The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-14
! 4 BASKET OF FLOWERS +:
-sseT5NFs
! BY DOROTHY BlAcKMoRE. :
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

|
had spied suddenly.
Some f1owers!" breathed her litti5
brother, Ted, who was helping her to
fill her basket with wild flowers that
grew along the edge of the woods
The children had wandered farther
than they had known, and the bed of
lovely tulips that they were now de-
moralizing was the only boundary
line at the rear of the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Marden.
When the two trudged into school,
tardy and tired, but rosy and laugh
ing, Miss Mott gasped.
1--WE brought you May basket,
teacher" the two said in unison.
They had been rehearsing their speech |
all the way from the Marden flower |
beds
ooh, what a beauty! Thank you,
children. Now take your seats. You
are tardy and we must make up for
lost time" She hadn't the heart to
dampen their Joy by asking where
they had picked the lovely flowers.
She intuitively felt that the little ones
had secured them innocently, but
none the less destructively and dis
honestly, from some of the gardens
bordering the woods on the south side.
When she reached home her friend
was sitting on the porch waiting for
her to have cup of tea. And who
! gave you the flowers, F1o?" she asked.
Its May day; bless your hearth
And two of the children brought me
the basket. 1t was lovely in the early
morning, but"
Mrs. James laughed. you will be
surprised to know that l saw the
children picking the flowers very
early this morning from Mrs. Mar
denis border gardens down by the
woods. but I. like you, hated to spoil
the children's JOY"
Miss Mott looked serious for a mo-
ment. Don't you think l ought to
go and explain? 1t seems wrong,
somehow"
1T wouldn't do any harm, dear;
and I'll go with you as soon as we
have our tea Run upstairs and
freshen up while I have tea served,
and then Wen go and call on Mrs.
Marden and explain. / owe her a
call, anyway"
When Florence Mott reappeared she
was as pretty and fresh as had been
her gift of tulips in the early morn
ing
They walked down the path and
turned into the winding road that led
past the Marden home
"Ill stand behind while you ex-
plain" said Florence laughingly, as
they shook the knocker on the great
white door.
To the surprise of both women, a
tall young man in house jacket and
white flannel trousers opened the
door
rs Mrs Marden in?" asked Mrs
| James.
'No-Pm sorry. I am her brother
| left in charge for whole week My
: name is Congdon, Will Congdon"
f Eve came on missions" went OF
: Mrs. James. First, I wanted to cal
+ on your sister, Mrs. Marden; and
!. second-Miss Mott" indicating Flor
3 ence, who had suddenly, she knew
: not why, become confused, received
}, May basket this morning, which VIZ
4 think was filed with your tulips"
e Will Congdon laughed. '"They were
taken to fill May basket, were they
: Pardon me, won't you both sit down ;
f few minutes. You've had quite (:
4 walk, perhaps"
n The three sat down. 81 have fel
i guilty all day over having the basket
:. but two of my little kindergarteneri
t brought 1t to me with the information
0 that they had picked the flowers al
f for me-
: "And l had seen some kiddies gath
q ering your tulips early this mornin;
when | was in the bride path in tn,
}, woods" added Mrs. James.
q 1t doesn't matter in the least-noy
Q that l know who did it, but my siste
has had a good deal of trouble witt
plants and flowers, and 1 was about t
raise a row." explained the young
man.
"oh, I'm $3.50 sorry" repeate'
= Florence.
Congdon raised a protesting hand
Don't be, please. I'm glad you wer
the recipient of a May basket. I'm S
old that l had forgotten that sue
pretty sentiment existed" he laughed
odd" repeated Mrs. James, scorr
70 fully.
well, 1 feel like a crusty oil
e. bachelor living out here in this tul
tle-dove community of young marie
folks"
Florence pouted prettily. can
where do l score in this gamer" sh
asked.
Mrs. James was interested in tn
situation at once and beamed at thi
V opportunity for matchmaking. "Wh!
a Flo, obviously it is your duty to kee
ne Mr.. Congdon from qualifying for tn
/ old mans home, isn't it?"
es "Yes-isn't it?" the man repeated
ed looking straight at Florence.
O. 1T looks like it." she said.