The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-02-26

people remember one at all it is only
on holidays when they can send use.
full things"
1T is one of the penalties of age"
said l.
"As if old people did not need flow.
ers and bonbons!" said Betty.
There is more virtue in Cruel" I
hazarded.
81 hate useful things" said Betty.
1--WE have to put up with them oc'
casionally," said l.
We turned in toward the little
house where Miss Lyons lived, and
the woman who took care of her
admitted us. Miss Lyons was prOpped
up in a chair by the window. She
was reading THE Imitation" In
glass on the window sill was a great
bunch of violets; they were big, sin
gle and deep in color. a card lay
near them.
George and I stopped in to see
how you were" said Betty.
The old lady beamed as she took
my hand.
81 want to thank YOU" she said
pointing to the flowers. you don't
know how much good they did me
how 1, an old woman, appreciate be.
ing thought Of"
l had opened my mouth to speak
when Betty's foot touched mine
lightly and meaningly. l had one
quick little glance from her.
I'm so glad you liked Them" ]
said. 81 fancied they might give you
a breath of outdoors"
And of YOUTH said the old lady.
at was like" she smiled, like val.
entine. l wonder if you thought OF
it?"
"Quite like valentine" 1 an.
swered, and | was very much ashamed
that l hadn't thought of it.
Miss Lyons was really quite merry.
though to sit in the house must be
rather trying. Also Betty outdid her,
self. SO we made rather long call;
and then an hour later we were in
the library again.
I was sitting in the Morris chair
looking into the fire, and Betty was
getting out the tea-things.
you might explain fully" said
as she threw glance in my direction
'You have been patient" she de.
clared, as she swung the tea-ball
around her finger.
''Patience is not its own reward"
said [.
81 heard only this morning that she
was not we'll" began Betty.
But supposing you did send mine.
why give me the credit for what /
didn't do?"
IF you'd known, you would have
thought of it. Don't you see?
could have bought some, but they
wouldn't have served the purpose
They had to be from a man."
| looked at her.
You see, we are all alike, we wom-
en-. They meant twice as much to
her to have them from YOU" said
Betty, as she slowly moved lighted
match over the alcohol cup.
wisdom is the better part of good
Deeds" l agreed.
She tossed the half burned stick
into the CRATE, and | watched the
wood flare. The silence lasted q full
minute; sometimes a minute is very
long.
81 might have sent Lees roses" she
said, suddenly.
l pursed my lips.
"Or one of the other punches of
violets," she added
1 drummed with my fingers on the
chair arm.
But" She put her chin in her
hand and looked across at me. 81
wonder if 1 could have explained it
to them" she finished, with a little
coax in her tone.
He that is last shall be first" said
I, relaxing.
Betty carefully put the kettle ove-
the flame. Then she walked over to
her own private writing desk in the
corner. There she picked up a little
cut-glass vase of fingers height.
There were three violets in it. They
were big and single and of a color
like the sky on summer night.
She touched the flowers to her face.
But l was sure you'd understand"
she said. The laugh on her lips sub
sided, and a smile came and played
in her eyes.-Woman's Home Com
panion.