A Lost Lady

Captain Forrester dies in early December. Many of his old friends and acquaintances send telegrams and flowers, but none of them attend the funeral. Judge Pommeroy and the town doctor are his only contemporaries who serve as pallbearers.

The morning of the funeral, Niel answers a knock at the kitchen door. Adolph Blum has brought a box of yellow roses for Mrs. Forrester. Niel knows that Adolph, dressed in his workman’s clothes, will not come to the funeral, so he invites Adolph in to view Captain Forrester. Adolph sees an employee of the undertaker inside, so he declines the invitation. Niel takes the flowers up to Mrs. Forrester, who is overcome with emotion and turns her head away. Niel notes, “It was the only time that day he saw her pale composure break” (84).

Many people attend the funeral, including settlers and farmers from all over the county. As Niel and his uncle drive Mrs. Forrester home afterward, she says that she will have her husband’s sun dial set upon his grave as a headstone, and that she will plant some of his roses beside it.