The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-04-29


Of the pew. while Deacon Baxter wore
homespun made of wool from his own
sheep. spun and woven, dyed and fin
ished, at the fuling mill in the vii
lage. and carried battered felt hat
thar had been matter ~ ridicule
these dozen years. The deacon would
be buried in two coats. Jed Morrill, al
ways said. for he owned just that
number and would be too mean to
leave either Of 'em behind him.
The sermon was fifty minutes long.
time enough for deal of thinking.
Many housewife. not wholly ortho-
dox, cut and made over all her chill
dren's clothes. in imagination; planned
the putting up If her fruit. the max
ing Of her preserves and pickles, and
arranged her meals for the next week.
during the progress Of those sermons.
Patty watched the parson turn leaf
after leaf until the final one was reach
ed. Then came the last hymn, when
the people stretched their aching limbs
and rising. turned their back on the
minister and faced the choir Patty
looked at Waitstil and wished that
she could put her throbbing head on
her sisterly shoulder and cry-mostly
with rage. The benediction was said.
and with the final AMEN the pews
We're opened and the worshipers crowd
ed into the narrow aisles and moved
toward the doors
Patty's plans were all made. She
was out of her pew before the Wilson's
could possibly leave theirs and in her
progress down the aisle securely an
nexed her old admirer. old Dr. Perry.
as well as his son, Philip. Passing the
singing seats, she picked up the hum
bic Cephas and carried him along In
her wake. chatting and talking with
her little party while her father was
at the horse sheds making ready to go
home between services, as was his
habir. cold bite being always set out
on the kitchen table according to his
orders. BY means OF these clever
maneuvers Patty made herself the 70
Gus of attention when the Wilson par
ty came out on the steps and vouch-
safed Mark only nonchalant nod.
airily fiinging little greeting with the
nod. just How dye do, Mark? Did
you have good time In BostonT'
Patty and WaitstiIl. with some OF
the girls who had come long distances.
ate their luncheon i'm a shady place I'M
der the trees behind the meeting
house, for there was an afternoon serv-
ice to come, a service with another
long sermon. They separated after the
modest meal to walk about the COM
mon or stray along the road TO the
academy. where there was a fine view
Two or three times during the sum
mer the sisters always went quietly
and alone to the Baxter burying lot.
where three grass grown graves lay
beside one another. unmarked save by
narrow wooden slabs. so short that the
Initials painted on them were almost
hidden by the tufts of clover. The
girls had brought roots of pansies and |
sweet alyssum and with a knife made !
holes I'm the earth and planted them |
here and there to make the spot triie |
less forbidding. They did not speak |
to each other during this sacred little |
ceremony. Their hearts were too full |
when they remembered afresh the alb |
sence OF headstones. the lack OF care, |
In the place where the three women |
lay who had ministered to their father,
borne him children and patiently en-
dured his arbitrary and loveless rule.
Even Cleve Flanders grave-the Edge
wood shoemaker. who lay next-even
his resting place was marked and. with
a touch OF some ones Imagination,
marked by the old mans own lap
stone. twenty-five pounds In weight, a
OF his wOrkaday life.
Waitstill rose from her feet, brush
ing the earth from her hands. and Pat
ty did the same. The churchyard was
quiet and they were alone with the
dead, mourned and unmourned, loved
and unlOyed.
Il planted one or two pansies on
the first ones grave" said waitstill
soberly. Il don't know why we've
never done 1t before. There are no
children TO take notice OF and remem-
Der her; it's the least we can do, and.
after all, she belongs TO the family"
There is no family and there never
was" suddenly cried Patty. "Oh,
Waity, Waity, We are so alone. you
and !! We've only each other In all
the world. and I'm not the least bit OF
help TO you as you are 10 me! I'm a
silly. vain. concelted. III behaved thing
but will be better. will You won't
ever give me uD, viii you. Waity, even
II I'm not like your | haven't been
good latelyg'
"nusA, Patty. bnshw And XlItstill