The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-25
SHORT STORY OF THE DAY.
NppEe Blossoms.
Plttst urg Dispatch.


McGrady. the guard, moved leisureIv
down the main gravel path. In sn,ta -
q glorious May sun, the green lawns and
sProutlng trees, he wore a dissatts6ad
expression on his old, bristly face. The
plue sky angered him, the chirptng snar.
rows proved equally aggrayating. He
was dissatisfied with fate himself. and
ouroehed with his dissatisfaction, he
raced the balmy wind with angry brow
and was just about to vanish into one or
the numerous side paths when a slight
noise arrested his foot-a noise as Of
breaking twigs.
He stared sharply for moment. then
proceeded to cluster Of bushes. where
he sternly confronted the small, Shrinking
inquire OF woman. Poor clean, with a
worn face decidedly German she had
frightened look In her eyes, while she en-
deaVored to hide her right hand back OF
her. McGrady's eyes detected a, mutilated
branch above his head His wrath in
creased.
Drop that, ma'am" came from his
lips A beautiful spray of apple BIOS
SONS fell to the ground. Don't We know
thot ye're not to mutilate any o. these
trees2" Without needing the pitifuI look
that met his he bawled In commanding
tones.
Now, come out O. this"
Her thin, horny hands clasping each
other, the culprit followed him out into
the sunny path.
Now, ma'an. dye see thot there sign2
An can We read it?" He fairly bristIed
with feeling Of duty.
Yes, she could read, she saba weak
voice, quivering with suppressed grief.
McGrady adroitly removed his cap to the
back Of his head. scratching his forehead
with the air of one about to solve some
problem.
'An' phwat do we s'pose we plants them
fur? Don't We know it's a crime to mutt
late trees2"
The woman spoke.
''Undt wouldn't you lets me dake dat
leedle tWeeg NIT me?"
mo, ma'am, OF will not. Yis, Oh fully
understand your whimperin's. It's desh-
troyed, anyway; it's deshtructed, but We
can't have it-let thot be yer punishment
fur this tonne. Now go an don't offend
ag'in."
He turned his pack on her
81 half a leedle child dyink at homeI"
Only a short sentence, but he returned,
for the words struck his ears like a
sigh-words burdened with sorrow, words
that brought back to the old man scenes
of by-gone years.
SCI have child dying at home!"
Many years had passed since the death
of his own little darling but these few
words brought back the deathbed scene
to him.
Eye have child a-dyin', ma'am?"
She reeled, and would have fallen had
not the muscular arm of the man sup
ported her He hurried her to a bench
near by With a great effort she seemed
to recover They sat side by side.
''Meester, mine darling leedle Elisa"
''Tell me all about it, ma'am."
''She is dyink-going fast. Soon l will be
alone. She was so preedy midi her blondt
curls undt blue eyes dat looked like lee6le
violets De doctor has gif her ub-mine
Colt! Mine Colt! She vas mine hope,
mine joy Mine life meester, vas one Of
labor one of sorrows. I work. hardt in
mine life. But when / comes home at
might when mine pets leedle White arms
vas about mine neck dhen I vas happy
happy" She broke into a Sob Now
she smiles no more. Obi in dat baby's
Smile vas something's so goodt, 50 sweet,
i'd vas like heafen to me, know; Id vas
like springtime, like a sunny landscapes;
it vas-Gott! Now she smiles no more.
She has grown thin, so leedle is her face.
undt dhose beeg eyes look so sad. Soon
they will close undt Will hat to lay her
away I can't pear id can't pear id!'
McGrady moved about uneasily.
''Meester, please Elsa always loved ap-
pie blossoms. Gould takes dot Won lee Il
tweeg midi me? Maypez dat smile come
back once more; mapyez She close her
sweet eyes midi last smile on her lbs"
McGrady sat silently, a far-away look
in his eyes He was a stern man, yet
somehow he felt himself the culprit He
had vision-a country churchyard be-
meath the sun of old ireland, a small
grave covered with green. where his own
little darling had found her last res ing
place. Was It not Christ who taught us
Love one another?'' He thought he be-
held a great throne, and next to God sat
the Savior but before them, under their
loving gaze, was a child-his own. And It
seemed as though her eyes sought his IN
mute appeal. He heard a thin chHdS
voice urging him on to one good, KIND &C;
that this one act of gentleness might
lessen his own grief. tighten the burden
that rested upon him. He thought he be-
held another child beside his own, fiaXen-
haired with blue eyes like the beautiful
little violets," and an accusation flashing
in them which caused great beads Of per-
SEPARATION to form upon his brow. Then
a pIaintive voice spoke. What, he knew
not, but the face of God changed, and
with it the heavens darkened. The snll-
ing angels shrank In horror from his own
darling and fed. 1t was enough. That
grim old heart was moved. He arose
hastily.
He left her, but to return presently, in
his hand that one wonderful spray Of
sweet, pink blossoms, which he awkward
ly dropped into the woman's lap.
"Ma'am," he said, don't speak av
thanlkin' me. II don't deserve It; an
hasten home to your darlin'. God be with
yer!