Free press., 1907-11-09
The BUREAU DRAW
BY WArnot Waring

plucking restlesSly at the patchwork
counteFpane which she had pieced to-
gether herself III the days OF her busy
housewifery, and a strange, almoss
mystical silence seemed to have set
silence OF death.
Martha was dying The big, bHAt-
ling woman had come to the end OF
her days work, and she was aware Of
it-just as her youngest daughter was,
pretty, delicate Almira Earle, who Sat
by her mothers bedside tanning the
dying woman with u big palm-leaf fan,
for the heat of the heavy August after
noon was excessive.
"AImira, I'm dying-ain't II"
Martha Earle broke the dull silence
of the past hour and raised herself
heavily on her pillows; but her voice
was no longer hard and autocratic,
and she seemed 10 speak from dis
tance.
"Mother--my dear. dear mother!"
That was all that Almira could an
swer. but her tears betrayed her.
"AImora, don't cry! It's ali right"
Martha smiled family. Listen, honey,
there's something yer have got to do
for me when I'm dead-something ia
ther and none OF the others are to
know about. I guess can trust yer?'
Surely, mother" he girl replied,
softly; then she bent over the other
woman, and proppad Martha up in her
soft. warm arms.
When the breath is out of my
body Martha continued take the
little key that ycr'E fnd in my purse,
an open the drawer | a crs keep
locked in my bureau, the small top
drawer"-she gave a low anxious
sigh. 'YerIl mind which drawer-the
small top one
Yes, mother" the girl answered
obediently. The drawer that alters
kept locked, she added
Inside"-Martha' voice dropped to
a low whis Der-'yerll find packet of
letters, an a few sprigs of lavender
a handful OF withered roSe-petals
Yer'll burn the letters in the kitchen
fire - burn them to ash, Almira Il
trust yer not to read so much as
word of them. But the dried rose
petals an the lavender-put them in
my coffin, ghosts Of dead flowers, Al
mira-all that's left OF a lost summer -
Her voice died into silence.
What does it mean?" whispered
the girl Mother dear, I'll give yer
my oath that I'll do what yer ask, an
not read one word of yer letters-but
who wrote them?"
That's no natter replied Martha
Some one who loved me, honey, be-
fore ever your father did. A young
man who went to New York to make
a fortune for me, an who came back
too late, for | guess l couldn't wait
for Gillian for ever. Besides, there
was yer father an his fine farm, an
my folk all pressing me to marry
Didn't yer love father?* Almira
spoke in sharp, strained tones.
Her mother kept a sullen silence
for a few moments, then she said,
with d sudden burst of newborn
strength
4 made him good wife guess
no one can say hey not been a good
wife or a good mother / hev' worked
fer yer father-baked an brewed-
scrubbed an sewn. I hey borne him
sons and daughters. an in my way
hev' loved him
Not as yer loved the other" Al
mira lowered her voice. "On. mother,
mother" she went On, Il understand
Il know, alone of all yer children"
Like enow," the dying woman an
swered. Her voice had softened. Il
hev' often thought, she went on
dreamily that Yer had queer look
of him, honey. Yer smile as he used
ter smile. Almira, an yer eyes are
the same deep blue. But there
there" she sighed impatientIy. its
all finished an ended for l put Gillian
out Of my mind and out of my heart
after yer father had given me my we'd
ding-ring. But | kept his letters
kept them in q locked drawer. Seem |
ed as if | hadn't the heart to burn
them, nor the withered flowers that
Gillian had plucked me-roses warm |
an red when he save them to me-
sweet smelling an fresh"
clock on the mantelpiece struck |
the hour of FIVE. Outside, across the |
fields, came the faint lowing OF cattle;
the golden day was wearing to It's |
close
Put me down again on my pillow"
commanded Martha.
a rigid sternness came over the |
face. She was bracing herself to face |
the Valley of Great Silence and the |
stream which is cold as ice.
'Tll fetch father" murmured Almira |
softly. Then she bent and kissed /
Martha Earle with rare passion. "Oh. !
mother. mother" she whispered, an !
never guessed.
Martha Earle took no notice OF her /
daughters speech. She had done with /
all earthly matters. her concern with /
this worlds affairs was over.
II was late-close on midnight-be-
fore Almira found time and opportuni- /
ty to fulfill her dead mothers request. /
Moonlight was mourning info the large /