Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-07-13
THE PLUM TREE
CONTINUED from last weekly.


Ghat made me wish had not asked
III is, | think, gardening with weeds
mad thistles. as you say" Then, after
"A pause: DO you like TT"
Don't ask me-" / said with a bit
aerness that made US both silent
Rhereacter.
That evening got Fred to land me
szt the nearest town. The train she
ssnaSt have been on had just gone In
xhe morning / took the express for
dSse east. Arrived at Washington,
drove straight to her school.
A high iron fence, not obstructing
the view from the country road; a
Fsang drive under arching naples and
sisevSaS. a rambling, fascinating old
house upon the crest OF hill; many
windows. a pillared porch, low
very vide doorway. 1t seemed like
facr la its dark. cool, odorous beauty
She herself was in the front hall,
directing some workmen. why, SEN
afer Sayler, this is a surprise" she
MID. advancing to greet me. But
lnsss was no suggestion OF sur.
psfss IN her tone or her look, only a
Friendly welcome TO an acquaintance.
She led the way into the drawing.
rassm TO the left. The furniture and
'9sS1tures were In ghostly draperies,
1we1fthing was In confusion We
wsnS an TO a side veranda, seated
ssutaesvas. She looked inquiringly at
scae
IL uhx W.
ssw~r. Il only know had to come"
sire studied me calmly. / remem-
beg her look, everything about her
the embroidery on the sleeves and
Sosorn Of her blouse, the buckles on
her white shoes remember also
chat there was a breeze, and how
EuOf IL felt to my hot face, to my
eyes burning from lack OF sleep. At
last she said: "Well--what do you
shink OF my little kingdom?"
vt Ss yours-entirely"
HOUSE. gardens--everythin i paid
he last of my debts In June"
IN contrasting 1t with my own"
J. 'zaid-
'trssst eazst isn't fair" she protested
I'm a woman"
With my own" | went on, as IL
81 &had not interrupted. Yours is
.--yoDrs. honestly got 1t makes you
sraud. happy. Mine" did not fin
tsait
size must have seen or felt how
s3Eussundly I was moved. for | pres
~sznssY saw her looking at me with an
ssszuession | might have resented for
I. AtE pity from any other than her.
N'NsRag do you tell me this?" she
asked
There Is always for every one"
vsrSs tr& answer, some person to
xsamm me shows himself as he Is.
Yus ars that person for me because
FIN surrounded by people who care
ltSNr me for what l can give. Even
r5ssv children care TO great extent for
asst- reason. Its the penalty for hav-
rug fhs power to give the material
sklnsB mia human beings crave. Only
'stxD psrg1ns ever cared-cared much
f8e me juS& because was myself.
They were my mother-and you"
She laughed In quiet raillery. Two
SAVE cared for YOU, but you have
cured zor only one. And what de-
Nwasryn Sou have given him!"
u have cared for my mother-for
my children"
Yes your children. forgot
them
~And-for you"
She made what I thought move
rneint OF impatience.
For YOU" repeated. Then:
EHgzheth, you were right when you
wrote that was coward"
she v'ose and stood-near enough to
rune for me to catch her faint elusive
Essafume-and gazed out into the dis
s.amcA.
I'm St Louis the other day"
went oz, Il saw man who has
F-zSeH TO power greater than can
ssVec hope 90 have. And he got 1t
az marching erect in the open"
yet you have everything you used
% want" she said dreamily.
~Yes--everything. Only to learn
alioW worthless what l wanted was.
and Tor Chis trash, this dirt, have
sxiven-alI had that was OF value"
"Ali7"
'TAn," replied Your love and my
-seftarsspect"
Why 30 you think you've not been
Brave" shs asked after awhile.
Because I've won by playing on
the weaknesses and fears of men
xaybicr nv own unakpaseoe and faa rs
enabled me to understand"
@YoE have done wrong-delib.
essratelys'
Deliberately"
Tut Ghat good might conner"
$50 f0Id myself"
And good has come? I've heard
gIazx Ggs a. grow on thistles."
Good mas come. But | think, In
fEpite 81 ne. not through me"
e,f%svf r,gw Goaf Uou a.fd