Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, January 30, 1920, Page 11

o721 2t cuch an chulition ¢ jg. 3 3 welcome, ing toward a s{ranger, but Farmer ; “Joshua’s + wife,” ‘efaculated Mrs. lisoh smilod, and lovked already five: ’ Ellison, as she, 100, Tose to greet the yeass younser, while Elizals careworn, ' noweomer, who put up a sweet, cheer- sallow face was alight with a new in- ful hee. tramed {n blopde curls, to be terest: “A thousand wouldn't " A deiidre S0 kissed, and, at the same time $aid. “Now ™ said Ellzabsth, sitting down ' 5 “@h, I'have such gocd news v stayed abed day-times; and worn ma- «; ,,.' Im‘ 't raise m eagerly: e such g and eddressing nene in parifeular, but e for you fhat Joshua satd T had better yooin. cympathotically at bor father- “Yes,” was the reply, “but I would. chine-made underelothes,” ~snapped | any “ 1 could $4,000, and m&. mmjwht your marry—" Eliza- ‘Tepressed a #mile. nuu,um l;fif:stfi nothing. " She h).h have'. Alwuys wolkd. W think of Joshua's wife?” “Perhaps there would not be so many had g ’s married sis- divorces if they did.” s anent the treatment ter,thMmahvme!nram- “Why don’t you like her, mother?” and they had mot proved as sucepsstul mhmaedr—- sleetric contraptions to tle visit. » © persisted Eliza. “Wasn’t she nice to as the hutiful mq- had antlcipat- - “Well, I don’t know &s We would .keen her hands white. She—" Joshua's did not answer im- you?” ed. have had any more money if I had mediately, knitted vigorously, “Yes, very,” adritted Mrs, Ellison. ~ “Didn't ‘she offer m mv vyou With cutled my hair, greased wmy hands, s, with an mmahn about her firmly “Don’t you think “-she is fond of the housework?” asked Eiiza. wnu!lhmdmumfll Joshua and Wwill try and make him 1 it myself, instead of . - 3 A times before, ! . happy and comfortable?” continued -not let her, for I knew it ghe did she Mrs. Ellison, who had no patience P ought to mike his wife como ;n'\‘u 3} f5-daw: “T will tell my news. T heve & They were mung in the m-m Eliza. would spend a Tot of her‘time after- with her danghter’s slight defemce of “"Wu% #s his means }‘h“ 4 WiEs a dvaft for $4 ooa to poy off that dread- i bouse kitchen and had finished wash- “Well, T guess you'd think so if you ing the dinner dishes, Eliza having ar- could see them together omce,” Te- ward putting stuff on her hands and Iying down ‘to rest, as she called it. ‘T Joshua’s wifes ‘But further. conversation between low. on heér pleasant mission that she did Young Mrs, Ellison wis so intent ful mortgage.” -, N » & o e 7 2 hat) " laimed Farmer Elison, rived in time for that meal, so that turned Joshua's mother, with consld- never see such doln's before, and T them was interrupted by Mr. Ellison ~ “Means will slaw, repeated "'; 8at aggics Bliza, who slecd mottonle this was the first opportunity she had -erable emphasts. “She: caters to his was afraid I would have to speak my coming into the room. He held in his Waon with umnecessary emphas S Ohs gpeuch gaflchar lagthet ol e S had 10 Inquire about her brother's vanity something fearful, and always mind if she stayed much longer. Of hand a letter, which he gave to his ‘Why can't shie work the same as I: said, coldly: “This is Joshua's sister, Elizeheth, 3 pride. Finally, the silence became un- -does just exactly what he says. In duly prolonged, the younger woman fact, I shouldn’t wender a mite if she again broke It by saying, “I judge you would sit and see him smoke and not @o not like her.” Mrs. Ellison pressed her-thin lps tell him the folly of his ways.” “But, mother,” remonstrated Eliza, even closer togethbr, fhen answered “If a man wants to smoke he will prob- slowly: fust the girl I should have picked out for Joshua if he had asked my advice; returned Mrs. Ellison. “Well, T can not say she is ably do it. His.wife can’t help it.” “Well, she needn’t countenance it,” “And she can but young men are not.apt to consult scold so he will not want to do it at thelr mothers as to whom they shall home.” _course,” she continued, “I didn't say anything to Joshua, but I told your father that I dqubted ‘if he would ever get on in the world with a wife like that tled to him.” “Perhaps it won't make much dif- ference, mother,” returned Bliza, rath- er bitterly. “Sometimes it seems to me as if those that worked hardest made the least headway. Forinstance, look at you angd father. How hard you wite, saying, drearily: (“My last hope have dome, and let Joshua save his 18 gome now. Brother Ben writes that he can not let me have the money, so the place will have to go.”” He sank down in a chair witp'an air of utter despair. “Hasw’t Joshua ~anything saved?” asked Eliza, after a moment of pain- ful silence, money, instead of making him spend for vacuum cleamers, clectric fandan- gles and everything clse to help her o het housework quick and have time to gad around? A ¥nock gt the door imterrupted “Not 2 cent,” snarled Mrs. Ellison. itor, and was speechless with surprise “He had a thousand dollars, but he as a young and prefty woman tripped Elin, Elizabeth.” turned in the direction indicated, and its owner cried, impetuously: 2 awfully glad to meet you, - Joshua has talked about you so much that I have already learned to love you.” Nrs. Elison’s flow of -eloguence, kiss sealed the introducticn of the twe Farmer Ellison rose to admit the vis- young women. Mrs. Ellison sat with her lips firmly. full 6f 1 .compressed and an expression of diz- pra; Then the glowing, happy face was A hearty “T am ¥ou $4,900- with a v 24 Aratt to Mrs, Elllson. eyes she vou, I have heen feft of 2 distant relative, ua that 1 should give with my love,” she added, ad gmile, handing the T pe: old 7 took it. She did.not bocause she couldn’t; but the d oa Joshua’s wife were ve, together with a mute r for forgivene: LD Miss Gabriella belonged to way connected with the family they. the last century, when little showered their warm hospitality upon side curls fell demurely over him. 3 shell pink ears, and when ladies were And the boy and lovely Gabriella looked, upon as bits of Dresden china. were throgn constantly together and Her Wprld was the senctuary of her the days were steeped with magic garden, where she dreamed dreams of sweetness. They wandered in the what might have been. green-woodland, roamed the blossom- Faithful biack Peter, a relic of those ing countryside, gathered dewy roses bygone days, cherished Gabrielia’s in the early dawn, sat on the steps at blighted romance as tenderly as did dusk, singing snatches of love songs, Gabriclla herself. It happened in the laughing over mere nothings, thrilling garden of the Doric pillared, brick if their hands chanced to touch, and house in the sweet springtime of Ga- time swept swiftly, exquisitely by, briella’s life. The garden is still there, Finally he grew so strong that he screened from the streef by a hedge of actually. forgot he had ‘ever been {Il. fragrant boxwood and lavish with the: Who could remain il in that habita- perfume of cabbage roses and mignon- tion of birds and trees and flowers? ette, Then one evening Gabriella heard him Down to Gabriella’s maple shaded, tell her mother that he could no long- dreamy village came a youth %t the er impose upon their generous hospi- close of the wa tution had preve! ing, and Gabriella rejoiced in that fact. Had he fought against His delicate comsti- tality. him from enlist- heart she marvelled at his curious composure, and choking a sob, she her beloved flew ont to the garden. With a fluttering hand at her It was dusk southland never could she have toler- and trembling shadows hovered every- ated him. him a semi-invalid. ple were the sort to claim the remot- est kin, and as he was in some vague So.kind providence made where, Any other time she would have Gabriella’s peo- been timid, but the torture she was en- during blotted out fear, and she won- dered how she was,going to live with- out him, After a while he came down the boxwood bordered path. Oh, the glo- ry of that moonlit evening, laden with the fragrance of sweet scented flow- ers! From the woodland came quivering cry of a catbird and the rythmical murmur of the strange lit- tle things of the might. “Gabriella,” he called, and the bird in the distence echoed the Iove ndte in his voice. e “Ye-es,” came her fluttering reply. He made swift strides to her side. “I am going away,” he said abruptly, as though anxious to be rid of an un- pleasant ecommunieation. “I am going tomorrow, Gabriella.” She made a futile effort to quiet her quick breaths, but of no avail, He had observed, and with a cry of joy he caught her hand. Suddenly their faces leaned together in the ‘soft dusk and their lips touched. “I love you!” he whispered. Loved' her! Certainly he loved her. And the next day, like the prince of old, he rode away. Promises? None were made. But Gabriella’s faith in the boy who had said “I love you!” was supreme, On the following Valentine’s Day Peter brought her -a big, square enve- lope. Gabriella knew who had sent it, Dot by the postmark, but by the ec- e static throbbing of her heart. It was a valentine exquisitely beautiful, with pink roses and hidden from other eyes, “I love you!” Faith? Remewed now a thousand- fold. Would not other Valentine days come. When this one passed was not. there the mnext to anticipate? Whe could ridicule such faith? Not Gabri- elle’s people. And the years swept along and after a while they all pass- ed from her life; leaving only herself and faithful Peter. So there shg re- mained and faithful Peter. So there she remained in the brick house, sur- rounded by the garden of golden mem- ories, and belieying herself in some mystical way wedded to that sacred moment when he had whispered, “I love you!” Then Evan came, He was a little boy, with a grave, lovable face and as many years as he could count on one chubby hand. He had come from the north with his parents and taken a stood on tiptaes, peeping wistfully over the odorous hedge. Miss Gabriella was giving directions to Peter, who lnelt stiffly beside a flower bed. “I want to come inside,” called Evan. “Dear me!” fitttered Miss Gabriella, bending upon Evan the faded loveli- néss of blue eyes, 'why it's the new little M ' “I ‘want to comie inside,” remted Evan, “Peter open the gate,” sald Miss Gabriella. ' So with that Evan was ushered into the garden and fnto the heart pf the old lady. Pretty goon the span -of years between them was annihilated and they beécame inseparable, this Mt-- tle hoy from the north and old Gabri ella. And, oh, the umbelievable sun- shine Evan brotght into her secluded life and Peter's es well! One day Bvan was sick, and his mother cdime to explatn her boy's ab- sence, modern bungalew near the brick house. No one interested him as much as the old lady who lived in the pretty fiower garden. He cafled it.the enchanted garden, and one particujar morning he - “He sent his love,” said she, reading in the depths of Gabriella’s fadded blue eyes a story of unfilled hope and patient resignation. Winter came to force Gabriclla fronr the garden, but she received Evan in the sunury. ljbrary where green plants magically blossomed in the deep win- dows. And they were very happy, those two. But one day Evan disturb- ed the swéet tenor of things by an- nouncing: “We are going away!” Gabriella breathed quickly. It seem- ed she was living over again some old familiar hurt. “To stay Evan?” she asked, her hand fluttering against her ‘bosom. “No, indeed,” laughed Evan, flinging his little body in her arms. “Iwouldn't stay-from you. I love you!” Gabriella gazed into the brown eyes. ‘Why—why did she love the atrange ht- tle boy so well?” “You see,” chirped Eyan, shyly, pat- ting her chieek, and relieved that a cu- rious tension was qver. “We are go- ing to see grandfather.” Grandfather? His little grandson! Gabriella smiled happily ‘as the sweet truth of it dawned so curiously clear. And she Kissed him very tenderly, very Teverently, this little grandson of his. And ‘Evan went away. Peter did not bring the mail in 4 sack as in former years. A postman delivered it at the side door. So one morning—it was Valentine's day—@a- briella watched the uniformed person turn in the gate and he was whistling a merry tune, as though his spitits were in keeping with the day. -Direct- ly Peter shuffled into the library, bear- ing a’ square erivelope on an anclent silver tray. The fragile fingers went to it trembling as they carefully slit the flap and the face of Gabriella was like a faintly tinted flower. It was nearly the same. The years, after all, make very little difference. There were the delicate pink roses, the dainty forget-me-nots and inside, "Y love you!™ ‘Do you know? Well, she didp’t, dear old Gabriella, serene in her dreams and memories! And what is more, she never knew, for who could shatter such sweet bellef? Frail bit of Dres- den china! the Rescue By Abner INTY LESTER was trying M very hard to sell two hats at once, one to a fat woman cross-eyes and the other to a ubby .young girl with a cowlick in her fair hair. The woman desired the hat the girl should have worn and the girl could not make up her mind at ling and Mrs. Bostwick came out of the workroom 4t the rear. Mrs, Bostwick was Minty'’s aunt, and all, even Minty to help her. "It by manicuring her uails. She hastily A creek ranback of the &fore at the creature, but her great concern was firmly. “That little mite of @ Kitten life worth lving to me. Her aunt's eral. And the more he talked the { really locked as if neither sale was go- resumed work as Minty entered. foot of a deep comcrete wall. As she for the man. The water was fcy cold won't be in anybody’s way. Not in trying to make a milliner ‘out et her, more interested Minty became, 1 ing throveh, when customer “You can finish this shirring, Min- watched a man came running along and a smart wind was blowing. She mine or Minty's, anyhow. If he gets but Minty never was cut out for a hat- After that it became a seftled thing é set the bell over un! front door ting- ty, while I do something else,” she the wall. He had 2 long pole in his did not dare ask him into the house. in yours or Miss Snéok's—why, yowll maker. Minty, this here’s Abram for Abram to stop in to see Mr. Bost- v:l’ she added to the chubby girl. As she stooped to open a drawer she breathed tartly over her shoulder to Minty. “You get back into the workroom and sew for dear life.” . Minty fled. In the workroom Miss Snook, the city trimmer, was taking advantage of Mrs. Bostwick’s absence said loftily and tossed the work to- ward the girl. a Minty had been making hats for four thwarted' in her desire. She hatéd Minty for her stupidity. *“You're good for nothing,” she said over and over. “I wish I'd never bothered to*bring you up, but had seiit you to the home. You don’t earn your salt. ' I should like to know what you expect to come to.” hand, and now she saw .what he was after. A large box was floating down and in the box sat a despairing kitten As Miss Snook glanced up, startled, Minty went out the back door. Asshe reached the wall the man came over it with the kitten against his drip- ping breast. His face was as white a8 Minty's: He saw her and held the kitten toward her. Minty took the forlorn, shivering, drenched little What could she do? From the pul- ley line near dangled a blanket that had been hung out to aér. She eager for a change from the monot- ony of silence and his book. At supper there was a squabble be- tween the Bostwicks. “A ¢at in this place, where there’s hardly room for humans!” cried Mrs, Bostwick. “Well, T’ guess not!” “And T guess yes,” caid her htisband, have to make the best of it. If this_ cat’s good enotgh for a feller tor risk his life for, it’s gocd enough for us to and dry and well dressed. He was only twenty-seven or eight, and Minty thought she had never seen any eyes so pleasant as those gray ones of his set: in his brown face, “Here's the girl” Mr. Bostwick szid. “Minty’s my niece, . Abram, and ehie’s about the only thing that makes Drew. Maybe you don’t remember, but ‘when- we lived up on Ogden street his folks had the corner house.. His moth- back, She brought the kitien to show him, “See how warm and sleepy it-s! And I'm to keep it, uncle says.” “I say that a cat a man's risked his life for is worth something,” main- tained Mr. Bostwick. He began to talk about his ranch * and his wheat and the country in gen- wick every e ways called up g. And Minty ai- s for as long as her aunt would let her stay. owned the store and operated it with long years, and she had never yet that stretched its neck and apparently snatched it loose from the pins. keep. That's how, Salena.” er’s dead and he and his father are One warm evening she found Abram the assistance of a pi trimmer learned which was the right side to mewed to succor. A little in advance #Here!” she said to the man, “Put this At half past 8 Minty heard her uncle ranghing it out in Alberta. Abram’'s on the little balcony caressing the Kit- from town Mr. Bostwick was short trim nor why a wisp of straw, rjbbon, of the box the man threw himself flat around yu!” from town. Mrs. Bostwick was short been listening to Minty for several mo- ents and had decided it was just about time to take a hand. “Now, Mrs, Slater,” she smiled pez- suasively, “I've got the sweetest hat here, which I know will just suit you. And I've got one for you, too, Niva,” and roses should, when combined, make or mar 4 woman’s happiness and her aunt's fortune. Consequently Mrs. Bostwick had no patience with her. It was her desire that Minty should learn 4he business thoroughly ahd be able to take the place and save the ex- pense of the trimmer, and she was upon the wall and poised his pole. But an extra swirl todk the box a Iit- tle farther away, and the pole was not long enough. Then, with a qulck mo- tion, he slipped down the wall into the surl flood. A few strokes and he had the Kitten. Minty gave a cry and turned white. 'UNE 30, 1917. This has been a J very exciting day. Hear it is almost - two months since my twelfth birthday when I began this journal, end now 1s-my first opportun- ity to write something really interest- ing. It all happened because of eggs. This morning granma said: “Now, Constance, here is forty-four cents. You go over to Mr. X's and see if she will sell me a dozen eggs. Hurry.” When T got there he wasn't any- where around, I mean the dbg, and she lan’t Bave =z dozzen eges, but only half a dozzen. So I said I would tfake a half dozzen then,.and how much are they please? Because for a minute He smiled as he wrapped himself in it. “Take care of the kitten. I'll re- turn this later,” he said. She went on upstairs with the kit- ten. The Bostwicks lived upstairs over the shop. Her uncle sat by thes fire reading. “What you got there?” he asked, calling her from the fop of the stairs which led into the workroom. Her aunt was in the shop with a customer, so instead of asking permission, she simply laid aside her work and went upstairs. The man who had saved the kitten was Wwith ber uncle, and he looked quite different mg that he was warm thinking about the wild roses, etc., I could not remember twos in fourty- four. So she looked kind of funny, and she said, “Oh, I guess fifteen cents.” 4 I took’ the eggs and started home and then the existing part begins. Just when 1 got to the big elm by the corner and was looking at two robins scrapping for a wurm, I said right out loud, “Twes in fourty-four are twenty-two and one over, when I didn’t even knoW I was thinking about that “but thought it was the robins. well then I sat rigat down by the tree to think it out. So my conshence said “Constance Ann, you are a theafl” But then I said, “No I am not! she told me fifteen cents hergelf” Then 1 bad to deside if Mrs. X ment to give me the eggs for only fifteen cents, or if she made % misteal, which realy seemed more likely, Mrs, X not being the kind that gives twenty-two and one-half cepts Worth for fifteen cents. So if she made-a misteak was it my duty to retern the money? But the objecshen to that was that if a mis- teak, Mrs. X would blame the mis- teak on me, that being/ her nature, which is not polite to say, but,true therfour I put it down, Granma will not ‘allow gosip of coarse, but the truth Is not gosip. T was just as bad off as ever what to do with it when I remembered the poster down at the store wihich said, “Do your bit” and some more I don't remember and thén “American Red Cross.” So I knew right oft I could give it to the Red Cross, because if mine it would be my bit, and if Mrs. X's—well it’s the only way they would ever get it from her. And then I desided granma would be wondering about the eges, and cross maybe, and I got up to go. Just then an auto stopped beside the tree with & man and woman in it. So there Vas a cross on ‘the back of it; notred but green, so I thought it might be & branch of the Red Cross, and I could get rid of the exter money right then. So they were talking and I waited not meaning to lissen but being taught by granma not to interupt. She said “You WW your uncle in- tended thet money for the Red Cross and exspected you to go into the serv- ice.” And hoe sald, “Well, it wasn't in the will.” She sald, “You know how he loved the and the army, and how he would want you to usethe education he pade-for and the money e left. Just because of a misteak in ihe will—" He broke in, “Am I to pay. for his misteak?” Which of codrse made me think of Mrs. X and the eggs, hewd for a few weekS of business. Set downy Abram, and you, teo, Minty. I want. you young folks to get acquaint- ed.” ,.“I feel as though we were acquaint- ed already,” said Abram, smiling at Minty. “We ought to be after that adven- ture of.yours,” replied Minty, smiling ten that sat on the rail beside him. Mir. Bostwick was nowhere in sight. “This is a regular Alberta night,” Abram said. “I'm going back pretty soon. Tell me, Minty, ' dear, do you suppose you'd like to live where there wasn't anything much to Seé but & wheat fleld and a few ponies and & dog and an old man and—and—me?” e ———ee e By Joella Johnson and I got ready to speak, but she said “Then allow me to Teturn this” and her voice sounded very quear. She gave him a ring with a shiny stonc and he said somthing which I can not spell it and would not write it any- Wway, because of granma, Then there was silence, and I thought it was my chanse and I said “Will you please give this money to the. Red. Cross society?” He said “What?” so eross it seared me and 1 nearly cried. Then he said “Hear, don’t ery,” and-she said, “Tell me all about it.” oI did; how I got the mon- ey by misteak and my conshence said “theaf,”” and when I sald that the man’ ot red, and the girl smiled a Htils. Then T finished .and said, “Will you give it to them please?” And he said “Why I—er—I have some funds for the Red Cross myself, and T er—I exspect to belong, so T think it will get there safely.” She said “Bea!” and he laughed and said “Yes, Elizabeth” and some more about “the least of these.” Then he gave me twenty-five whole cents for my sash money and told me to run home, which I did, remembering granma, and the eggs she was in a hurry for. T looked around once; and he seemed to be giv- ing back that ring. Granma is calling so must go. £ SR @