Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-05-25

at the door of her trim cottage, looking
out over her thrifty, well kept garden,
her keen eye noting the fact that the
marrowfats were up over by the fence; /;
that the tomatoes were doing well, and
that the pansy bed needed wedding.
But her sharp gray eyes rested longest
on the clump of lilacs down by the gate
as she said aloud, having in the long,
lonely years acquired the habit Of talk
ing TO herself:
Il do hope them lilacs will be out for
Memorial day, but it has been such a
backward spring that it amt likely.
But | always just count on them lilacs
to take to the cemetery for Brother
Sam grave There Sam 8 wife shift
less critter as she was, she never'd think
of doin such a thing. But, then, lilacs
nor nothin else would grow in that lit
tie Z by 8 patch of ground of her II. |
declare, if there amt Susy's little boy
down at the gate, lookin at them lilacs
as if he'd eat 'em. He'd better not
touch EN-. though. Here, you boy, "
she loudly called, don't you touch
them flowers, but you just run home to
your ma and be lively.
And Miss Cynthy's thin lips com
pressed themselves as she watched the
forlorn little figure running swiftly
down the road She watched him until
a softer expression appeared on her
hard face, as she murmured: "Well,
but he does look as Sam used to when
he was a little fellow about his age.
I've good mind to call him back for
Sans sake. But, there, l won do it.
Lizy'd think | wanted to make up,
and she'd make Il sight of talk over it.
But they do say as how she's been hav-
in a pretty hard time Of it this year,
since SGsy came home and brought
them two children along. But. then,
Susy married "A worthless chap, and
Lily encouraged Che match. and so
tain't nobody's fault but her own that
she in such straits. | wonder if she II
visit Sans grave Memorial day? |
don't want to meet her there.
Poor Miss Cynthyl She had not al
ways been hard featured and sharp
tongued. as she was now. Deacon Pep
per, Lucindy Green and many Of the
town folks could remember when she
had been called the prettiest girl at the
Corners when her black, swapping
eyes, dark curls and red cheeks caused
her to be called the belle at many
rustic husking or apple bee.
Cynthia Whites father and mother
had died in middle life, leaving, besides
this daughter, a son Of Is years, who
all his life had been at once n source Of
the greatest joy and greatest anxiety
to his parents. Nothing bad about the
boy. only so full of mischief and fun
that his mother never knew from what
dire dilemma she might be called to ex-
tricate him. And as he grew older al
though he became more manly and less
given to frolic and fun. yet his mother
ftill looked upon him as a little boy,
who must be watched and cared for.
To Cynthy. though but two years his
senior. his mother when dying had
given the charge of her son as n sacred
trust
"Prrnise, Cynthy." she had said
"Promisc that you II never leave h..A,
and that you'll take good care of him
And Cynthy had sJIcmnly said. -
will. Faithfully did she fulfill that
promise She simply gave her life M
to her brother Sam, but that young
man somehow did not seem TO appra-
ciate the sacrifice. neither did hc care
to spend all his evenings at home with
his sister, nor if he went TO 'husk-
ing" or "sociablo" did he care TO be al
ways "tied to her apron strings rs he
expressed it.
Later on, when she learned that Sam
was paying attention to that "shilly-
shally Lily Walker, - great was her in
dignation, and many were the lectures
given to the younger brother, who felt
himself too near to manhood 10 be treat
ed like child, especialy when Cynthy
was but two years older than he. Sharp
! and bitter words passed between them
at times, although often Sam tried to
make it mp with his sister and tried also
! toconyince her that Lizy was absolutely
! needed at the farmhouse. but il was OF
no use. So one day Sam and pretty lit
| tie Lily took matters into their own
hands, drove ten miles TO r. across
| the state line, and were married.
Sam Immediately made the news