The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-03-18
The MAY BASKET |
BY GENEVA A. ELDREDcE.


swallow darted across the sunshine,
his blue wings glistening. Away down
the street sounded the rat-tat OF
drum, and Cynthia heard the patter
of children's feet running toward
the town sQua<e. Still she sat tense and
upright in the old-fashioned rocking
chair, her mouth drawn in a straight
hard line. her eyes fixed upon the
work In her hands.
The screen door squeaked on its
spring and round-faced, brown-eycd
little boy squeezed in, his eyes filed
with surprise when he saw her sit
ting there so stiff, her work in her
hands, and he stammered a little as
he said: ''Wh-why, Aunt Cynth, amt
you going to meet the train and see
the p-parade?"
Soft and quick came her answer:
mo. dear. not today"
but Aunt Cynth, they amt goin' to
be no more p-parade days, an 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 wiz
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: us it cause Joe amt COM
in. auntie?" Tears sprang to her eyes
as she gathered the little spic and
span boy close.
Eyes, Teddie boy, that's just why
auntie isn't going. She can't bear it,
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
right fore supper, maybe right after,
anyway, don't you come out doors
right that time, will your"
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
~ she closed her eyes and in magma
ton saw the town square filled with
people. the train pulling in filed with
returning soldiers, the happy greet
ings, and far and faint she heard the
band and the cheering.
The hot tears trickIed slowly down
her face as she whispered, "And mine
reported missing; my boy, who was
the pride of my hearth" 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 1 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
1t, 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 a 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 on
the screen door she waited only long
enough for small boy to hide before
she opened the door, to find a dainty
little basket, all fringed and festooned
and fairly bursting with candy kisses,
setting on the step.
''Why, how surprised 1 am" she
said. 'sWho could have left this beau
tiful little basket here? Surely it's a
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, mo, no,
Aunt Cynth, faint no stake, it's my
secret and some more of it is hind
the catalpa tree. You come see" But
just then a khakf-clad figure sprang
out with wide-open arms, and then
Ted's secret was out
"Oh, Joe." cried Aunt Cynth as she
wept In his arms, show you must have
felt not to find me at the train to
meet you"
THAT'S all right. mother; 1 don't
blame you under the circumstances.
''When Ted told me his secret I
thought I'd wait and surprise you.
"Some May basket all around, hey?
Say, Ted, it looks like frosted cakes
and lemonade in the dining room; let's
hurry for mess"
And as mother and son wiped the
tears Of gladness from their eyes, a
little voice shrilled out: ''You won't
never cry no more on p-parade day,
viii you, Aunt Cynth?''
Copyright, 1913, Mcclure Newspaper Syn
no Housewori< for Them.
well. the soldiers learned to sweep,
NO -, nd n0ol1