Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites

Moc

dland spot in which it grows. Its flower of bright rose pink, veined with red, is held wi

of the woods. She always counted the days as

put on a simple white dress and green-and-white sun hat. She looked with bewilderment at the city girl's attire, but said nothing just

u can run! Have compassion on me. My hair will be all

unting in city clothes. With your pink and white dress and lovely Dresden sash, silk stockings and low shoes, you l

umsy imitation of her. Pink azaleas grew in great bushes of bloom throughout the woods. Isabel would

e way to her spot. Deeper into the woods they delved, past bowers of pink azalea and closely growing branches of trees whose tender green

a steep grade. Amanda stopped and

and look up,

e traveling searchingl

ed the pink flowers. "The beauties! Oh, there

tiful pink lady-slippers, each alone on a thick stem with two broad leaves spreading their green beauty near the base. What mira

hem?" asked t

l get flower, stem and leaves and leave the roots in the ground for other years. I never pick all of the flowers. I leave some here in the

rank statement of the city girl.

number of the

ugh," Amand

d take every one if

me here after some and find the

el. Now, please, may I pick some of that pretty wild a

t rare. You couldn't take

until her arms were filled with it and the s

s and climbed over the fence into the school-

gaily. "Been robbin

Then when he drew near she intr

ms full of pink azaleas, her lips parted in a smile above the flowers, and that smil

ought the two together? Had the Fates designed the meeting of Isabel and Martin? "Oh, now I've done it!" t

od there talking. With a gay laugh Isabel took the finest pink moccasin from her b

The reply was accompanied

ange of light talk. The fear and jealousy in her heart dulled her senses to all save them, but she lau

id effusively, "what a fine

Martin Landis ever since I was born, almost. He

yes I have never seen. And he has such a strong face. Of cours

ally. She was ill-pleased wit

ith them, an invitation readily accepted. At the close of the meal Isabel said suddenly to M

h work. Poor Millie's got the worst of all the work to do. I ain't so strong, and the

nding a loving glance at Mrs. Reist. "Far as I go it's all right to have I

, I'm afraid. I never pe

bring up a girl! I guess it's time you learn such things once! You dare come, and I'll show yo

pect to be gone about a month. I was going to stay in Lancaster with my aunt, b

ck to understand how one would natur

Amanda's heart hurt. "Why did I take her for those moccasins?" she thought drearily after Isabel had gone back to the city with her precious flowe