La Junta tribune., 1907-06-01

! We Eea-u MIS- Er.iy speak % mar
I ciSsus." said II woman refectively
'-she that was the florists wife. you
know. An. come To think. shes likely
7 master hand Mt this decoratln' brsi.
ness she has spoke o. secln' big city
churches filed with towers
"Nils' Eray-aln't size dead:" ques-
toned another. Il amt heard her
/ name afore in years. But there! I
know SHE amt I'd "a seen the notice
in the Arti:ulator''
who Is Mrs. Bray. ana where is she
Z TO he fonnd:" asked the minister quick
Z ly. Perhaps she can help me out
with this. Curious I have not heard
] of her before
.'oh, don't know" dryiy: folks sort
o. die away from the world after they
I enter poorhouse. Mis- Bray's hus.
baud was for retiln' on SO he Wen,
/ to the city an learned the florists
! trade. For n time he done well; then
/ his business broke. an he died. an his
| wife came back here an lived up what
4 little she had After that there was
! nothin' hut the poorhousc Now. I've
/ always held Isoorhouse was stronger
than e'sve FOR hidin' folks"
Well we will find her. eagerly.
perhaps she will be able to give us
/ some assistance or advice. VIII you
! 20 with me- Mrs. Perry
| The woman hesitated II little. then
threw back her head with sudden de
c.sion.
why. yes. don't mind II do
/ Cynthia Bray was as much OF a lady
/ pOorhouse is the worst thing IN the
| world. Still. while 1t want her fault
goin' there. it's hardly TO be expected
folks Will Keep ON visitin' Just the
same MS though she was in some other
J place
[ The next afternoon the minister's
blackboard paused In front Of the poor
house. and he and Mrs Perry alighted
/ Several men and boys We're slouching
/ about the yard. and on ii bench near
! the door We're four or five old women.
/ Mrs. Perry looked them over critically.
Not there" she declared conciscly.
"Cynthia wouldn't grow to look lik.
them. We'll 90 In
! In answer Ia their knoc!; harsh
! featured woman came to the door. 4
ring OF keys danglcd from her waist.
Mis- Bray she repeated in answer
to their question. 'Oh. Aunt cynthia
we call her No. she amt here: she's
inside You see. we have to get aS
much work from the paupers as we
can. Most of them are lazy an no
count. but now an then we finl good
worker. Aunt Cynthia's one. so we
| keep her in the kitchen. She scasely
ever gifts TO this side a the house. l
don't s'pose she's really had n visitor
afore In five years. Won't you come
in:''
They entered. and after a long and
detailed account of her trials with the
pnupers the woman went through II
door toward the back part OF the
1 house. Another five minutes passed:
then little old woman with bright.
deprecatory manner stole softly into
the room.
"Did-,iid you wish to see meI" she
asked TREMENDOUSLY and a little wonder.
inSly.
Mrs. Perry sprang forward In quick
forgetfnlness of the immeasurable dis
tance which lay between her social pO-
sition and the poorhouse.
why, you poor SOUL" she cried SYM
pathetlcaliy. How old you've grown.
My hair ain't begun to turn yet. an
here your'u Is perfectly white. an still
I believe Pm two months the Oldest"
Its been n long time since you and
were young. deary." answered the
old woman gently. ''Such weary
time. 1t seems us IL my hair was al
ways white" Then she colored with
sudden remembrance and drew herself
up stitfiy.
rs there anything you wanted me
for. Mrs. Perry--anything l can do for
you:" she asked.
Come. Cynthia. don't talk that
way demonstrated Mrs. Perry. You
know farmers wives are always work
In. nn'-an' it's II good piece from our
place to the
.Poorhouse." said the old woman
calmly.
We'll. yes, poorhonse." deprecating-
ly. AN, besides. folks give up old
customs as they git OH In years.
don't call anywhere rs much as I used
to. But never mind that" briskly.
I'm callin' today. an I've brung the
minister. Do you know him?"
81 don't think I've had the pleasure
OF meeting Mrs. Bray before" said the
minister. rising, "and yet have call.
Ell here several times"
mo. we haven't met" acqulesced the
old woman. II generally stay In the
Kitchen"
He held her hand for II moment.
i must acknowledge this visit ~
mostly n business one. Mrs. Bray" lie
said. resuming his seat. You see.
am planning to have the church deco
rSiel for Easter, but the ladies' of my
congregation. Including Mrs. Perry
here ,issIlre me that such n thing Is