Show r Daily Short Fiction Story ON MAY DAY By DOROTHY BLACKMORE Cop Copyright 1913 1915 by the McClure Newspaper News News- paper Syndicate Oh h see the thc beauties beauties' cried little lit lIt- the tle Hazel scampering over to tho the bed of ga gayly ly colored spring flowers she had spied suddenly Some flowers flowers' r II brEa breathed thed her lit little brother Ted red who was helping her to iii fill I her basket with wild flowers that grow along thc the edge of ot the woods Picking had been a scattered anti and not very exciting task but hut Hazel and Ted did wt wint nt to have a n la l May basket for their t teacher Miss Mott tott Their mother had told them not to towander towander wander wandel far Into tho the woods but that they would be able to find plenty plent of or Sweet S William and violets an and other spring flowers growing on the thc edge elge of or the tho woods that bordered the tho village vii vil lago lage In which the they lived The children rf n had wandered farther than the they had known and tho led bed of ot lovely tulips that they were not doI do- do I moralizing was tho the only boundary line at the rear of the homo home of Mr fr and Mrs Marden The Tho children were too young to realize that tho they thoy were not wild flowers and when the they came upon the long IonS narrow beds of or beautiful beautiful beau beau- blooms the they pounced upon them at nt once Mother said wed we'd find plenty If we looked said Hazel wisely You bet mother knows too These are arc dandles dandies added Ted Td And the baskets basket's full Gee cee whiz I guess Miss like It all allright allright right Ted wont won't sho she asked Hazel proudly holding up tho the basket for tor in In- In save us a for moren morena a million days lays I bet said Ted as they started off oil ono one was conscious of ot the tho fact that they had both placed themselves themselves them them- selves In order ordel for a n more strenuous punishment than their gentle teacher would ever er have ha given gl them When the two trudged Into school tardy and tired but rosy and laughIng laughing laugh laugh- Ing Miss s Mott Iott gasped Wo We brought you a May basket baskeL teacher the tho two said In unison The They had been heen rehearsing their Continued on page pao 6 6 DAILY SHORT STORY I i Continued from flom pa page 5 6 5 I pe speech pe ch all the way from the flower beds Oh what a beauty Thank you OU children Now take yo your r scats You are arc tardy and we must make u up for lost time She Sho hadn't tho heart to tod d dampen their Joy b by asking where they had picked tho the lovely ely flowers but she knew well wen that Hazel Harel and T Ted d Smith had never picked them In th their own garden nor In the garden of ot any any of ot their neighbors She Intuitively Uv h felt that the little ones had secured them Innocently Innocenti but none the less lesa destructively and dishonestly dishonest dishonest- ly from some Iome of the gardens border border- borderIng bordering Ing the woods In the south couth side aide of the town That afternoon when she walked home from school In the tho balm balmy May sunshine carrying her basked of now drooping tulips tulip she hc felt as if Ie every ery I person penson she passed might rightfully claim them Herself sho abc lived over In the quieter neighborhood of the village some distance from tram the school where she ehe made her home with friends It was thus that she knew kne of the gardens gardens gardens gar gar- dens that bordered the woods and which might be mistaken b by little minds for tor wild flower gardens When she reached home her friend was wag sitting on the porch waiting for her to have a a. cup of tea And who gave gave- ave you the flowers Flo she asked aked I Its It's May da day bless your heart And two to of ot the children brought me methe methe the basket It was lov lovely ly In the carly early early ear car I ly morning but but to But you think the kiddies took them from somebody's garden T I asked Mrs r. r James Florence Florences nodded Im sure of It It IL I They were so sweet and earnest about It and so 80 proud of their gift gUt I that I just couldn't bear to question them them- Mrs Ira James laughed You will be surprised to know that I saw aw the children picking the tho flowers t cr very early this morning from Mrs Irs Mardena Marden's Mar Mar- arden's ar- ar dens den's border g gardens down b by tho the woods wood but I J like you hated to spoil span the childrens children's Joy It was when I It t was out nut for m my ride on old Bess Miss Molt tolt look looked for a mo mo- ment Dont you ou think I ought to go o oi i and explain It seems wrong rons some some- howIt how hu hOWIt It ut do an any harm dear deal nd Ill I'll go o with you as soon as we wc I have hn our tea toa Run upstairs and II up while I ha have va t tea a. a served ser and th then n well we'll go and call on Mrs Irs I Marden and nd explain I owe her a n I call anyway When hen hen Florence Mott Iott r reappeared she was as pretty and fresh frech as had been her gift of tulips In the earl early morning She had changed her plain schoolroom frock for fOI a 3 dainty summer summery summery sum sum- mer mery dress s of or white and she had thrown over It a rose colored sport coat Trying to look so pretty that the they cant can't have the heart to pur ish you for tor or having stolen Roods goods in your our possession possession pos pos- session are you ou Flo Heres Here's your tea The two who no had been chool school friends in childhood were like sisters slaters sis sic and they enjoyed being together Shall we take tho faded May tay basket basket basket bas bas- I ket to show sho them asked n Florence I not But we Oh no o no-o of no-of of course COUTHO must explain I think The They walked ed down tho the path and turned Into the winding road that led past the Marden home Ill stand behind while you OU ex explain explain ex- ex plain said Florence laughingly laughing as they shook the knocker on tho ho great white door To tho the surprise of both women omen a a. atall atall tall young man In house jacket and I whito white flannel trousers opened the doorIs doorIs door Is ls Mrs Marden in asked Mrs n James No Im I'm Im I'm sorry sorn I am her brother l left ft In charge for tal a whole hole week My Iy name Is Congdon Wilt Will Congdon I We Ve came on o mIB missions went ent o on Mrs Irn James First I wanted to calon CAllon CAll cal callon on your our sister Mrs Marden and second second Miss Miss Mott Indicating Florence Florence Florence Flor Flor- ence ence who had suddenly she knew not wh why become confused received a n May Ia basket this morning which we think was filled with your our tulips Will Cons Congdon on laughed They were taken to fill flU a May basket were the they Pardon mo wont won't you OU both sit down don a few tew minutes Youve You've had quite a a. walk alk perhaps The three thrpo o sat Mot down I have havo felt fel guilty all day over having the basket hasket has has- ket keto but two to of my m little kinder kinder- j brought It to me with the Information that they had picked the flowers lowers all an for tor me And I had seen some come l kiddies gathering your our tulips early carly this morning when I was In the bridle path In the woods added Mrs James It doesn't matter In the least least least- now that I know who did ditl It but m my sl sister ter has haa had a good deal of or trouble with plants and flowers and I was about to raise a mw explained the young manOh man Oh Im I'm so SO so-so so sorry repeated Florence Congdon raised a protesting hand Dont be please Im I'm glad you ou wore were the recipient of ef a May basket rm Tm so old that I had forgotten that such pretty prett sentiment existed he ho laughed Old repeated Mrs James scornfully scorn scorn- fully Well I feel like a crusty old bachelor living out here In this turtle turtle tur tur- tle tIe dove community of young married married mar mar- ried ned folks Florence pouted prettily And where do I score In this game she asked I Mrs James was inter interacted In the situation at once and beamed at this opportunity for tor mar matchmaking Why V h Flo obviously it Is your dut duty to keep Mr Congdon from qualifying for the old mans man's home lent isn't it t 7 Yes Yes Isn't isn't It 1 the man repeated looking straight at Florence It looks looka like It It sho said And she began b by letting him take her out in the thA runabout that i In order that he ml might ht find out the exact location of the schoolhouse where she tau taught ht For I shall 11 oft ofton n nget nget get home homo on an nn early train now train now and call for you he said At her wedding in the tho following May time tho the bride carried a May 1 basket of tulips |