Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10

why are you leaving here, Palmer? It's
a beautiful spot.''
Don't / know it's beautiful the thin
face working with suppressed emotion,
"aint I worked on 1t, and watched over
It, and cared for it ever since 1 can re-
member? / planted every vine and shrub.
around this house. fixed the house all
over inside and built on them three bay
winders. There's six Jersey cows out there
that raised, and another pair of colts, and
every critter on the place would come to
me IL / called it by name. oh, you needn't
tell me how beautiful it Is, Hain't 1
thought OH 1t by day, and dreamed on 1t
by night, in all the ten long, weary months
been away from It! Talk about the fell.
Ter in the Bible who sold his birthplace for
a mess of porridge-I'm selling mine for
less and-and l amt sure of getting the
selling price NEITHER he ended chokingly.
Jackson laid a quieting hand on his arm.
''Mr. Palmer" pushing him gently along,
sit down here on the piazza. Why do you
say you are not sure OF getting the selling
price?"
Because I'm not sure that I'll be safe
anywheres. Some on EN- might find me
even in a boarding house in Anderson
why did you leave here in the first
placer Jacksons tone inspired confidence.
why, l was druv out-actually druv
out-by widders and old maids! The town
is full on 'em-widders and old maids, and
1 was the only single man in the hull town
ship"
Jackson depressed a smile. THAT is a
peculiar condition of affairs, Mr.. Palmer;
tell me about it,
Well with sudden vehemence, its easy
enough to tell, My sister kept house for
me. She a awful easygoin woman,
and she kinder let the neighborn' women
the widders and old maids-get the uppers
on her by takin' their advice and letting
EN- tell her when and how to do every
thing. When my sister died had house,
keeper from Anderson; in fact, l had a
whole procession on EN-.
IF they was old and humbly, the widders
q n a 6rtIyy am "
and meddlin'. If they chanst to be young
an good-lookin', they was talked about
and scandalized until they took measures
to save their good name-some of 'em by
breeches of promise. Finely concluded to
bach it, Then four or five of the Green
field gang took it upon themselves to help
me keep house. When I'd come up from
the field at noontime I'd fine one of them
cusses in my kitchen with dinner all
cooked! There'd likely be diffrunt one
there for supper. They'd get in somehow,
spite of lock and key. They kept the house
in order and even mended my cloes. and
I'd Father go ragged than be beholdin't to
one on en- Then one morning, when
come down stairs, there was this Ann Bax-
ter. I've come to stay, Abner,' she says.
L know you're too bashful to ask me- and
I've made the arrangements. The parson
will be here at 8 o'clock. and then you'll
never be alone again, Abner, DEAR" an
irrepressible shudder swept over him, chok-
ing his utterance.
Gosh, but / was scarf! I cut and run
for dear life. She put after me land you
know how she can run, but she stepped
on her shoe-string and stumbled and l got
to the depot just in time to jump on train.
1t was narrer escaped"
Jackson murmured an appropriate and
appreclatiVe response. He recalled the
stringless footwear now adopted by the re-
doubtable Ann, and began to feel less
secure.
Il went straight to Mr. Hammond's office.
ted fho f1v f1o
that family moved out here. That's about
all" rising slowly. i've got the key to
the side door. I'll go upstairs and get that
that little thing 1 come after, and then
we'll CO..
You'll take your clothes?"
No, 1 guess not. They'd make quite a
bundle, and We've might get met on the
road goin'-''
Why not put on your best suit? Those
duds are no disguise, as you have seen, and
In your own clothes you'd feel more like
a man., mentally, he added. land stand
better chance Of acting like one!"
When Palmer returned Tom was as
tonished at his appearance He wore a
well-fitted suit of good material and modern
design. But the change in wearing apparel
was not all, he stood erect and walked
without shutting. He looked at the young
man steadily for a moment before speak
ing.
saying simply Mr.. Jackson, I think you're
a good man, and I'm goin' to show you
what / come back for"
1t was a little, dried, faded flower, and
Palmer touched 1t reverently as he re-
folded it in its tissuepaper wrapping and
replaced it in the tiny box.
Maybe you wouldn't believe 1t, but that
there little rose is forty years old"
He sighed softly.
Il was only twenty, and she a couple
of years younger. 1 was seem her home
from singin school. and she give me this
rose-she had wore it in her hair
Tom scarcely knew how to frame the
question he was longing to ask. but there
was no need-the softened voice wandered
gently on: Il was slow and bashful-Ben
Barnes was bigger, handsomer and smarter
he married her and took her to Californy.
She never knew guess-about me-.
A long-drawn, regretful sigh and the
plaintive tones continued slowly: Il didn't
care for any other girl, and 1 knew l never
would. Then | begun to think how she'd
like the place to look if twas hern. and to
fix it up for her. That's how l came to
have so many roses-she loved roses like
they was babies
He smiled wlstfully into Toms face and
held out his hand. Tom clasped it without
speaking; for Tom Jackson, with the mem
DRY of dozen love affairs in his two dozen
years, was silent as before miracle. He
had stumbled upon romance-and the
steadfastness of the mans heart filled him
with wonder.
That's ALL Mr.. Jackson, we'll go now.
want to slip up to the buryin' lot first and
see if they set out my grave stun as l told
'em to-
Not yours!'' protested Tom.
Yes, mine" deprecatingly; "it's the only
way to have things you want en-
Tom followed his host. They had walked
but few steps within the little enclosure
when Palmer paused There's woman
there by my stun he whispered, you go
see what she wants. The public buryin'
ground Is about mile further on-she's
likely a stranger, and a-weepin' on the
wrong grave"
The woman turned as Tom approached.
She was not weeping, but her sweet,
womanly face was grave and sad.
Were you looking for some particular
stone, madam"
Yes quietly. this one. The design Is
beautiful, l think"
1t was rough block of granite, one small
space being smoothly polished, and in this
space was carved half-opened rose.
II think 1t is Mr.. Palmer's," said Tom,
courteously; did you know him?"
Yes, many years ago. / thought him
my best friend in my girlhood."
Toms thought leaped to the correct con-
clusion-this was the girl who loved roses
like they was babies!' He stared help
lessly at the carved rose, wondering what
to do. Then his quick eye caught line
of fine lettering along the stem of the rose