The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18
Miss Cartwright S
Consistency

Mrs. Lowell stabbed her needle
viciously into the sock she was mend.
Ing and rocked violently.
Amelia has constant nature,
said Ann Briggs.
"Constancy is all right II 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." said
Miss Ann. gently land it would hurt
her to know"
well, wouldn't It be better for her
to be hurt little and get walked UP
to the fact that It is Amos who has
really loved her all these years and
who deserves to get herr"
We'll, I don't know" said Miss
Ann. 81 hate to see Amos hurt and
hate to see Amelia hurt. Love Is
love, and guess most of us have tc
suffer for it."
There she goes. now" said Mrs
Lowell glancing out Of the window
'T knew she would. Every Saturday
she's off to the cemetery with a
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. MOO
that she would love him If 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 !
want to be faithful to HIM 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
DSItu ! Hdllts.
But Amelia, sitting forlornly at the
foot of her lovers grave, was to meet
some one else before Amos, for a
slender little woman approached and
asked. Us this the grave of Charles
Burrough?"
Eyes" said Amelia
The girl unwound yards Of waved
paper from about a 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.
"Oh," gasped Amelia, "how beaut-
full"
''He always loved pink" said the
girl.
Amelia looked up startled you
knew that" she asked
Eyes" said the girl when wore
pink bows on my hair he always adj
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 Ame-
LA. ut Is long time-did you know
him-just before he died?"
The girl nodded. "He lived out
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 a wreath on
his grave. I saved my money so that
I might. And-now I am here-and-
end can't bear it,"
Looking on the others grief, Ame-
liza wondered why she was unmoyed.
She wondered, too, at a certain light
ness of heart. She felt free--free to
live her own life, to love as she
would.
She saw Amos coming UP the hill
She bent over the sobbing girl. He
loved you" she said tensely; you
have that to comfort you"
Then she went swiftly down the
hill and met Amos. Il 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
row of chairs. "What IS it, dear
heart?" 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. I
feel so sorry for that girl Somehow
don't feel sorry for myself Per
haps I've been just clineing to a
dream. But she knew him and lived
close to him and, oh. I hope he loved
her best. 1t would be so tragic if-if
she is mourning a false lover. Amos"
And you?" Amos asked.
Il found out after he came least that
he wasn't all that had thought he
was-bNt I thought he loved me-and
it seemed so pitiful for him 10 be up
here and alone-with no one to care
and SO | tried to be true"
There was a light in Amos eyes as
he bent over her. And now that he
has some one else to love hint-eant
you pity me-Amelia
Il declare" said Mrs Lowell a
month later. Amos says Amelia is
going to marry him. And when l ask
ed him his favorite color he laughed
and said It was blue"