them
"Where do you live, my boyf"
"Away outside the city in little cot
taee. We have real flowers too. I have
flower patch of my own, and mother lets
you buy a bunch of these, sirs They are
only as cents, and they will not fade as
soon as the live flowers" ="
eyes, will buy two bunohes of you if
you will bring me bouquet of flowers
out of your garden tomorrow. Here is a
half dollar for these and another half for
the flowers you are to bring tomorrow.
Don't fail. shall expect you at this hour
here in this saloon, where I generally
drink my CUP of chocolate.
The little fellow thanked the man and
was off in a moment
The man bought the flowers. Why had
he questioned the lad about his mothers 9
dwelling placer He could not account to
himself for it.
The next day after his conversation with
the boy the man came half an hour sooner
than was his won't, and he seemed impa-
tient and excited. He had not long to
wait. for the little fellow had evidently been
as anxious to bring the flowers as the gen.
tleman was to get them. After one glance
at the beautiful bouquet, he said, more to
himself than to the child, who seemed to
be expecting a word of praise for his
promptness or the beauty of his pets:
al thought was not mistaken. No one
knew how to arrange a bouquet as she
could. And the resemblance of this child !
My Godl Could I, after all, have been de-
ceiVed? 1t cannot be. I must have certain
ty." Rising hastily from his chair he
0rasped the astonished child by the hand
and said: "Come, show me where your
mother lives, my boy. I must see her.
ffBut mother never sees company, sir.
She only lets tf=- gardener into our house
to tend to the es- once in awhile"
"But I must see her. Stopi What is
your mothers aame? I might have
thought of that before"
aMrs. Norton, sir. p"
A shade of disappointment flashed over
the man s face, but only for moment.
81 must see your mother, child, else
your face, too, deceives me-"
The lad made no more objections. "If
we take the shor5est road home,'' he said,
E'we must go through the market house
here and then thS other streets will soon
be passed.
The walk was quite long, and especially
SO to the gentleman, who was travelling 1T
for the first time. At last they came in
sight of a little cottage surrounded by a
garden. The house could hardly be seen,
so thiokIy was it covered by vines and
creeping plants, but one glance showed to
an observer that no unskillful hand had
been at work, and an uncommon mind
must have planned the whole to make the
place SO complete a paradise. Opening
the gate the child led the way up the gcav-
eled walk toward the house. On the por-
tico, which was not only concealed by
vines, but by two splendid chestnut trees,
he was received by voice of surprise:
"Why, Harvey Back already? And
your flowers you have brought back. What
has happened?''
"Mother, dear, don't be angry. The
gentleman who wanted my flowers said he
must see you. Here he is.
As he said this, the boy pointed to the
gentleman, who was just stepping up on
the portico. He had stopped at the sound
of the voice and then reeled as II about to
faint; but, rallying himself, he walked on
until he confronted Harvey's mother. The
lady looked at the gentleman and was
about to turn away, but one more look,
and then a cry and she would have sunk
to the floor had not the strong arm of the
man caught her. But she did not faint
She was only overcome for a moment.
"Harvey, dearest, is it you, or do I
dream?"
eyes, my beloved wife, it is I. After a
whole years search 1 have at last found
you, through what / now know as our
boy, whom left as a babe" After mu-
tual explanations the gentleman said,
"Ah, those were bad days when L had to
leave you and our darling boy SO destitute
through the failure of that bank"
f'Did our creditors seize all?''
eyes, all except your jewels
fBut why did you let me mourn you as
dead all these years? Tell me that first. "
"Darling, wrote SO often and never re-
ment in all these weary years of toll and
trial. You know I left for China. I wrote
to you from every port where we stopped,
and with every returning ship or steamer
I sent you letters After my arrival at
Peking wrote to you again to take heart
as I had the good fortune to get situa-
tion in an American tea house, and would,
as did, send you half of my salary, which
was to be deposited semiannually at the
Bank of New York.
''It must be there yet, then, for have
never drawn any nor heard a word from
you, and mourned you as dead, as you can
see by me wearing Widows weeds yet.
When turned my jewels into money, 1
labored hard for more than a year at a
millinery store, sister taxing care or our
boy. That was the hardest OF all, to be
separated from him so much, but did it,
and after I had learned the art of flower
making I got along very comfortably, for
sister Ruth assisted me so faithfully. At
last had accumulated enough to lease
this little place, which was at that time a
perfect Wilderness, and you see what four
years of patient toll have made of it. We
had ample time to make our artificial flow
ers, and for more than a year Harvey has
been in the habit of selling them for us.
Yesterday, do not know why, arranged
some branches as I used to do for you and
gave them to Harvey to SELL"
''And it has been the means of my find
inc vou for had mada inouiries for Won