Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-05-26

ren entering how many times she had
att .mpted 10 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-
mained for them but the poorhOuse. at
least while Susy remained sick and
peeded her constant attention.
II was inst at dusk the evening be-
fore Memorial day when Miss Cynthy
again stepped from her door 10 lcok 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
lilacs that perfumed all the air about
her.
Then lilacs hain't got any equal TO
the Corners. know. Seems as If they
blComed a-purpose for Sans grave.
wonder IL he knows how I've always
carried them ev'ry year sire he come
back" And something vsrS like tear
glittered in the corner of her eye.
But Just here her reverie was inter
rupted by Decor Peppers CHEEKY voice
calling ont: How de do. Cynthy
Worshipin them flowers. hey? Spose
you've hearn the news, Cynthy. bein's
you re in the familyr"
mo; what newsr" Cynthy replied.
why. Lily and Susy and them two
young uns air a-goin up TO the town
farm tomor; w. Hardman has fore
closed on EN-. Lizy's dretful cut mp
about it. they say. Coin to the doin's
tomorrow. Cynthy! We're a-goin to
beat the folks on the ridge all to nothin.
Git mp. Dobbin!"
And without waiting for reply from
Cynthy. Deacon Pepper went slowly of
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.
Lizy going to the poorhousel Sans
Lizy! II could not be true. And yet
Deacon Pepper had said it was surely
SO. Il wonder the thought pierced
her like knife-''I wonder if Sam
knows all bout it-and mother! What
would they say if they knew"
In fash, as il 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 moment, and
then, with tenderer voice than You
would have believed possible, said kind
ly. Yes, what is il, sammy
'Please, would you mind giving me
just one bunch of those pretty flowers
for grandpa $ grave3 Grandma just
gora up to the burying yard. cause
we e going away in the morning and
heard her crying before she went be-
cause she hadn't any pretty flowers for
grandpa. So. as | membered you,
Just slipped off and came down here
and don't you think you could give me
one little bunch, just 70 s'prise her -
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 lad forehead as she
answered Pick all you can reach.
Sammy, and remember 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, sammy" 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 q figure
kneeling upon grave. whose tiny flag
showed it to lie the grave of a soldier.
They walked softly on, and as they
drew nearer Sam sprang forward. ex-
claiming. See. grandma, what Aunt
| Cynthy and have brought youl'
The bewildered little woman rose
! quickly to her feet. but the next minute
Lizy. lilacs and all. were clasped in
Miss Cynth. strong arms, while a
voice. that did not sound like Cynthy s.
said to her soothingly:
There, there, Lizy. don't cry. I've
been wicked and cruel to you. tut I'll
make it up to you what can. Ill send
] my fna1n nfter rnn md Gnsr and tham