Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-06-29
SARAH WEGLEY'S
PINK GERANIUM.


ing there, but a remarkably fine gera-
MUM, bearing magnificent trusses Of
pale pink tint, that stood in a pot on the
window sill
Her friend, Mrs. Eliza Hubbard, was
great gardener and knew fine specimen
as we'll as any on, and better than most.
She called in on certain Saturday
afternoon, and paused before entering
Jasmine Cottage to inspect her friends
possession. 1t was in full bloom.
"WeH, | never!'' cried Eliza Hubbard;
what a waste!"
Sarah Wigley We staring out of the
window, but failed to recognize her
friend; her eyes were contracted to
narrow slit and she strove her hardest
to trace the familiar features, but in vain.
That there geranium is deliberately
wasting itself" said she.
At this moment Sarah Wigley opened
the window and stood revealed-a small,
shrunken widow, with a pale face and a
pair of gentle eyes.
rs that you, Eliza ?"
IF it amt, Sarah, it's my double"
Come right away in, then, do"
you've been looking at my geranium,
Eliza" said her friend. isn't it a pic
ture?'
Your sight amt as good as it used to
be- remarked her guest.
NO" replied Sarah, family; ''it's 60
ing fast"
There isn't any scent in geranium,"
Eliza said to herself; sit isn't as if she
could smell it. A blind person might get
enjoyment out of a rose, or cherry pie
BUT geranium, bah!"
They sat far into the evening, the
hostess knitting, the guest fashioning a
neat garment. About 9 Mrs. Hubbard
arose, Il must be going Sarah" said she.
Mrs. Wigley retired, Eliza Hubbard
drew the door close Her face was GRIM
son, her heart beat fast.
1T isn't as though she could see it,"
said she; 'she won't even know it is
gone, and if she does, what does it sig
Nifty? What the eye don't see, the heart
can't grieve FORT"
She seemed rather proud of the quota
ton. But pride was replaced by a dull
sense of shame as she lifted up the
ceranium and, hiding it under her shawl,
sped home with it.
Sarah Wigley's next door neighbor,
door behind her Just as Sarah Wigley
emerged next morning duly dressed for
church. She looked over the paling, said
Good morning" and then exclaimed with
sudden energy:
'Why, bless my soul! whatever nave
you done with your geranium %
1T was safe and sound last night" said
she; eliza Hubbard was admiring it..
"Well. it isn't there now"
This fact was self-evident; the two
musks stood alone, there was a vacant
space between them.
''Dreary, dreary me!' cried Sarah Wig
lev. Did you ever!"
The tears stood in her dim eyes.
Il can't 90 to worship this morning"
she observed, Though I know it's my
duty; it seems as though l had lost my
heart altogether"
She re entered the cottage and sat
blankly bordering over her bereavement,
hardly noticing how the time passed.
She was glad when o'clock came; she
could 90 to bed now, that was one COM
fort. Alas. no! Rat, tat, tat on the
door, and in stalked Selma Pringle
1T amt no tramp she said Il saw
your fine pink geranium in Eliza Hub
bard's front garden"
II don't believe it,
'"Then YOU think tell falsehoods."
Il don't think anything; my time for
thinking is past, and my time for doubt
inc nv friends hasn't begun yet. So |
bid you good night
Sarah Wrigley closed the door with a
firm hand and put up the bar Then she
knelt at her bedside and prayed God
never to let her fall low enough to doubt
her old friends.
A few days later Eliza Hubbard called.
She found her old friend sitting over the
handful of fire, though the evening was
sultrv. shivering and holding her thin
hands to the blaze.
Sarah Wigley rose stiffiy. I'm bit
poorly. my dear; / amt felt myself since
nv loss. You've heard tell how some
tramp or the other made off with my
pink geranium, haven't you!"
Mrs. Hubbard was apparently a bit
poorly also. for she shivered likewise.
Il did hear some such tale" said she.
But I don't suppose you grieve much,
eh. Sarah? 1t amt as if your eye 'ght
was as good as mine. You can't 4-eep
looking at the blossoms"
For answer Sarah Wigley burst into a
flood of tears.
II know | am worse than a fool to
make a fuss about a geranium plant,
said she. but l suppose l am kind of low
in health. Anyway, can't help myself
Haven't l prayed the good Lord to put
it into the heart of that tramp to bring
back nv geranit IN. I'd had that gera-
Mum three Yeas, Liza, and I'd got to
set store on it as though it was child"
Eliza Hubbard '~ared her throat.
No she san Wlsh l
was half as goS