The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-05
The EDenirlg Story
On May Day.
(By Dorothy Blackmore. }


(By Dorothy Blackmore.)
"Oh-h, see the beautiest' cried lit
tie Hazel, scampering over to the bed
of gayly-colored spring flowers she
had spied suddenly.
Some flowers!" breathed her little
brother, Ted, who was helping her to
fill her basket with wild flowers that
grew along the edge of the woods.
Picking had been a scattered and
not very exciting task, but Hazel and
Ted did want to have d May basket
for their teacher, Miss Mott. Their
mother had told them not to wander
far into the woods, but that they
would be able to find plenty of Sweet
William and violets and other spring
flowers growing on, the edge of the
which they lived.
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. The children were too
young to realize that they were not
wild flowers, and when they came
upon the long narrow beds of beauti-
full blooms they bounced upon them al
once.
Mother said we'd find plenty if we
looked" said Hazel wisely.
you bet mother knows, too. These
are dandiesr' said Ted. "And the
baskets full. Gee Whit
'I guess Miss Mott'll like it all
right, Ted, won't she?" asked Hazel
proudly holding up the basket for in
spection.
It'll save us lickin' for more'n
million days, 1 bet" said Ted as they
started off.
Neither one was conscious of the
fact that they had both placed them
selves in order for a more strenuous
punishment than their gentle teacher
would ever have given them.
When the two trudged into school,
tardy and tired. but rosy and laugh
ing, Miss Mott gasped.
We brought you a May basket,
teacher the two said in unison.
They had been rehearsing their speech
all the way from the Marden flower
beds.
'.Oh, 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, but she
knew well that Hazel and Ted Smith
had never picked them IN their own
garden nor in the garden of any of
their neighbors. She intuitively felt
that the little ones had secured them
but none the less deStruct-
lively and dishonesty, from some of
the gardens bordering the woods in
the south side of the town.
That afternoon when she walked
home from school in. the balmy May
sunshine, carrying her basket of now
dropping tulips, she felt as if every
person she passed might rightfully
claim them.
Herself, she lived over in the quieter
of the village, some dis
lance from the school, where she
made her home with friends. 1t was
thus that she knew of the gardens
that bordered the woods and which
might be mistaken by little minds for
When she reached home her friend
was sitting on the porch waiting for
her to have cup of tea: And who
Its May day; bless your heart! And
two of the children brought me the
basket 1T was lovely in the early
but
But you think the Riddles took
them from somebody's garden?" ask
ed Mrs. James.
Florence hooded. "I'm sure of it,
They were so sweet and earnest about
it and so proud of their gift that I
just couldn't bear to question them"
Mrs. James laughed. "You will be
surprised to know that saw the chill
dren picking the flowers very early
this morning from Mrs. Marden's bor-
der gardens down by the woods, but
I, like you, hated to spoil the chill
dren's joy. 1t was when I was out
for my matutina1 ride on old Bess.''
Miss Mott looked serious for a mo-
ment. Don't you think L ought to go
and explain? 1T seems wrong. some
how
ut 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 have tea served, and then We'll
go and call on Mrs. Marden and ex-
plain. I owe her call anyway"
When Florence Mott reappeared she
was as pretty and fresh as had been
her gift of tulips in the early morn
ing She had changed her plain
frock for a dainty sum-
merry dress of white, and she had
thrown over it a rose-colored sport
coat
Trying to look so pretty that they
can't have the heart to punish you !
for having stolen goods in your pos
session, are you, Flo? Here's your |
.ea-"
The two. who had been school
friends in childhood, were ike sisters
and they enjoyed being together
Shall we take the faded May bas-
xet to show them" asked Florence.
"Oh, no-of course not But we |
must explain, I think
They walked down the path and
turned into the winding road that led L
past the Marden home !
ssI'll stand behind while you ext
plain" said Florence 1aughingly, as /
hey shook the knocker on the great
white door.
To the surprise of both women, a |
all young man in house jacket and
white flannel trousers opened the
ioor.
rs Mrs. Marden in?" asked Mrs.
James,
..No-rm sorry. 1 am her brother
eft in charge for a whole week Ny
name is Congdon. Will Congdon-"
I'VE came on missions, went on /
Mrs. James First, I wanted to call