Smyrna times., 1931-01-14
Elspeth and Aubert
Worked Together
By LEETE STONE

extraordinary of the Channel is
lands), and her grandmother had
died-the grandmother 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 everlasting.
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; a soothing ceremony with
but one flaw to mar their perfec-
tion.
Always the whispered plea as she
knelt before the scant, unadorned
headstone.
"Jessairai 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
4 globes were expensive.
/ True, Elspeth knew how to make
the artificial flowers from odd rem
nants of gay-colored material; but
4 the glass globe to cover them and
/ it's pendant seemed unattainable.
One evening, after her devout
4 prayers for the soul of the depart
ed one, as she was leaving the lit
tie cemetery, she came face to face
with a stalwart and good looking
young man. He lifted his cap cour-
teously and smiled a trustworthy
+ smile.
"You, too, have come to mourn.
Mademoiselle?" 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"
1T was my father" the young
man continued, leaning against the
massive, MOSS grown cemetery por-
tails, land it is loss that leaves
me very lonely, for we always
worked and laughed together"
"And with me-" said Elspeth, 'ft
was my grandmother. We, too,
laughed together, and she taught
me the little that | know of the
world. All, Monsieur" Elspeth
spoke impulsively, perhaps you
would know what is the smallest
cost for which one of the beau
tiful globes and its standard may
be obtained in st. Peter Port. !
want one for her grave-and the
flowers themselves | am able to
make we are very poor,
my mother and myself
The young man broke upon her
speech eagerly:
1T seems impossible, Mademoi-
selle, that we are both longing TO
place the same tribute on our
graves. Miraculous 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, MademOiselle, unable to buy
the artificial flowers which are most
expensive. | could procure for
YOU the globe at a trifiing cost. And
would be so happy to do this for
Mademoiselle."
Elspeth's eyes were joyous stars
as her answer followed close on his
revelation:
"But yes, Monsieur; and for you
I will make the flowers which you
cannot afford"
"Mademoiselle, my name is Au-
bert Ozanne. Please call me just
Aubert. 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 mysterious glow of happiness that
something new and beautiful had
entered her life.
And this simple companionship
ripened as the weeks passed, dur
ing which Elspeth labOred lovingly
on two clusters of artificial flowers
and Aubert worked late into the
night at his shop in st. Peters
Port on two shining glass globes
and their pedestals.
Finally arrived the evening when
Elspeth carefully carried to the
cemetery her two lovely clusters of
artificial flowers fashioned for the
glass globes. Down the winding
lane, as she entered the cemetery,
appeared Aubert seated on a tiny
cart drawn by an island donkey.
In the cart were the two glass
globes and their pedestals. Els
peth expertly 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, at the portals, with
the donkey nuZzling his hand, Au
bert turned back to Elspeth:
Il have saved little money :. :"
hesitantly, perhaps we might con-
tinue being partners, and make for
others what we have made for our
selves in a little shop of our own :. S. :.
Elspeth !"
Tears OF happiness came to Els
mathis owes ne she cauoht at thp