Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-09
Daily Shorf Story
White Wish
Nv BERTA RUCK

A RUCk
ought 20 have chosen Eirlys.
Eirlys. that httle angel deserved
the best Of everything But Mar
garet was wicked enough 70 feel
GLAD yes. glad that EIrlyS hadn I
had n. II was herself, Margaret
that Tudor loved and wanted.
OPENS HER EYES
Wha' was n that Eirlys wanted?
Tell me. dear. I'll do any
-tAlAs- ei,A, Sand Margaret,
while she wondered. Could Eirlys
he wanting 70 see Tudor 10 say
good-by
The palhd girl opened her lips
lips that no man had ever touched
lips that had never stirred 10 tho
lichteSt sigh for 4 mans love.
They begged. anxiouSly:
Don't Law me here 10 rest.
Don't let them put me In the
town cemetery. Not here.
you mustn't talk about that.
There's no need you'n get
we'll"
A glance stopped her.
II shant NJ here much longer,
Margaret. And afterWard-I
want them Ia take me home.
Please. It's In my own home
want 10 he, you understand :"
Margaret nodded Her eod>f1
meant the mountain village 10
miles of the line Of cottages Stop
Ing uphill, the chapel where she
had PLAYED the harmonium. where
she had taught IN the Sunday
school.
It's In our own little old
churchyard, nv the yev tree,
that I want them to put me.
That's the only wish l have.
You1l tell them"
A BURIAL WISH
"Yes. yes"
You'll he sure and zee It's
done, Maggie: Please, please.
Promise"
81 promise. love" said Mar
garet on a sob,
II can sleep now" sighed
Erlys, content.
That night she passed in peace
Eirlys, a flower faded before she
knew bright Phoebus IN his
strength SO some would see II.
Others would know that she had
shed a frail body that had been
the chrysalis sheath 10 a wlnglng
soul, and that Eirlys. herself was
joyouSly away. Free
HAD GIVEN PROMISE
But her cousin Margaret was
left troubled. She had given the
promise which let Eirlys pass con-
tent because her only wish would
be granted. But how, fretted Mar
garet. How could she be taken
up TO her chosen resting place?
At the hospital, heads shook
Impossible. Can't he done,
indeed"
For though the snow had ceased,
wind had fallen, and the sun
shone. II Shone on world deeply
muff1ed and eider-downed In one
white. a white that neither froze
nor thawe was close packed
underneath, silent, effaclng, I'M
passable.
For long stretches, the snow on
the roads had risen 10 the level
of the Stone-hedges. Paths were
lost. And il was five miles from
the railways end 10 that tiny
sianting churchyard.
Might n well be S00," said
the hospital people. Cant get
through those drifts. Have 10
be the town cemetery"
TURNS TO TUDOR
Margaret. haunted by whisper,
Not here" turned for help to
Tudor
do something. II was Eirly's
wish. This snow won't melt for
weeks. Do something"
Tudor set all in motion. first
with a word to the poStman. Snow
or no snow, the mornings letters
must he delivered. and At each
door to which postmen struggled
he left the word. Tudor, at the
post office. teIephoned or wired his
friends. He asked for volunteers.
Men. He wanted them for Eirlys,
and nowhere did he get No.
The morning was glorious. sky
dazzling blue above country daz-
ring white. but the road between
that railway station and Eirlys
village was lost as though II had
never been made. No horse would
have been OF any use. II must all
be done by men.
SCORE ASSEMBLE
A score and more assembled
strspping fellows. They lin . d
themselves up on the top OF the
stone fences between the buried
fields and the roads where the
drifts were hedge-high.
All the grandest lads in tho
county were here 10 attend on the
ADVERTIsEMEET
4 . *
Il NAf