Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-12-24
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GRANDMA DIXON
BY HELEN PATTERSON.

%. 1919. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
Carefully Grandma Dixon loosened
the moist earth around the roots of her
famous larkspur, shook the particles
of dirt from the trOwel and. before
standing erect touched the tender
shoots lovingly with her fingers.
The larkspur meant more than tall
blue flowers to her It meant memo
ries of the past; memories Of the
morning when young soldier In q
faded blue uniform had found her re-
joicing over their first blossom. There
had been four weary years OF war and
this, their first meeting, the larkspur
had witnessed. Since that morning
the flower had occupied a place Of
honor N her garden.
''Want any help, grandma r asked 9
young man looking over the fence.
"You know. I'm great on digging"
"Bless you, Dick. OF course ! know
1t. when / look at this garden. but
there is nothing to do this morning.
Thank You. Come here and tell me
about your work"
"I'll come over, but there is nothing
to tell. haven't any yet"
"Do you mean to say. Richard Haw-
kins, that you are not going back to
your old work. asked grandma. Us
the young man vaulted the low fence
and cknoN hoSido hor
THAT'S Just 1t, grandma. Your hum-
BILE servant has to find a new Job. You
know, the girls are doing our work SO
well that many firms are keeping
them. and Bolton & Mason's Is one OF
them.
"But the girls will certainly resign
when they know you are home again..
said grandma. Il remember when Abb
ner came home from the Civil war. i
gave up his school ] had been teaching
and we were married"
"I'll bet you did" answered Richard.
.but whose coming through the
gate?' 4,
.Why, bless me! II 1t Isn't Betty"
said grandma. hurrying to meet q
young girl dressed in stylish suit and
q very becoming small hat "COme on
Dick, you know Betty. Why, you used
to play with her when she was tiny
girl. You remember, she is the only
grandchild have"
Nothing loath, Richard followed
Grandma Dixon down the garden path
and was reintrOduced to Betty. For a
moment a pair Of laughing blue eyes.
the color Of the larkspur, looked into
his while they uttered few common
place remarks, and then Betty fol-
lowed grandma into the house. 1t was
not until Richard had walked the
length OF the garden that he remem-
bered, with queer feeling, that ne
had seen those same bl8e eyes In the
girl that occupied his desk at Bolton
4 Mason's Office.
In the meantime, Betty In the house
had casually asked grandma "When
had Richards people moved back to
the old homestead?" ~
They haven't moved baek," an
swcred grandma. "Richafd ID spend
Ing the week with me trying to re-
euperate from his work Of tins lest two
years
-wss he In iii Of the war; ssked
Betty.
Most * it, replied grandna, "al-
though IT'S little he talks about T.
Just now he'i all upset over not est-
tinE his old work back" .
"Brt grandma, )" protested Betty,
perhaps the girl needs the money she
= earning 10 much a. he does. l know
some OF the girls In our office are tnifr
ing care Of their mothers and younger
brothers and sisters"
1T may be al right for those girls
to keep our returned soldiers out OF q
jeb, bur what about the girls like YOU,
Betty Dixon, that don't really need to-
work." Indignantly asked 'Sandma.
.sNKy-grandmn you know we
girls took UP their work SO the boys
could 60 and fight. and we have al
bougrt Liberty bonds and worked for
the Red Cross" stammered Betty as
she Thought Of the young man she had
casually glanced ut mt the cemen6
works yesterday.
Eyes, yon all did xpur best while the
war was being fought and won, biia
now that it's over, show Your graef-
tude 10 the boys in more substaA-
tial way than cheers. I'm ashamed -
you" /.
"You won't need to be ashamed Of
me any longer, grandma" said Betty
meekly. .rll make good. just hadn't
thought about 1t before; and now I'm
going to look at your tulips"
But it wasn't tulips; 1t was Isiehard
that Betty found sitting discons0lately
ON an old seat by the lilacs. No one
\ could resist Betty when she wanted I"
be extra charming and soon they were
talking and laughing like children.
The next day Betty returned home
and the day afterwards Richard re
ceiyed two letters; one was from Bet
ty. which after reading. he kissed and
mt in his inside pocket. The other
one was from Bolton 4 Mason. In
yiting him. to call at their office.
II was at the close OF the summer,
on one moonlight night that the tall
blue flowers awoke from their sleep to
hear low voice say:
BETTY, I'm to be made sales man.
aper next week and the salary Is very
cood-and-o Betty. dear. I've al
ways loved and wanted you. Won't
YOU please say 'Yes9
But as Richards arms closed around