The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-13
BLUE AID PINK RIBBON
BY MARY MONROE.

downright, 1914. by W. G. Chapman
For is years Miss Martha and MISS
Mary had inhabited the big OLD mouse
on the hill, at the top OF the siilaee
street. and neither had spoken 10 'ne
other. And nobody in Crawford nao
ever learned the cause of their ois'
pute.
When the only brother died. leaving
a little girl, the sisters. then IN 'he
second year of their quarrel. hao eacn
written, asking Johns executor ior u.
privilege of caring for the orpnaheo
niece. So Maud had come 10 tne
home. and from the first she had &C
customed herself to the peculiar state
of affairs in that family.
II was convenient to say what you
wished to say through the intermeoi'
airy Of a third person, instead OF nav
ins to soliloquize.
It was when Maud Grant married
John Springer, the doctor. that the
wrench came II Maud had only
known 1t, the old aunts we're so cnas'
tened by her approaching departure
that she could have made them
friends.
So Maud went to live in the new
house at the bottom Of the hill. as MIS-
John Springer; and, though sne
climbed the hill often, the old ladies'
were sadly disconsolate at her loss
But after a while Maud did not
climb the hill SO often; and then the
time came when she did not climb It
al all And the two old ladies began 10
be very basy with knitting and crochet
work, and the balls of yarn rolled all
over the room as the busy old fingers
pulled at them
Miss Mary and Miss Martha sat op-
posite each other in their chairs. their
fingers working and the needles click
ing, and, as they worked, they solilo'
quized:
"A pink ribbon on the little cap, be-
cause, OF course. it is going to be
boy" said little Miss Martha.
How glad 7 am it is going TO be
girl" said N l,ary. Il love blue
ribbons. than baby girl with a
dainty l.':!e zap with b'ce ribbon on
it is just The sweetest thing in the
world
81 cant abide blue" soliloquized
Miss L.ar;ta Il am SO glad that
Maud's L,ty is 20 re bog. Charles?
Or Ferdinand? Ny uncle or my ia.
Their? think Ferdinand will sound
prettior, and then, it would be sort
OF tribute to papa
She must be called Dorothy. after
mamma" Miss Mary solloquized
they emphasized their sentiments
to callers. and it did not take at all
long time for the news to reach MR..
John Springer, in the house at the
bottom Of the hill
The dear old things!" she said to
her husband. oh, John, one Of them
is going to be SO dreadfully disap-
pointed. Whatever shall We do!"
We'll, my dear. they are bringing
their own troubles on their own
heads" laughing. We must just
leave them to work out their own
problems. Anyway. We shall be happy,
whichever way il is. won't We DEAR"
Maud smiled up az her husband,
and he put his arm round her shout,
ders and kissed her.
And now the day arrived when the
blue and the p.hk ribbon each re
posed upon its cap, along with little
Jackets and coats and all the para.
phernalia Of babylon. Aud the little
maiden ladies waited And the wait
proved longer than they had expected.
And by and by runners began TO spread
about the town, and then a carriage
Grove swiftly up from the station. and
famous specialist leaped out and
ran through the room in which the
two old ladies sat, waiting.
Dear Lord save her to me-"
prayed Miss Martha upon her knees.
Thou knowest want her--we want
her.
Little Miss Mary started. for this
vas the first time in all those years
that her sister had betrayed the rec.
ignition of her identity.
Martha. Sister," she said in a
trembling voice. And it was Martha's
turn to tremble and look afraid, for
she had not dared to hope that the
olive branch, held out. would bear
such fruit so soon.
The little old ladies' looked at each
other. and of a sudden they fell into
each others arms and cried. And "a
the tears streamed down their cheeks
and mingled. they asked each others
forgiveness with sobs and self.re-
proaches.
I'LL hope it will be a girl.
lhere! said little Miss Martha.
NO. no! 1t is going to be boy.
want 1t to be boy" ansxere Miss
Mary. And each had gone as far az It
was possible to go when she made
that admission.
mere was the sound of hurried foot.
steps on the stairs. and Doctor Spring.
er came into the room Instantly the
two old ladies had seized him, one bv
each hand. and their wrinkled old
faces were upturned to his.
John! She's doing well." they
both pleaded together.
WE'LL cried John Springer. Why
it's all over 1t IS"
"A girl" exclaimed Miss Martha
A boy" said little Miss Mary.
Well-it's both, admitted Tohr
Springer rrhh,pv HE 49,.