The Virginia enterprise., 1907-08-23

doesn't get 'em covered up in time,
and whole lot of 'em gets tipped
over into the slush an gets spo1lt!
Just like him, wasn't it,"
"Ah but you see, it came on so sud-
den-like," replied Mrs. Bower sooth-
ingly. II got lot o my flowers spoilt.
The winds worse than the rain when
it blows like that I've often Won
dered, SAL" she continued, adroitly
turning the conversation from poor
Mrs. Carp's delinquencies, las how
you amt got married. 1t must have
been yer own fault, I'm thinkin'''
WELL" said Sal, slowly, "tl.ere was
chap once, an likely sort O. chap
he was, too. Bill Cartwright's his
name; but that's fifteen years ago and
more"
The Morning Leader at this juno
ture discreetly lowered. and two
straight-looking green gray eyes ap-
peared above it and fixed themselves
on the face of the unconscious Sal.
You see," she continued, father
he took i'll an lost the use of his
hands. I promised mother when she
was a-dying I'd look after him. He
didn't mind my working for him-that
seemed nat'rel like; but I know he
was that proud that if he had to eat
bread that man o mine had got for
him, it would choke him. So when
Bill comes along one day an puts the
question straight, l just swallers down
a big lie-God forgive me!-an' sez
as l didn't care about him. Then he
goes off to foreign parts-Californy or
somewhere-an' I amt never heard
from him since"
Haven't you really now?" observed
Mrs. Bower sympathetically. "Well,
my sister-in-law's nephew's just back
from Australia. Shouldn't wonder at
all if they mightn't have fallen in
with one another. Strange things do
happen at times over the seas-migh-
ty strange! He's comm to drink a
cup O. tea along with us some Sunday.
You just drop in toe an have chat
with him. I'll be real glad to see
you"
THANK you kindly. Mrs. Bower, I
don't know but what WILL" answered
Sal.
Bless you, SAL" said Mrs. Carp,
what for do you want to trouble your
head about fellow who has been
a-galavantin' about all these years?
l never have much of an opinion of a
man who can't content himself with
the country wot has born him. There's
plenty of men in London"
SO there may be, Mrs. Carp, for all
care!" retorted Sal sharply.
Just then the omnibus pulled up
with jerk at the end of Parliament
street and the conversation ceased.
The conductor looked invitingly to-
wards two lady typists in whom he
considered he had a vested interest;
but it was dry under foot, and the fru-
gal maidens preferred to walk, so the
bell had a sharp pull and the omnibus
moved on.
Il often think" remarked Mrs.
Bower, what mercy it's that those
who buy our flowers are still asleep
in peaceful at this hour, an don't
take it into their heads to do their
goin' out before twelve or thereabouts,
else how should we ever get our
house-work done an tend to the chill
dren?'
Most of yours are off to school by
this time, aren't they?' asked Mrs.
Carp.
Eyes, all on 'em but Willie an Meg;
they amt old enough. My Ben he's
a-gettin' on fine. You should hear
him say his poetry-pages an pages
of it, he knows-'bout larks an corn
fields an such like. It's as good as
day in the country just to listen to
him.
WELL" announced Sal, II get out
here for Rochester Row. See you Sun
day, Mrs, Bower"
1854 stopped the bus with alacrity
and passed down the basket, but they
had no sooner started on again than
the bearded stranger discovered that
had been the precise point where he
had wanted to alight, and sprang out
accordingly.
Sal meanwhile had walked on with
her burden at that quick nervous pace
characteristic of women who are do
ing something beyond their strength.
so it was a minute or two ere her
fellow-passenger caught up to her.
"Hi missis! l want some of them
geraniums of yours. AS big a bunch
as you've got"
Sal stopped, and lifting up the tray
of her basket, produced her flowers.
"Ah, they're real beauties, they are!
l don't want any change" and he
dropped a sovereign into her hand.
She stared at the coin, then at him.
BILL" she gasped. "It's you! That
was never you in the 'bus?" and her
weather-worn face took the hue or
her flowers.
But it was, though, my girl-thank
my lucky stars! Now just you hand
over that there basket, for I'm goin' to
take that along, an I'm wishin' to
take charge O. you as well, if Won
haven't any objection"
And she hadn't.