The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-30
THE ADVERTISERS .s = W
 .e e DAILY SHORT STORMY /
Copy right Isoa by Daily Story Publishing C.,

nOtS tn8t JOnn ndQ praised. She locked 1t in her trunk, and called her cousins. sistently, and Kitty sat white and si- lent among them, trying to answer when they appealed to her to decide what colors would suit them best. But when Lou tried on the Alpine hat, Kit ty gave a little cry.
 "Oh. take them away quick! I can't bear it."
 She fell into a desolate sobbing after they had gone. until finally she thought of the forget-me- not dress and took 1t out with certain comfort.
 'If John only comes back, I'll slip 1t on when I see him coming and run to meet him. He shan't see these dreadful black things"
 Alas. for the dresses that are hid den away with our hearts last cling ing hopes folded in them! God only knows, in these years of war. how many stricken women in our own land and In the island across the Atlantic. have laid aside treasures until he comes home" Letters for him to see, curls clipped from the childrens heads. little secret treasures hidden from all eyes but God's-if it proves a mistake, and our own comes to his own again! They come again, in dou SOou tiiie, put LIE ray oL Aoi- lorp hope is a candle that sheds Its minutes overpast."
 One afternoon in April. Kitty started to walk across the fields. Half un- consciously. she bent her steps in the same way they had walked their last afternoon together. Her eyes had lest their happy light, and her face much of its rounded prettiness.
 Once I saw a buttercup over which two children had overturned a flower pot. It had bloomed in the semi-dark- ness. but so pathetically-its natural gold faded to a sickly yellow, an 1a- normal thing. buttercup that had not seen the sunl There are human but tercups. bright little blossoms of the lowlands. whom God has created to live in the sunshine. He has made, perfection in the shadow. the eidel- weiss that grows on the clear heights. the galax that hides in the deep shade, the wind flower that lives in the heart of storm. God plants us where we grow"
 Poor little Kitty trudged along pushing back the long vail that blew across her face. She was not pretty in mourning, only piteous, like the but tercup shut from the sun. Presently she stumbled, and saw that she had run across the Yankee grave" Her own words came back to her vividly, with a fierce regret that assaiied her like the bangs of birth.
 "r hurt his feelings! I hurt him! I didn't think then. but I know now. And now he's buried over there. aud maybe somebody's saying Just United States soldier. We don't kAow his name!'"
 Her heart was pierced with pity for the dead beneath her feet-at rest these thirty years and more, beyond our war fare in the Eternal Peace!
 Shot just before the surrender; in a week war would have been over and he could have gone home to his wife or his mother. Some one loved him and waited for him, and never knew where he lay. Oh, John, John!'
 With feverish energy she began to pull up the rank weeds that overgrew the grave, tough wire-grass and bur- dock. which she had always disliked to touch. blackberry vine ran riot everywhere; she tore at it, unheeding the thorns that scratched her hands. Kitty had sat in church while minis ters preached of the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God, and her little mind had been busy deciding the number of tucks in her new shirt waist. or whether she should have her yellow waist latticed in black velvet. ''Vicarious suffering" was a phrase she had never heard, perhaps, but as the blood dropped from the scratches on her hand, she was nearer Gethsemane than she had ever been DefUFe. God, she prayed, 'I am so sorry for every body who has had trouble! Dear God, be good to us all!'
 She one was running towards her: Johns arms were around her. She clung to him. asking no question. while her joy swept over her like a great flood.
 For the buttersup must have its sun shine, and its Creator Is of love and pity.
 If I had chosen out of the whole world" said John. after a long em- brace. too rich for words. "out of the whole world I'd have chosen to find you here! All the way home I've been wondering where I should see you again. and it was here!" Johns voice broke. and they kissed with a deeper tenderness and a new understanding.
 Good news spreads quickly in a v1l- lage, if bad news flies faster through the great world. All the village folk were there that night to welcome John and to hear how he was wounded, and sent home as soon as he could stand the voyage on the transport.
 II didn't know my death was re- ported until one of the fellows got a letter that spoke of It. It was John H. Hummer. poor fellow, and they got his initial mixed with mine, both of us being privates. Then I was so sick. with the wound and the fever, thought I'd better not write 1t was a mistake until I saw whether I'd come out of it alive. lest Kitty might have it all to go through with again."
 Kitty sat by him in her black gown, torn with briars and stained with the red earth When the last guest had gone and they were alone in their room. she took out the blue dress shyly and showed it to him.
 II kept it to wear for you" she whispered. "it made me feel like you were comin' back to me-"
 Why didn't you wear it tonight, lit- tie girl?" he asked tenderly. Did you forget?"
 No" said Kitty, looking at him with shining eyes. but couldn't leave you long enough to put 1t on."