Cousin Maude

Through the door she caught sight of her mistress, whose white,

wasted face wrung from her that cry. Stuffing her handkerchief into

her mouth, she waited until toast, tea, egg, and all had

disappeared, then, with the exclamation, "She's et 'em all up slick

and clean," she walked into the room.

It would be impossible to describe that meeting, when the poor sick

woman bowed her weary head upon the motherly bosom of her faithful

domestic, weeping most piteously while Janet folded her lovingly in

her arms, saying to her soothingly, "Nay, now, Matty darling--nay,

my bonnie bird--take it easy like--take is easy, and you'll feel

better."

"You won't leave me, will you?" sobbed Matty, feeling that it would

not be hard to die with Janet standing near.

"No, honey, no," answered Janet, "I'll stay till one or t'other of

us is carried down the walk and across the common where them

gravestones is standin', which I noticed when I drove up."

"It will be me, Janet. It will be me," said Matty. "They will bury

me beneath the willows, for the other one is lying there, oh, so

peacefully."

Louis was by this time awake, and taking him upon her lap Janet

laughed and cried alternately, mentally resolving that so long as

she should live, she would befriend the little helpless boy, whose

face, she said, "was far winsomer than any she had ever seen."

Then followed many mutual inquiries, during which Matty learned that

Janet was a widow, and had really come to stay if necessary.

"I'm able now to live as I please, for I've got property," said

Janet, again consulting the silver watch, as she usually did when

speaking of her husband's will.

Many questions, too, did Matty ask concerning her former home--her

friends--her flowers--and Harry's grave; "was it well kept now, or

was it overrun with weeds?"

To this last question Janet did not reply directly, but making some

excuse for leaving the room, she soon returned, bearing in one hand

a box in which a small rose-bush was growing. In the other hand she

held a beautiful bouquet which, having been kept moist, looked

almost as fresh as when it was first gathered. This she gave to

Matty, saying, "They grew on Harry's grave. I picked 'em myself

yesterday morning before I left; and this," pointing to the rose-

bush, "is a root I took from there last spring on purpose for you,

for I meant to visit you this fall."