Graham guardian., 1920-10-29
GRANDMA DIXON
BY HELEN PATTERSON.

~ F - ~Ssie Ns"spePer oynoiestst
Carefully Grandma Dixon loosened
the moist earth around the ross 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. 1t meant memo
ries Of the past; memories Of the
morning when a young soldier in a
faded blue uniform had found her re-
jeicing over their arst blossom. There
had been four weary years Of war and
this, their FIRST meeting. the lsrkspur
had witnessed. Since that morning
the flower had occupied q place Of
honor 10 her garden.
want any help. grandmaf' asked a
young man looking over the fence.
"You know, Tn great on digging"
Bless you, Dick. OF course 1 know
1t, when I look at this garden, but
there is nothing to do this morning.
Thank you. Come here and tell me
about your work"
"Ill 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 workT asked grandma, as
the young man vsulted the low fence
and stood beside her.
That's just II, grandma. Your hum
BILE servant has to find 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. 81 remember when Abb
ner came home from the Civil war,
gave up his school had been teaching
and we were married"
'I'll bet you did" answered Richard,
but whose coming through the
gate7"
why, bless mel If it isn't Betty"
said grandma, hurrying TO meet a
young girl dressed in stylish suit and
a very becoming small hat. Come on
Dick, you know Betty. Why. you used
to play with her when she was a tiny
girl You remember, she is the only
grandchld / have"
Nothing loath, Richard followed
Grandma Dixon down the garden path
and was reintroduced to, Betty. For
moment 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. II was
not until Richard had walked the
length of the garden that he remem-
bered, with a queer feeling, that he
had seen those same blue 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 homesteadg"
They haven't moved back" an.
swered grandma. Richard is spend,
ing the week with me trying to re-
cuperate from his work Of the last two
years"
"was he in all Of the war?" asked
Betty.
''Niost of It." replied grandma, "sl-
though it's little he talks about IL
Just now he's all upset over not get.
ting his old work back"
But grandma" protested Betty,
perhaps the girl needs the money she
is earning as much as he does. know
some Of the girls In our Office are TAX.
ing care Of their mothers and younger
brothers and sisters"
'It may be all right for those girls
to keep our returned soldiers out Of
job but what about the girls like you,
Betty Dixon. that don't really need to
work." Indignantly asked grandma.
"Why-grandma-you know We
girls took up their work so the boys
could go and fight, and we have all
bought Liberty bonds and worked for
the Red Cross" stammered Betty as
she thought OF the young man she had
casually glanced at at the cement
works yesterday.
Yes. you all did your best while the
war was being fought and won, but
now that It's over, show your graft
tude to the boys in a more substsn.
tisl way than cheers. I'm ashamed Of
you"
"You won't need to be ashamed OF
me any longer, grandma" said Betty
meekly. "rll make good. just hadn't
thought about It before; and now I'm
going TO look at your tulips"
But Il wasn't tulips; II was Richard
hat Betty found sitting disconsolately
IN an old seat by the lilscs. No one
,ould resist Betty when she wanted to
be extra charming aud soon they were
alking and laughing like children.
The next day Betty returned home
and the day afterwards Richard re
,eived two letters; one was from Bet
y, which after reading, he kissed and
,ut In his inside pocket. The other
me was from Bolton & Mason, In
'iting him to call at their office.
II was at the close OF the summer,
m one moonlight night that the tall
,lue flowers swoke from their sleep to
lear low voice say:
Betty, I'm TO be made sales man.
ger next week and the salary is very
Betty, dear, I've al
Ways loved and wanted you. Won't
ou please say YesT"
But as Richards arms closed around
lefty the lsrkspur dlscreetly turned
way and whispered:
did you hear thati"
"Yes" answered another sleeoiiy.