Middletown transcript., 1899-05-27

attempted to make peace with her and
had failed. she dared not make the at
tempt. And as the days went by her
heart grew heavier, as no relief could
anywhere be found, and nothing re-
manned for them but the poorhouse, at
least while Susy remained sick and
needed her constant attention.
1t was just at dusk the evening be-
fore Memorial day when Miss Cynthy
again stepped from her door to leok at
the garden, which had improved won
derfully under the spell Of the soft
spring weather
She walked down to the gate and
stood there. arms akimbo, looking at
| the great masses of purple and white
Hlacs that perfumed all the air about
her.
assThem lilacs hain't got any equal to
the Corners. / know Seems as if they
bloomed a-purpose for Sans grave. I
wonder if he knows how I've always
carried them ev.ry year since he come
back. And something very like tear
glittered in the corner of her eye.
But just here her reverie was inter-
rupted by Deacon Peppers cheery voice
calling out Flow de do. CynthyI
Worshipin them flowers, heyf S'pose
you We hearn the news. Cynthy. bein' 8
you re in the fa1nily3'
..No; what news7'' Cynthy replied.
why. Lily and Susy and them two
young uns air a-goin up to the town
farm tomorrow Hardman has fore
closed on EN- Lizy's dretful cut up
about it. they say: Coin to the doin's
tomorrow, Cynthy2 We're a-goin to
beat the folks on the ridge all to nothin.
Git up. Dobbini''
And. without waiting for reply from
Cynthy. Deacon Pepper went slowly off
down the road. his old. cracked voice
sounding clearly through the soft sum-
mer air in his favorite tune. "Mourn
for the Thou-ou-ou-sand Slain.
But Cynthy stood where he had left
her, as though rooted to the spot.
Lily going to the poorhouse Sans
Lizyl It could not be true. And yet
Deacon Pepper had said 1t was surely
So Il wonder the thought pierced
her like a knife-"I wonder if Sam
knows all about it-and motherl What
would they say if they knew2'
In flash. as it were, all the obsti
macy and hard feeling of these past years
were revealed to her in their true light.
She seemed to herself no longer the in
jured person. but the oppressor of the
widow and the fatherless. AS she stood
there. self condemned and bitterly re-
pentant. small voice just at her elbow
said timidly, "Miss White. .
She turned, and there stood Susy's
little boy, Sam, the living picture Of
the Sam she had known and loved. She
gazed upon him for a moment, and
then, with a tenderer voice than you
would have believed possible, said kind
ly, eyes, what is it, Sammyf"
ttPlease, would You mind giving me
just one bunch of those pretty flowers
for grandpa's gravel Grand1Ha's just
gone up to the burying yard, cause
we're going away in the morning, and
I heard her crying before she went be-
cause she hadn't any pretty flowers for
grandpa. So, as I 'membered you,
just slipped off and came down here
and don't you think you could give me
one little bunch, just to s'prise heri
The pleading voice and the straight
forward blue eyes looking into Miss
Cynthy's face stirred tender feelings
within her. She bent and pressed her
thin lips to the lads forehead as she
answered: "Pick all you can reach,
Sammy. and remember I'm your Aunt
Cynthy now. :
The boy laughed with glee as he
pulled off one cluster after another,
while Cynthy broke from the higher |
branches with lavish hand. When the |
arms of both were laden, Cynthy said, |
"Come, Sammyi'' and hand in hand
they went softly through the cleaning
toward the little burying yard on the
hill, where tinge Of sunset glory still
fingered
As they entered the little gate they
saw in the farthest corner a figure
kneeling upon grave, whose tiny flag
showed it to be the grave of a soldier.
They walked softly on, and as they
drew nearer Sam sprang forward, ex-
claiming, 'sSee. grandma, what Aunt |
-Cynthy and / have brought your
The bewildered little woman rose
quickly to her feet, but the next minute
Lily. lilacs and all, were clasped In |
Miss Cynthy's strong arms. while a |
voice, that did not sound like Cynthy's. |
said to her soothingly:
''There, there, Lily. don't cry. I've
been wicked and cruel to you, but I'll
make it up to you what I can. I'll send |
my team after you and Susy and them |