The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-08-08
Miss Cartwright S
Constancy

lllIle more dIle0LlOn 10 the love OF JHe
living and less to that of the dead. she
might be happier, and save Amos TIL
linghast from wearing his heart out"
Mrs Lowell stabbed her needle
viciously into the sock she was mend
ing and rocked violently.
Amelia has a constant nature"
said Ann Briggs.
"Constancy is all right IL there's
any reason for it," said Mrs. Lowell
but everybody knows that Charles
Burroughs wasn't true to her before
he died. He was engaged to two girls
at once"
"But Amelia doesn't know it." saio
Miss Ann, gently, "and it would hurt
her to know"
"Well, wouldn't 1t be better for he'll
to be hurt little and get walked up
to the fact that 1t is Amos who has
really loved her all these years and
who deserves to get her."
"Well, don't know" said Miss
Ann. 'T hate to see Amos hurt and
I hate to see Amelia hurt. Love is
love, and I guess most Of US have to
suffer for It."
"There she goes, now" said Mrs
Lowell, glancing out Of the window.
81 knew she would. Every Saturday
she's OF to the cemetery with
wreath Of pink flowers. Sometimes
It's roses and sometimes it's sweet
peas and sometimes It's verbenas.
But it's always pink"
"Poor thing" said Miss Ann.
That's what hurts Amos So" said
Mrs Lowell "He knows Amelia
hasn't enough to live on and he has
plenty. And I think he knows, too.
that she would love him II she would
let herself He said to me not long
ago: Aunt Carrie, when I talk to her
about it, she just cries and says
"Please don't Poor Charles thought
had it in me to be constant-and l
want to be faithful to him-I want
TO be faithful."'"
There goes Amos now" said Miss
Ann. "Do you know he's got some
pink roses in that paper? I believe
he's on his way to the cemetery"
well, he'll meet Amelia there"
said Mrs. Lowell, land I guess she'll
be touched to see that he has remem'
bered Charles"
But Amelia, sitting forlornly at this
foot Of her lovers gave, was to meet
some one else before Amos, for
slender little woman approached and
asked. as this the grave of Charles
Burrough?"
eyes" said Amelia
The girl unwound yards Of waxed
paper from about magnificent
wreath It was evidently made up by
a city florist, Of pink dollhouse roses.
and valley lilies, with maiden-hair fern
yelling the whole.
ooh" gasped Amelia, show beauti-
full"
"He always loved pink" said the
girl
Amelia looked up startled. "You
knew that?" she asked.
eyes" said the girl. "When I WORT
pink bows on my hair he always ad-
mired them. And there was little
pink lawn dress that he made me wear
the night he left me-"
"He died ten years ago." said Anne
la ''It is long time-did you know
him-iust before he died?"
The girl nodded. He lived GU.
west in the same town where ]
taught. And we were engaged" She
did not see Amelia's start Of surprise.
"He came east-just to see his folks,
he said, and then he was to come
back-and we were to be-married."
"Then he died" the girlish voice
went on land all these years I have
wanted to come and lay wreath on
his grave. I saved my money so that
I might. And-now l am here-and-
end can't bear It,"
Looking on the others grief, Anne
liza wondered why she was unmoved.
She wondered too, at a certain light
ness of heart. She felt free-free tt
live her own life, to love as she
would
She saw Amos coming up the hill
She bent over the sobbing girl. ''H-
loved you" she said tensely; you
have that to comfort you"
Then she went swiftly down the
hill and met Amos. 81 don't just
know what has happened to me-" she
said. "Take me away. Amos, take
me where nobody can see me cry"
He led her to a place screened by
a row Of chairs. what is 1t, dear
hearth" he asked, tenderly.
She told him. "Was he-as tickle
as that?" she demanded.
Everybody knew it." he said, 'but
you"
"And no one told me. Oh. Amos,
feel so sorry for that girl Somehow
don't feel sorry for myself. Per-
haps I've been just clinging to a
dream. But she knew him and lived
close to him and oh, hope he loved
her best. 1t would be so tragic Tiff
she is mourning a false lover, Amos"
"hpd vOu9o Amos oclrod