Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-06
ALMOND BLOSSOMS.


of Indifference, yet the pink blossoms
peered out with a kind of artistic exu-
berance, as if they had burst their way
from the bodice of her dress.
She approached the door of the cot
tage and looked in, then she entered
The man looked up then. His eyes were
caught in the glance of hers, full of
mockery and WEAKNESS. His Eyes were
steady almost stupid eyes they were,
like those of big simple boy. His
bronze face paled to white as he gazed
1T is you'll" he stammered.
Yes, it is met she Knocked @Who
were you expectin' that you didn't look
uD?'
He said slowly, Il used to dream of
this happening--but it never came true
The woman's face changed. the mock
ferry died out of it. well, it amt a
Idream this time" she said Look at
my rags, and my dust and Crime, To
bias These amt no dream"
|, NO." he said.
She went to the Preside, sat down. and
set her feet on the bright fender Her
shoulders dropped YEARLY; she laid her
long, thin hands on the arms of her
chair. The almond -twig stuck out from
her breast, piece of incarnate spring
The man stood stupidity where he had
risen. There was a kind of perplexed
GOODNESS in his eyes, as if he sought for
what eluded him-for something he
wished and yet dreaded to find
She peered across at him, her peaked
face full of an elfn amusement. Are
you standin there cause you're kind of
| biutiY' for mo IN M ba aol,ad
NO." he said again. He moved across
the room and took the chair at the other
side of the CRATE.
His deliberate action, this cool con
fronting of her, seemed to cause her
embarrassment. She said stumbling
over the words u was on my way to
Little Madden; | had to pass through
Teignenhaugh / saw the almond tree
all pinklike. | knew twas yourn There
amt another in Teignenhaugh Twas
easy to see you, sittin' there by the door
dropt in-jest for the sake of old
times" She laughed affectedly, but did
not look at the mans face.
He said: "You are going back to Lit
tie Madden, to your folk?"
Yes" she said listlessly.
"Walking2"
4 Eyes"
He said no more and she cried, laugh |
ing, and peering at him from the cor
ners of her eyes: "You aint askin' me
to wait here and rest awhilei"
He stirred restlessly you are very
welcome he said
The woman laughed "'You are very
welcomed" she Knocked him. But YOU
had always the stiff tongue, Tobias.
Perhaps that was why | left you-but
| didn't understand them
You didn't understand what?' he
asked
THAT a quick tongue means quick
tiredness!" she said with sudden ferce-
ness. Then she laughed again. Il amt |
blaming nobody she said. IF them
as talks of love soon wearies, / don't |
know as they be to blame"
Did he soon weary?" Tobias asked
bluntly.
She stared at him, her eyes full of de- !
.nands, like those of a hungry child |
Him as ! left you for, you mean? Yes"
She drew her arms round her knees and
Rugged them to her. His promises
weren't for wear" she said: "he weren't |
the wearing sort" After moment she
added, mo more be L.
Into the mans face a dun color crept |
IF he wasn't good to you"
He was as good as he knew how,
she said, indifferently. Then, catching
sight of the smoulderng fire in his eyes,
she laughed shrilly "0h, he married |
me- she said, IF that's what you're |
doubtin' He couldn't do more nor that, |
could he? And he's dead, so he's done |
his best"
He nodded, standing still by the closed
door, Through the curtains and the !
stained glass he could see the delicate,
: swaying branches of the almond tree
) 1T ha' bloomed special fine this year"
he said, only half aloud.
The woman started, She said, letting
her hands slide over her knees: It's |
but the second time I've seen it in bios
som. 'Twere bought for me- that tree,
Tobias. Do you remember as YOU bought
it for me? You put it in the ground that
autumn, and in the spring followin' we
was to be welded | said as it should
be when the almond blossomed. | want |
ed to wear sprig-l was always partial |
to pink" A little smile stole round her
mouth.
lie did not see it. He said. without |
moving his head, Yes"
: You said as it wouldn't blossom that |
year" she said reflectvely. but it did. |
Twas real glory. 1t seems to me as |
1t were far finer then nor now Il
pmeked sprig and wore it, afore the |
wedding day-'twas real unlucky thing |
to do. And you said as the almond bios
SONS were like me-"
But you left me-" he broke out sud
denly, breaking the spell of her. the |
monotone OF her soft voice The words |
were almost cry
She looked at him with sudden bold |
ness Yes; | left you--jilted you on |
the wedding day--but have come backs /
He turned his face away from her, and |
she waited
He said at last; There are CLEANS Of |
sun, bits here and there. The raiuTl
soon be over"
A cloud passed over her face leaving |
| it cold, little pinched But she said |
| quietly. Yes, | must soon be moyin' /