The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-09-21
''Put IL down, NANNY; I'll arrange

''Put II down, nanny; I'll arrange
them later" said Mrs. Phelps. Prob.
ably some friend at the yard, who knew
OF the ships sudden sailing, had re.
membered her aud sent silent mes.
sage of sympathy in this sweet way.
II was often done from one sad.
hearted wife to another, just to help
little in the endless pathos of then
common lives.
'Land sakes, Miss Mamie, amt you
put them posies in the water yetp"
complained Ruth, again appearing at
the door, watching for some spark Of
interest in that set, white face before
her yearning eyes.
Oats no way to act, Miss Mamie,
an you know dat right well. When
folks takes de trouble an de
'spense to buy you some flowers, you'd
orter spunk up 'nough shorely to say
'howdy' to EN-"
"All right, nanny dear; please
don't scold," said Mrs. Phelps, n smile
breaking for an instant through the
rigidity Of her face.
She arose and began to unite the
string about the pasteboard box. She
raised the lid aud lifted out great
pile Of pink aud yellow roses. The
baby ran toward her with soft coo
of delight Then Mrs. Phelps gave n
loua cry, and the roses fell all about
her. She stood staring wildly at an
envelope that had slipped to the bot
tom of the box, addressed 10 her in her
husbands handwriting II was as il
II came from grave, that awful silence
of the sea. For a second she was
afraid to touch it and stood with her
hands pressed over her heart Then
she seized the envelope, and with one
swift motion Of her trembling forefin-
ger ripped II open and read with eyes
half-blinded with tears:
"The pilot leaves us at Scotland
lightship in few moments. He will
take this back to the city. Also an
order for few flowers, which / can
only hope will go straight. You should
get this tomorrow or next day. am
on my knees to you, my wife, for this
morning. 1 beg your pnrdon--it was
all lie, every ugly word of it. Try
and forget it if you can. Stamp il out
of your memory, for il has no real ex-
istence against all the rest-all the
happy years. Just try and remember
those, and love me little, dear.
'Do not believe the papers-do not
read them. Peace may come out of it
all yet, and If notify and be brave.
A sailor has need Of plucky wife, one
drilled into the tough spirit of reg
ular' by long service. And remember:
"Ours not to reason why
Ours but to do"
He had SHE'D at the word with no
time to rewrite. Good bye, my love.
All! il I could have held you just for
one second and heard you whisper IT'S
all right. Guy But take our little
one in your arms and look into her
eyes-my eyes you've always said
and read there my endless love and
honor. Kiss her and hold her close,
and forgive me, forgive me-"
Mrs. Phelps fell on her knees and
throwing her arms about her baby be-
gan to sob like tired child. And the
little girl patted her cheek and crooned
to her, the spark of motherhood al
ready alive in her, and Ruth brooded
over them both.
At that moment once again the
shout came piercingly up from the
street below:
Extra! Congress will declare
warl'
The young wife sprang to her feet
and shook her fist in the direction of
the voice, and half laughing, half sob
bing, she cried:
'It is not war it is pence, thank
God"-Chicago Record.