Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-02-13

nary OF the Channel lSlanuSJ, anu heT
grandmother had died-the grand
mother who had led her through soft
lanes with long lovely vistas after
her hard-pushed mother had spanked
her severely for some real or fancied
error. Both her grandmother and
mother had loved her dearly; but the
mothers patience had been short.
while the grandmother's was everlast
ing.
Her name was Elspeth, and after
her grandmother died-after there
was no one to walk and talk with, she
went twice weekly to the bare little
grave near st. Peter Port to render
silent homage to the departed one.
These visits became a ritual: sooth
ing ceremony with but one flaw to
mar their perfection.
Always the whispered plea as she
knelt before the scant, unadorned
headstOne
"J'essairai de lie trouver un globe"
Which meant that her whole soul
desired to place on this beloved grave
one of those unique glass globes filled
with artificial flowers, which mark the
grave as one that is cared for and
cherished These globes were expen
sive.
True, Elspeth knew how to make
the artificial flowers from odd rem
nants of gay-colored material; but the
glass globe to cover them and its
pedestal seemed unattainable.
One evening, after her devout
prayers for the soul of the departed
one, as she was leaving the little Gem
etery. she came face TO face with
stalwart and good looking young man.
He lifted his cap cOurteously and
smi I'd a trustworthy smile.
you, too, have come to mourn, Mad
emoiselleT Guernsey, it should be
known, is greatly of French origin
and nearly all its people speak French
and English both.
'Ah, yes, Monsieur And | am sorry
that you also have lost loved one
'It was my father" the young man
continued leaning against the mas
sive, moss-grOwn cemetery portals.
land il is a loss that leaves me very
lonely, for We always worked and
laughed together"
And with me-" said Elspeth, "it
was my grandmother. We, too, laughed
together, and she taught me the little
that know Of the world, Alb Mon
sieur," Eswtb spoke impuIsively
perhaps You would know what is the
smallest coSt for which one of the
beautiful globes and its standard m;n
be obtained in St Peter Port wan;
one for her grave-and the Howe;
themselves l am able to make
we are very poor. my mother and my
self
The young man broke in upon her
speech eagerly:
1T seems impossible, Mademoiselle.
that we are both longing to place the
same tribute on our graves. Miracu.
lOus that we meet work in the
identical shop in ST Peter Port where
the globes and their pedestals are
produced. help to manufacture them:
but ! am, MademoiselIe, unable to buy
the artificial flowers which are most
expensive. could procure for you
the globe at trifling cost. And
would be so happy TO do this for Made
moiselle."
Elspeth's eyes were Joyous stars as
her answer followed close on his reve-
lation:
But yes, Monsieur; and for you
will make the flowers which you can
not afford"
"Mademoiselle, my name is Au-
bert Ozanne Please call me just
ALBERT, and please see into the depth
of my heart and recognize the extent
of my gratitude"
AS ElSpeth walked home that night
she realized vaguely and with a mys-
FERROUS glow of happiness that some
thing new and beautiful had entered
her life.
And this simple companionship
ripened as the weeks passed during
which Elspeth labOred lovingly at two
clusters of artificial flowers and Au-
bert worked late into the night at
his shop in St Peter Port on two shin.
ing glass globes and their pedestals.
Finally arrived the evening when
Elspeth carefully carried to the Gene
terry her two lovely clusters of arti-
fetal flowers fashioned for the glass
globes Down the winding lane, as she
entered the cemetery, appeared ALBERT
seated on tiny cart drawn by an
island donkey. In the cart were the
two glass globes and their pedestaIs.
Elspeth experty installed the flowers
in the globes for both. and Aubert set
up both monuments with the cement
and proper tools he had fetched with
him
Afterwards al the portals, with the
donkey nizzling his hand, ALBERT
turned back TO Elspeth:
Il have saved little money !"
hesitantly perhaps we might continue
being primers and make for others
what we have made for ourselves in a
little shop of our own Els
,,ntf, -