Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-29

were the glowing house plants which
were soon to be transferred to the gar
den. These. rising tier on tier. glow
ing gcranIums. fragrant hcliotrope.
brilliant hibiscus, golden mignonettc.
were destined with their harder breth-
rcn to yield tribute to death.
Aunt Jean-Auntic Jean!" rang
fresh young voice. I'm dressed
lx the flowers! And how soon may
we go on the hiii."
Jean laid her basket on hall chair
Just In time to catch In her outiiung
arms the slim little white hsuro fyins
down the stairs.
You shall help me. my prccious!"
she promised. And she touscied the
clustering curis on the dark little head
and pressed with her own the rosy lips
that were ripe for kisses. breakfast
over. the two settled to work. for
Rosinc had decided views OF her own
nR TO the relative merits OF set dc
signs In contradiction To III. prefer.
-nee OF Miss chaE,cfis for less formal
symbols. And all the time the hazel
eyes Hparklcd and the restless little
tongue talked trippInsly on.
You have To work awful hard. don't
you. Auntlc Jean. Did you &c, Biiilc's
mothers dress don.y Did Billie come
for IL, Id like niiilc-if he wasn't
frcckicd. Nora says you used To be
rich. Sac says you lived In that big
siouc house with the fountain In the
yard. She says my mamma vas rich.
too. until after my papa wen, away
and left her. And then she came TO
live In this iltti. ve.ny house with
you. And then God wanted her. wha,
made you and my mamma sc, poor;
And why doesn't my papa como back.
And Why wouldn't God let my mamma
stay hcrcs md does she know whsa
~c put all ihcsc pretty flowers on her
Eraycg-'
So for the two in tho bright ii,,i.
room. plain TO severity save for its
looks and 'sTccn things growing and
air Of inicanabic refinement. the per,
feet day WaFc on. " nos and then
Jeans sweet face paisd and her scnsl.
tive lips auiycrsSi. these the absorbed
little maiden did rot notice at all.
How should a pFs,tliHE child. busy
with a wreath. dream that her words
might voundT
They stood q, the gate to soc the
procession wind by-ths hobbiinE vet.
Grams. the women Of the Relief Corps.
the ,ownspconl- in vehicles and aioo,.
the uniformed hand. the excited chill.
drCn running at either side. hut the
sun had gone down in a splsndoT OF
scarlet and gold. the streets were bc-
ing fast deserted. and all the air vss
T.. a..E
Jean ChartcTis and the little siri car
fied their treasures between them up
the green velvet swafi of that siopinz
hill. sacred to silence and to sweet.
safe siumbcr.
The grave yard knew now no pres.
curc save their own. on several
graves were rass-oa the greater
number flowers hut some were bare
uf bloom. And from one to another
of these the laic-comcrs moved. Icay.
ing some sprays on each. Then they
sought a certain corner. where sim.
pie stone recorded briefly young
vifcs death.
you shall place them ALL" said
Jean Charters. She gave Rosine the
basket. and stood leaning against the
marble shaft. her black. trailing gown
outlining her slender form. her head
dropping as though in WEAKNESS.
With unconscious elatiUn the child
went about her task. And afar in the
road Billie watched her. Billie. stin
in his best Sunday suit. tortured by
new shoes. agunized by an unaccus-
toned collar. So absorbed was he in
following every movement of his idol
be did not hear the step approaching.
He turned with a hasty exclamation
at touch ON his shuuider-turued to
confront a man who was decidedly
stranger.