The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-11


small upper chamber the morning
sun was doing its very best to pene-
trate its brilliant light Reluctantly
the sleeper drifted from dreams to
realities. Drowsily she rubbed her
eyes and then sat up in bed and raised
the window shade. what a sweet.
fresh breath of spring morning air
she drank In from the open case
ment. How redoient with the fra
GRANGE of the glad, open out-of-doors.
1T is May Day, and 1t isn't going
to rain, and I'm to be queen OF the
May" Minnie sang softly as she
glanced up at the cloudless sky. 20
goodie, What fun we'll haveN she
added as she bounded from the bed
and began to dress hurredly.
4 Morning, Blossom" Minnie's moth
err, smiling from behind the vase OF
red roses and the tall silver coffee urn
the usual CHEEKY smile; but the little
girl. noting q shadow beneath the
smile. asked uneasily: whats hap
1 pened, mamma"
80, nothing bad, little lady" the
fond parent responded with forced
light tone. THAT is, / hope there's
not going to be anything bad. I've
letter here from Sis Caroline say
ing that little Rose is III again. poor.
Z
can't help but be uneasy, although
Carolines letter doesn't sound appre-
hensive. She wants you and me to
come out there today or tomorrow
and spend the day with the invalid.
She thinks we could do her lots of
good and be company for her. But
I've another letter here from Aunt
Martha stating that Cousin Ann Ches-
ter. who is back here in her old home
country visiting her kindred. will
spend tomorrow with US; 80 of course
we can't go to Sis Carolines tomorrow
and you can't go today. for there is
the May Day party down on the acad
emy lawn this afternoon. What shall
we do?"
Minnie made no reply for a moment.
She remembered to have heard of this
visiting cousin whom she had never
seen, this Cousin Ann Chester from
over in Greenway county, who had
been blind ever since her girlhood
Minnie felt the greatest pity for her;
but she had an aversion to affiiction,
and She wanted to stay as far as pos
sihle from the afflicted. TN tell you
how let's do. mamma" she suggested
at last. You go out to see Rose to-
day and leave me here to keep house
Diliy will be down in the warehouse,
where l can call her II I need her;
and she'll run up here this afternoon
and help me get ready for the May
Day party; so there's nothing to keep
you at home, and Rose wants you, I
know. Then tomorrow you can stay
here with Cousin Ann, and I'll go and
spend the day with Evaline Canter,
who asked me to come one day this
week"
But, my dear. you oughtn't to go
away on the day that Cousin Ann is
coming to see u.s." Mrs Dale advised
gently.
20 mother. she won't miss me. for
she never saw me. poor old blind
lady; and ] don't want to be here
when she comes. I feel very sorry
for her, but / don't want to be where
she is. I've such a queer feeling to-
ward blind folks" Minnie replied.
1T is very wrong feeling to en-
terrain We who are free and blessed
with sound bodies and~~clear vision
/ should not hold an aversion to the
less fortunate; we should feel n close
sympathy for them. Pity does Attic
ton no good" Mrs. Dale observed
earnestly.
But, mother, tomorrow is the only
day this week / can go to Evaline's.
as the next day is Saturday. our spring
cleaning day; and she's asked me to
come. Please let me go unless you
need me very much" Minnie urged.
And so 1t was decided that her
mother go to visit the sick niece and
that Minnie remain at home to keep
house till afternoon Lounging in the
hammock in the shade of honey
suckle vine, the prospective May
queen. forgetful of the eventful day
and Of all the world beyond the en-
tertaining book which she was read
ing. was aroused by the sound of
carriage wheels on the driveway.
CHANGING up, she beheld to her dis
may a lady, whose arms were filled
with full-biown roses. alighting from
the vehicle and being assisted up the
stone steps by the driver, who also
carried a basket.
Minnie, Q Minnie dear. where are
you? I've come" a very musical,
CHEEKY voice called: but the surprised
young lady in the hammock at the end
of the long piazza did not reply for
the moment, She had never seen the
caller before, and she was wondering
who she could be. Minnie, my dear
where are you?" the call was re-
peated as the lady raped lightly at
the door.
The little girl. running down the
piazza, replied: Here / arm. What
is 1t you want?"
why my dear. ] want your mother
was calling her; but want you, too
so come here and kiss me. I've come
to spend the day with you people, you
know. Didn't Aunt Martha write you
note about my coming p
Why, NOM she didn't say anything
about your coming" Minnie replied,
approaching the strange guest hesi-
tatingly. She wrote mother note
saying that Cousin Ann Chester was
coming tomorrow, so mother went out
to Aunt Caroline's house today and left
me here. '"
"Well, that's just like dear little
Auntie Martha to get dates confused
that way. I'm scheduled to be at
Caroline's myself tomorrow and here
today, so I've missed Minnie all
around. But never mind, I'll stay
with you today and come to your
mamma another day before my visit
is over, I'm your Cousin Ann Chester.
whom you've never seen: and I'm so
glad to know you, my dear" the smil-
ing lady said as she gave her young
relative an affectionate greeting.
You may go now. Stephen" she
directed the driver as she deposited
her flowers and her basket upon a
settee to which she had been directed
Come for me at six this evening,
please Put the roses In fresh water