The herald., 1916-05-18
FLOWER OF ROMANCE
BY KATE CONWAY.


conner" said AuH- hothjah placidly
cue won't hurt anybody, and I've new
:, been afraid OF EiIG. He's got plent,
:. money hid down the well, | sup
nose or under the mounting stone"
~Then it's a pity hr doesn't dig W
anne of Il for Pcrenicc said Laura
.ossionately. "5lc has had 10 stay a,
some and take care og her father and
al those childrea. five OF them, ever
ONCE her mother died. and they're
v.lI-not poor suppose but always
one, getting by-dUn.t you know what
mean. auntieo There isn't enough
money for this ami that and Bernice
amt even think Of getting married for
years and years.
HAS she got anyone picked out
,s,T' asked Aunt Reth!aB.
Has she? Why. don't you know
,be's engaged 10 our Rob-"
Mrs. Fennimore dropped her cro-
eheting and locked over her eye
classes at her youngest niece The hope
M me FBUuln4tBt tcAAtiF was LNOU.
81 suppose" said Mrs. Fennimore,
With tust a bit OF q sigh. they were
,vsethearts when they were children.
Rob's the kind OF a boy 10 keep the
flower OF romance blooming for years.
Is she nice. Laura
Nice? She's just a darling. auntie.
Well ride over there this morning and
VOL can see her. She's the winsomest
slrl YOU ever saw-iu5t that, the win
soonest"
willing 10 marry Rob-"
"Oh, yes tell you they've been en-.
aged since his iunior year, but she
has a big idea Of duty, and her ia
ther needs her. But II their GRANDPA
Their Crawford would do the right |
thing they could afford 20 hire a house
Keeper and let Berenice get married in
peace"
Always was too selfish to give
crow a crumb" Aunt Bethiah agreed.
Well see what can be done | never
was afraid Of Tuck Crawford and I
amt today. He needs a boss fear
tully"
About ten they drove over to the
Junior Crawford home.
Real slightly old place, amt it?"
mid Mrs. Fennimore when they came
away, and do like Berenice. She's
sveet as a tea rose, declare she is.
with those dig brown eyes and that
sir, curly hair. Bless her heart!
Just drive over to her grandfather's
place, will you, Laura"
Back on an old side road IL was. a
little gray house In a tangle OF trees ]
and grape vines. with big we'll sweep
it the back and the barn across the
road. Mr. Crawford was struggling {
With the well, trying to draw up a
pail and Laura hurried over TO help 6
him c
Don't spill II, mind he cautioned C
testify. Cant bear a mite o. damp
nildew round my house. Some V
folks don't mind. but it makes me fear. Il
nj chilly. Just set II down on that u
shelf by the sink. Laury. Much u
obliged" a
How be you, Tuck" called Aunt Il
Bethiah, happily, coming up the path Ct
toward him, her full skirts brushing u
Oh leaves and cobwebs from the dry tc
weeds. So sweet-faced and blooming
che looked that Laura stared at her. IL
And so did Tucker Crawford. Not al
'uen vision had he seen in many a
years In his front yard. He wiped his vi
And on on his coat and gave Il to al
her bit shakily. til
why Bethiah, how be ye?" he ex.
canned Look Just as young and pert or
here!
Been East two weeks" to
Widow, too, amt you?" so
These ten Yeas. Tuck"
=, mell' well. Row pert you do look"
aus iaded blue eyes fingered on her Sc
enserrul face hungrily. Want a place so
: nousekeeper, Bethiah? I've been KIN
D0klns round for a good, hard-work. air
NC woman" :
NO. thanks" she laughed. I'm yo'
r0''aed for. Tuck. | wanted TO see do
w soout Berenice, your grandchild. in
V1 RODS In love with her. and she
sn MN want them to be married her
p.s e ! go back West Now. I'll give Ing
400 some money, enough n cot him eye
!. !, ana ! want you to look after Bere.
@ giye her a nice wedding and you
NJ VI her grandmothers linen and too
- l Know she had a lot of II:
NVOaoiy right I'D in vour parret ,b;s ly.
nlnute" ''ui s"ire' luis IN
luxe enough Il is" murmured NJ mig
,s,'s o, stroking his little pointed T
~ l amt looked to see. How as
~ you look, Bethiah, cant 90, ben
Ner T." can get 600
s,ss ' hey had said good.by and new
taS uown the road, the old man Il
y watching them, leaning his arms wi
n, ~ ilI'ie rusty iron gate. His face kind
:, peaceful, satisfied smiIe No they
'sdi,. umlsed all Bethiah had asked -
=, lung clothes. old silver and linen Larr
o.. aousekeeper. mini
~. Gun nave 1t and enjoy tbeu. glim
~, he said. Take about two you
~ 70 start with, she said. And be.
INA enl thousand in the hank at tuml
-, ana four over in Putnam to e