The Press., 1919-12-11
THE MAY BASkE!
By GENEVA A. ELDREDGE.


 thia Smiths living room, clumsy bee tumbled up and down the outside of the screen door. and now and then a swallow darted across the sunshine, his blue wings glistening. Away down the street sounded the rat-tat of a drum. and Cynthia heard the batter of chiIdren's feet running toward upright in the old-fashioned rocking chair, her mouth drawn in straight hard line, her eyes fixed upon the work in her hands.
 The screen door squeaked on its spring and round-faced, brown-eyed little boy squeezed in. his eyes filled with surprise when he saw her sit ting there so stiff, her work In her hands, and he stammered little as he said: "Wh-why, Aunt Cynth, ain't you going to meet the train and see the p-parade?"
 Soft and quick came her answer "No, dear, not today"
 "But Aunt Cynth. they ain't goin' to be no more p-parade days, an I got on my white suit, an mother thought maybe you'd like to have a little boy what was all spic and span to go wiv you"
 And his little face grew wistful and troubled. He had never seen an Aunt Cynth like this before, so straight and strange.
 He meant to know before he left just why she was staying home the day everyone else in town was going down to welcome the boys from France. So he crept up close and whispered: "Is it cause Joe ain't com in. auntie?" Tears sprang to her eyes as she gathered the little spic and span boy close.
 "Yes, Teddie boy, that's just why auntie isn't going. She can't bear it. VI
 Now that Teddie was sure he felt that he ought to say something to help make auntie happier, so he said as he stroked her face with his fat little hand: "Never mind, auntie I've got a secret and maybe tonight bout dark you'll know it. Maybe IIShl lOlC SuppCA, iuuy bS iiSht ttA S>A anyway, don't you come out doors right that time, will yOu?"
 And auntie promised to stay in the house. Then hearing his mother call ing he scampered away leaving Aunt Cynth alone with her thoughts. Slow ly she closed her eyes and in imagina- tion saw the town square filled with people, the train pulling in filled with returning soldiers. the happy greet ings, and far and faint she heard the band and the cheering.
 The hot tears trickled slowly down her face as she whispered, And mine reported missing; my boy, who was the pride of my heart!" And then Teddie's happy little face seemed to shine out, and she remembered what a comfort he had been all the weary months, land now he is coming to hang me a May basket, bless his dear little heart, and I must cheer up for his sake. I think I will plan a little surprise myself"
 So she went into her dining room and set the pretty table, bringing in great punches of apple blossoms to decorate it with until the room looked like fairyland in the pink and white dress. She frosted little round cakes and made an iced drink for the crystal glasses, and almost before she knew it, twilight came drifting down. The drums had ceased their rat-tat and happy voices called to one another in the street. "It's almost time for Ted die and his secret" she thought as she patted her hair into place. Then she heard steps tiptoeing up the board walk and child's quick painting breath, and she smiled the old time glad smile that she used to greet the boy with who was missing tonight when he came to hang May baskets at the very same door.
 When two fat fists pounded hard or the screen door she waited only lons enough for small boy to hide before she opened the door, to find a dainty little basket, all fringed and festoonet and fairly bursting with candy kisses setting on the step.
 ''Why, how surprised I am," sht said. "Who could have left this beau tiful little basket here? Surely it's { mistake; some little boy must have thought Susie Grimes lived here."
 Just then a small boy in white wrig gled out from behind the snowfall bush and called breathlessly, "No, no Aunt Cynth, 'tain't no stake, it's my secret and some more of it is 'hin( the catalpa tree. You come sec" Bu just then a khaki-clad figure sprane out with wide-open arms, and the1 Ted's secret was out.
 "Oh, Joe," cried Aunt Cynth as sht wept in his arms. ''how you must have felt not to find me at the train tC meet you."
 That's all right, mother; I don blame you under the circumstances.
 "When Ted told me his secret thought I'd wait and surprise you.
 ''Some May basket all around, hey Say, Ted, it looks like frosted cake. and lemonade in the dining room; let: hurry for mess"
 And as mother and son wiped tht tears of gladness from their eyes, { little voice shrilled out: You won never cry no more on p-parade day will you, Aunt Cynth?"
 Copyright, 1919. Mcclure Newspaper Syn
 dicate.)