The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-08-26
THAT MAIDSTONE

ana wrote books about insects When
his mother died. he planted her grave
with violets and pansics. and at the
head was white marble monument.
but he didn't display any taste-noth-
ing on II but the old lady's name and
the date she died.
Now. he was the last man IN the VII.
lage I'd ever have imagined woul,
have married. But when the little mil
liner. Melinda McAllister. came into
the place he was struck Everybody
warned her and told her about his IA
Their hanging himself In prison. and
how queer his mother WAS. and that
Mortimer was odd. too. and wouldn't
come to any good. She listened. with
her eyes big and cool and n little hot
patch of red on her checks like a daub
of paint. but she never said Il word.
Sut we were not prepared for the
worst. day or two before the we'd
ding in comes Mrs. johnson and SAYS.
Shut up the doors tight and the win.
dows. I've got something to tell YOU
that'll make your hair rise IN she
says. Whispering like. SO shut the
door. she clasping her hands together
Ike one posse ssed.
It's about Melinda she went on.
He has got Il tombstone for herr
WhoE asked |. rs II I didn't know.
but my knees knocked together. and 1
felt queer.
Mortimer Barbour says she. My
nephew Johnnie was after a birds
nest in tree that stands in his gar
den. The limb broke. and down he
went right on to the roof of the old
clubhouse that hasn't been used for
years IL went In under him like tin
der, ana as soon as he could pick him
self up and found no bones broke what
should Ire see but new white grave
stone standing in corner against
some rubbish. He went up 10 II and
saw Melinda Barbour cut OH 1t and
the date she is TO die
I don't believe It, said /. but felt
faint Mt heart.
AS soon as sasd didn't believe II
Mrs. johnson said we would 20 our
selves and see. And we did go. Morti-
mcr being away I'm the fields. and en-
tered the courthouse. We saw the stone,
just as Johnnie said. n real ravestone
Melinda Barbour with the date Sent.
3 below il. But the rest we couldn't
make out
Hes going TO let her live three
months. May heaven forgive himr
says Mrs. Johnson. meaning different
from what she said.
The next day I went to Melinda
and told her the whole truth. And,
would you believe II. she said she
thought Mrs. Johnson and | had no
business prying about other peoples
affairs II lie had bought me a thou
sand gravestones. I'd have him just
tho same said she.
so they were married the next day
in the chapel. but Melinda was white
as ghost. and she trembled so that
she could hardly walk They went
away by train. and we threw some old
shoes after 'cm. but all the wishing of
joy was make believe. and never saw
a bride with such white. set face.
They were away nearly three
months. Then they came back to the
old house. but folks said they were not
happy; that she was as cold as stone,
and he was always at his books and
old insects.
Zone day had n letter asking me to
come and see her. She was lying down
on lounge when l got there, white
and so thin. her big eyes with sorry,
hungry look in them. but she had on a
smart gown and was as pretty as a
picture. As soon as we had shaken
hands she said:
Do you know what day tomorrow
isr l thought for a moment and said
IL was the Sd of September. The day l
am going to de- she said In soft.
quiet way. Then she said he was very
good to her, but she couldn't get that
gravestone out of her head day or
night
'AlI at once it came to me how mat
tiers We're. She had been too proud TO
give him up. Besides. she loved him.
too, and she had been too proud to tell
him about it. and so betwixt the two
the poor child was almost beaten out.
She asked II l would go out TO the out
house with her and see the stone. She
wanted to see it and was afraid to go
alone.
Then a queer thing happened. Nor
timer had come into the next room
while she had been talking and heard
every word. ! never saw anybody so
moved as he was when he came in.
"'Is it that tombstone which has
stood between usT he said, and went
on to explain that It had been ordered
for his mother. He was such a bad
writer that the stonecutter mistook the
name AEllvina for Melinda. and after
the stone was half done it was found
out, and they made him pay for it. So,
as 1t was his, they brought It to him,
and. not knowing what to do with it.
ae had just put it away in the out
house and forgotten all about it,
"After that? Dear me- they were the
happiest couple you ever saw. They
used the gravestone for a front door
step. wrong side up. and it was quite
pretty. Melinda was very proud of
him and believed every word he wrote
about the beetles 5ust as his mother
had done. which only goes to show
that the old saying is true. that love
Is Blind