Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-07

Mrs Demng and Minnie ate breakfast with their
hats on. They were to leave in few minutes; . IL
Mrs Hewlett had received any word from the absent
Elton she had no chance to impart it.
Father Hewlett into the they rose from
the table, huge bunch of crimson ranblers in his
trembling old hands He had canny planned to appear
at the last moment and surprise and delight Minnie
with a bouquet of his favorite bloom parting gift.
He had risen almost at dawn to have plenty OF time
for this labor of love-
Though he realized the magnihcence of his gift, he
tried present it lightly Here's just little posy
picked to go home with YOU he said as he put into
the girls
Mrs Demng regarded the hugh bunch with some
well amusement Goodness! she SAID
to her hister Just listen to the fuss Mnnies making
them She's got good heart if | do say j..
Why to hear. her you'd think they made of gold !
Well, its about time to start, l guess. If that's the
trolley at the bottom of the hill, we'll have to run for
it it is"
There was a moment of eavetaking, followed by one
of intense excitement Mrs Demng suddenly dis
covered that her pocket book not in her hand or
her pocket. Minnie laid the vase and the crimson
ramblers on the table.
"You left it on the dressing-case this morning; I
remember l meant to bring it down." she said I'll
get it mother, and you take these and go on ahead
They'll hold the car"
Mrs Hewlett and her sister embraced for the last time.
Father Hewlett and his daughter -n-law heard pres
emily the clang of the departing trolley and Mrs. Hew-
lett betook herself promptly to the kitchen and the
unwashed dishes. 1t was only moment or so before
she heard the old calling her and something in his
voice prompted her to drop her towel and run to the
dining
"Why see here Emme," he quavered "Mnnie's for
got her posy. Don't as if she could of-rm going
right down to the station after EN-; maybe the train
be late and can ketch EN- You get me my hat"
MIS- Hewlett barred his way to the door,
Nov, father" she screamed at him, you amt going
to do anything of the kind You couldn't ketch EN-
if you did don't believe they forgot em at all. They
probably had much to that they sensible
enough to leave that great bunch behind en-
Father Hewett's bewderment deepened. Minnie
didn't want em-didn't want her posy l cut for her?
Why she was just set on that rambler. I don't know
what you mean" he said but his mouth worked pitt
fully.
Mrs Hewlett did not mean to be unkind-she was
only in hurry and young Eltons absence was worry
ing gI her ,. it,
carrying that rambler to please you. Now
don't you fuss any more about it"
She said her last words from the kitchen to noisy
accompaniment of rafting plates. Left alone, the old
man stared down at the flowers in silence She didn't
want emf he said. why thought she's be tickled
to death with EN- and got up early to pick EN- for
her-and-she didn't want emf
The train that Mime and her mother to take
was one that carried them only as far as New York.
From there they to go to another line
They made the eight o'clock train with time to spare
and having settled Mrs. Derng in comfort Minnie
dropped into the seat beside her and watched list
lessy from the window the recedng town. Against
one of the houses a hardy crimson rambler caught
the girls eye as the train flashed past, and sudden
dsmay dawned wildly her face Mother" she
said what did you do with Father Hewletts bouquet?
l left it on the table when l upstairs for your
pocketbook. Mother, you didn't forget it7"
"but that's just what did Minnie, and wouldn't have
done it for anything, and he SO pleased with it and
all Why, child, it's nothing to look SO about. You've
turned real white-you write Father Hewlett a nice
letter when you get home and tell him how it hap
pened"
The conductor put his head in the door and the train
began to slow. Bridge Street" he called.
Mrs. Deming turned her wondering eyes on her