The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-05-29
OVER A GRAVE
rOriginaL1
EDITH IDA wHITMARSH.
Born May 10. 1880
Died Feb. 25, 1900.

the cemetery and passing over the
walks to the grave thus marked
| topped before it. She was surprised
to see that some one had placed fresh
flowers on the rounded earth. Drop
| ping the plants, she ben ove the flow
ers to see If there was anything to iden-
tfy the person who had placed them
there. She was disappointed. There
was not even so much as a bit of rib
bon to bind them together. b had
come on b birthday of the dead to
plant some shoots and knew that he or
she who a been there before her had
known Of the anniversary, for there
were just twenty roses.
Between Edith Whitmarsh and Ger
aldine Sheldon had been one of those
rare attachments in which two girls
became absorbed in one another TO the
exclusion of all others. At least this
was the construction Geraldine Sheldon
had put upon their intimacy, ~supposing
that she vas Edith's only friend. Yet
here was evidence hat some n had
been sufficiently intimate with her to
love her and had loved her sufficiently
to place flowers on her grave on the an
nfversary of her birth.
Leaving the plants where she had
dropped them, she turned and left the
cemetery. Was it dissatisfaction With
her friend that she had deceived her,
or was it jealousy? She did not know
herself.
She did not visit the grave again for
q month, when what was her surprise
to see the plants had left growing
on the mound and bearing buds just
ready to bloom. This was too much.
This monster with whom she had been
forced unknowingly to divide her
friends love had had the assurance to
plant the shoots she had in a fit of
jealousy left implanted. Besides, there
was a vine creeping up the headstone.
For a year Edith continued to visit
the grave of her friend, noticing that
some one had from time to time added
little decorations. She herself had re-
fused to divide the care of the sacred
spot with another, bat when the next
anniversary came round she had so far
softened as to take to the cemetery a
pct aZalia which she had been long
training. There was no new trace of
her rival. Breathing a sigh of relief.
she imbedded the roots of the azalia
and was smoothing the earth about it
when she heard a step. Looking up.
she saw a man of perhaps thirty adj
vancing toward her. He paused be-
fore the gate shutting off the lot.
you are?" she asked.
earle Gardner"
my mysterious r1val?"
mo. You had no rival in Edith's fem
mime love-"
But you loved herp
"As my wife"
"As your wife? 2" The voice n the
manner bespoke an overpowering won
der.
"And the mother of my child"
1.-The mother of your child?"
edith was forbidden by me to tell
you of our love and marriage. My
mother was for a year on the brink of
the grave, and for reasons which for
the present / will pass over 1 could not
acknowledge a wife SO long as she
lived. You remember Edith's visit to
Washington a year ago last winter and
her death there. She died in child
birth"
Like a ray Of light struggling through
gloom a bit of forgiveness entered Ger
aldine's soul.
1.-THE childr'
"She is at my home. My mother is
dead, and 1 am now master of the es-
tate. But Edith left her Instructions
with regard to her little namesake
when she should become a year old
This came round last February. Till
now 1 have made no change, but If you
are ready to assume the charge
"She left the child to meF"
During her babyhood."
"And Them
'That can only be dstermined by cir
substances. 1t is hard for one about to
die to make a wise provision for the
future. Edith only arranged for a few
years."
But why did she not leave the babe
to me from the frst?"
Because at the time my marriage
must still be kept a secret. Besides
"WelI?'
The man looked embarrassed.
"Come, / am impatient. You said, ]
believe, that Edith left her instructions
the child when 1t should be a year
Eyes. when Edith would have been
lead a year"
what had that to do with itT"
"A husband may marry again at the
end of a year."
Marry again? If you loved Edith as
loved her-as I love her today-yos
never marry another"
"She left her instructions to me to
marry at the expiration OF the year."
"She didT"
yes; conditionally on the consent Of
the woman of her choice"
"Her choice? You mean your choice"
They may be one"
Explain"
you are the woman she chose to
are for her bereaved husband and
.hild."
Geraldine's yes turned and looked
,ut on vacancy. Then they were low
sred to the grave Tears began to
course down her cheeks The man
Itood reverently bent.
WELL" she said. mastering her voice,
do you obey her wish?'
II do"