New-York tribune., 1901-07-28


stopped 10 think she would have wondered why
she aha so, because her aunt had led a beautiful
life that was fun Of good deeds and OF shining
years. Possibly it was because Constance had
been literally remembered in her will and had
by the timely beqUest been saved from the
drudSery Of school teaching or some other form
Of making livelihood. She may have felt. too.
thai she would have been happier if her aunt
were alive to enjoy the money with her.
But she did not look like person for signs.
There a healthy wholesomeness about her
that belonged to the world and its life and its
joys. i was good OF her to think of the
who had been SO kind TO her-it showed the
gratitude which Is none too plentiful even tow
ard those who are not in graves.
Poor Uncle Ned"
THIS was voice some fifty yards away. fur
thor Up the slope Of the cemetery Charles
Sheppard was standing at the grave Of his favor
ite uncle who had done so much for HIM. and
whose memory he cherished, an uncle who had
lived a good lie and who had enjoyed the
Der Of years allotted by the Psalmist. Uncle Ned
did not need the sympathy. but it seemed the
proper thing for Charles to say and he dutifully
said il.
Presently Charles turned and beheld Con-
stance Percy, and Uncle Ned was left to CON
tinue his sleep in peace. Constance him
approaching and stepped forward. They met
under the big oak tree and after speaking sat
down on the bench in the shade. 1t was growing
toward eventide and there was quiet and beauty
all around.
4 am so distressed said Constance. 1t is
cruel, inhuman. diabolicaI."
You mean the new trolley line. l SUPPOSE"
he said.
Yes. They are going to let it go through
this part Of the cemetery, and poor Aunt Mary's
grave viii be cut off in that little corner"
There is no other way for the line to go" he
said.
That does not help it a bit Why don't they
do without the old cars? There are enough Of
them in the city now
But this will not really disturb any Of the
graves
But it will shut those few down there in the
corner, and it will seem so heartess and 50 lone
some. / am worried almost sick. And / have
about made up my mind to have Aunt Mary
moved TO another place" Then with sudden
resolution she added: Il viii have her moved"
''Wkere?'
4 don't know. / must think it over" and she
repeated, 4 must think it over
Curious isn't it, we should meet out here,
he said. 4 came TO see how they were keeping
Uncle Ned's grave, and here You bringing
your sympathies 10 your Aunt Mary Did you
know that they We're very much in love with
each other? At east they once We're"
Yes" she replied. But how did you know"
He told me-. lie was very poor, you remem-
ber. and he had a long struggle To get a foot
hold and while he had no income he would not
speak Of love or Of marriage. Pride Of course
He worked and worked, and while his aims were
good and his ideas sound, it took long time to
nature them. And his wealth did not begin to
come until his hair had turned gray Even then
he hesitated. and I really DO not know whether
he ever told her not that he had carried her
face in his heart all his life"
He did tell her" she interrupted. 1T was
in a letter a long beautiful letter 1t was writ
ten The day before he died-he died very sud
denly, / believe"
Yes heart disease"
she showed it to me, and made me promise
that when she died it should be buried with
her.
What did ii say?"
"Do you think l should tell you?"
why not? We their heirs, aren't we?
He wrote the letter; your Aunt Mary received
il, and here we are knowing most Of the story,
and surely we are entitled TO know il all"
1T was a letter that only man of the finest
character and with the purest love could write
1t was as if life Of silent devotion was pouring
itself out upon the pages-oh, it was beautiful
beautiful
but what did it say?"
"It said everything that heart could utter
II all he EoriS I wi the