Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1913-05-01
Miss Cartwriight's
VI Constancy;T

little more attention TO the love OF the
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 o constant nature"
said Ann Briggs.
Consistency Is all right II there's
any reason for It," said Mrs. Lowell,
but e\ srybody knows that Charles
Burroughs wasn't true to her before
he died. He was engaged to two girls
ut once"
But Amelia doesn't know It," said
Miss Ann, gently, "and 1t would hurt
her to know"
well, wouldn't It be better for her
to be hurt q 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"
well, don't know" said Miss
Ann. IT hate to see Amos hurt and
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.
II 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 its 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 l talk to her
about It, she Just cries and says,
please don't. Poor Charles thought
had II In me to be constant-and'
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 guess she'll
be touched to see that he has remem-
bered Charles"
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, els this the grave Of Charles
Burrough?"
"Yes," said Amelia.
The girl unwound yards Of waxed
paper from about a magnificent
wreath. It was evidently made up by
q city florist, Of pink dollhouse roses,
and valley lilies, with maiden-hair fern
yelling the whole.
"oh," gasped Amelia, chow beauti-
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 sd-
mIred them. And there was q little
pink lawn dress that he made me wear
the night he left'me."
He died ten years ago." said Anne
Ia. ct 10 o long time-did you know
him-iuat before he died?"
The girl nodded. HE lived out
west in the same town where /
taught. And we wore engaged" She
did not see Amelia's start of surprise.
HE came sast-just to see his folks.
he SAlA, and then he was to come
hAok-and We were to be-married."
, 'Then he died." the girlish voice
went on, "and all these years / have
wanted to come and lay wreath ON
his grave. saved my money so that
/ might. And-now I am here-and-
and I can't bear II"
I.oOking on the others grief, Ame-
llA wondered why she was unmoved-
She wondered, too. at q 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" EAe said tensely; you
have that to comfort you"
TAOA 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
q row Of chairs. 'What Is It, dear
hearth" he asked. tenderly.
She told him. WAS he-as fickle
as thaty~ she demanded.
everybody knew It." he said, hut
you"
SAnd no one told me. oh, Amos. I
feel 20 sorry for that girl. Somehow
don't tsSl sorry for myself Per-
haDa rye been Just elinging to 4
dream. But she kneV him and lived
close to him and. oh, I hope he loved
her best. It would be 30 tragic if-if
abe q mourning 4 false lover. Amos
-And your" Amos asked.
Il found out after he came east that
he wasn't al that I had thought he
Waa-huk I thought he loved me-and
n aaomed 10 plfifui for him 70 ba N