The Van Buren press., 1903-05-30


How she wished that she could have
enough of them to cover her graves!
somehow, they seemed sweeter than
the flowers at the florists.
The day before Decoration day came.
Mrs. Pell had gone much sooner than
usual to her work, and by hurrying a
great deal. had been able to return
home at four instead of SIX, her usual
hour.
1t was her plan TO put on her best
clothes and then 60 to the florists and
select and order her flowers She
would call for them early the next
morning, and take them 20 the Gene
terry, The day was to be a holiday.
She had just unlocked her door. and
entered her room, when Mrs, Wilkes
came in, Her eyes were swollen from
crying.
Sure. and what's the matter?" cried
Mrs. Pell.
ITS Sally, She's sick, and goin' to
die. The woman that's been takin'
care of her wrote to tell me. And she
wants 10 see me once more
"Well, sure and you'll be agoin'," said
Mrs. Pell
Mrs. Wilkes burst into tears. ITS
that I'm fcelin' so bad about. II costs
three dollars to 20, and me with moth
in but dollar and half TO my name.
You see, | paid the rent two days ago.
And not one Of the ncigEbors with
cent TO lend me-"
"And it's too bad, it is," calculated
Mrs. Pell, feelingly.
"Nes. and there's a train at seven"
said Mrs. Wilkes, with fresh tears.
"Unless.-" she went on hesitatingly,
"you could lend me enough!"
ITS too bad, it is exclaimed Mrs.
Pell. sure and paid my rent last
week. too She looked distressed.
She was always anxious to help anyone
in trouble.
81 know-but-" Mrs. Wilkes hest
tated more than before. IL
thought perhaps you'd let me have that
1
Sallie! I'd like to see her once more.
She's my own sister, sure"
Lend you that money! Oh! Mrs.
Wilkes, can't! I've had my heart set
so long on coverin' the graves this Dee
Grafton day"
81 thought likely you wouldn't want
20. Poor Sallie! And III never see
her again" Mrs. Wilkes turned away
with hopeless air, and went slowly
back to her room.
Mrs. Pell hastily prepared to 90 TO
the florists TO select and order her
flowers. She felt very sorry for Mrs
Wilkes but OF course she could not
lend her that money. II she had saved
1t for any other purpose but that. She
had tried for 50 many years to be able
to cover those graves with roses, and
now when she had the money-to give
it all up,
She hoped Mrs. Wilkes did not think
her mean. She would have been glad
to do anything else for her
And it was pity that She could not
see her sister before she died, She was
the only relative she had, too.
If it had only not been that
money! And if it were not Decoration
day! She wanted to put flowers on
their graves at the time that other peo-
pie were remembering their dead.
Mrs. Pcll was distressed. She re-
called how good Mrs, Wilkes had been
to her during the winter when her
rheumatism had been SO bad She had
done everything for her, How hard il
was! She did not want 70 appear
ungratCfuL
Mrs. PclHs steps became slower and
slower, and as she came in sight Of the
florists shop, she stood still, and re-
maincd in deep thought for some min
utcs Then she turned suddenly ard
walked back to the tenement, and into
Mrs. Wilkes room She found the lat
ter sitting with her face in her hands
and crying
Mrs, pcll put herprccious $lGs in her
hand,
"Thcrc," she said, "iust takci,, Hurry
and get ready and I'll go TO the train
with you. ] do hope you'll find Sallie
alive
"Oh!' cried Mrs. Wilkes, sure and
always knew you were good woman,
Poor Sallie! III he secir her again"
Mrs. Pell did not sleep wen that
night II hurt her TO think Of those
two graves being howcrless another
Decoration day, They were IN such
remote part Of the cemetery that they
never shared in the general decoration
OF graves. She decided that she would
not go 20 the cemetery at ALL She
could not bear TO think Of seeing 9th.
ers carrying their flowers while her
hands must be empty
But In the morning thc changed her
mind, II seemed unkind 20 leave her
graves unysitcd, She would go IN the
afternoon when the services were over
and the cemetery would he compare.
lively deserted, II was such u lovely
day The ride in the ears would do her
good,
Mr., Graham, his wife and R,rta and
Tom druN, cut "a the cemetery their
carriage filed with baskets Of rot,s,
They had almost stripped the many
bushes In their garden,