Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-30
V The = Short Cut Through
 the Alders

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 decorous worshipcrs. The organ voluntary had died away, and a silence. broken only by the hushed footsteps and gentle rustic of some late arrival, per- vaded the place of worship.
 The minister was just approaching the altar by a private entrance when Mrs. Mary Ann McDougall passed up the aisle, loudly heralded by the musical squeak of new shoes, and paused by the pew occupied by Lawyer Larkin and family. Leaning over this village mag nate with benign smile, she presented his wife with an immense bunch of pen nyroyal, sayng in a shrill whisper, dis tinctly audible inlall parts of the church:
 Here's them herbs I've been a-prom- isin' yer so long, Mis- Larkin!"
 Then, with the air of one who has faithfully performed an important duty, she sQueakily tiptoed her way to the pew reserved by the town fathers for the poor
 A half-suppressed smile swept over the congregation at this little diversion in the regular exercises of the day. MT. Larkin bit his moustache with an air of amusement, not unmixed with vexa- tion; Miss Viola Files, Mrs. Larkin's younger sister, flushed with mortifca- tion; three-year-old Myrtle, the baby idol of the family. reached an admiring hand for the pungent bouquet; ten-year- old Harold was too busy watching an un- equal combat between a spider and fly in a corner behind the blind to no- tice the gift in any way; but his mother. unruf1ed and serene, received the aromatic offering with as gracious thanks as if it had been bouquet of rare orchids. bestowed by royal princess.
 Viola looked at her sisters serene face reproachfully. Throw it out Of the window!" she whispered behind her fan. s'It scents the whole church"
 Mrs. Larkin shook her head. "It's the Lords incense and worthy of His house." she whispered back whimsi- cally, "but if it is offensive to you, will place it on the window ledge out side" and she did so, dimpling with amusement at her sisters look of re- lief
 This little episode would not have seriously disturbed Viola if she had not seen the quick smile which played over George Wayne's face, and the responsive gigg1e of pert Sadie. Griggs, who sat by his side In the choir. It is not pleas ant for even the meekest of girls-and Viola was far from meek-to have her family made ridiculous before the eyes of recreant lover and triumphant rival. Not that she cared about George Wayne's good opinion, Viola told herself
  looking very proud and se1f-possessed. Why should she care, when he had shown himself so fickle and despicable
 They had been playmates from baby hood, and merely because she had told him he seemed just like a brother, and persisted in accepting the escort of Carl Bennington, city boarder at the hotel, to tho Shakespeare club picnic, George had pretended to fly into a jealous rage. All mere pretense, of course, scheme to rid himself of his old playmate. for he had taken Sadie Griggs to that very pie nic, and the moonlight ride and tennis tournament afterward, and Viola, to show him how little she cared, had kept up furious filtration with MT. Benning- ton although his presence bored her all most to the point of insanity, as George might know If he took the slightest in- terest in her happiness, but he did not.
 Now, when they met, he called her Miss Files Miss Files! when they had pulled hair over their peppermint drops at four, fought like little sayages over croquet at ten, and been the frank est and joIliest of chums from that date to the opening of the present season. She didn't call him MT. Wayne. She would not be such fool. There was no occasion to call him anything. A frosty bow was sufficient to express her present attitude toward him
 But in another week he was going west. Way out to Oregon! His cousin told her so. She didn't care, of course, but there was something very depress- ing about the weather, and she wished people wouldn't inquire so solicitously about her health end persist in telling her how pale and thin she was growing. It was all imagination on their part She felt perfectly well, only languid and nervous; that was the fault of the weather.
 After the sermon she fingered to avoid George. Let his walk home with that silly Sadie Griggs if he enjoyed such company, and he seemed to. She walked decorously beside her sister and brother in-law. who were discussing anew the little shortcut through the alders.
 Tt is all right, Jean,' said he, flor l you to be kind to Mary Ann, but don't ! like her conspicuous way of supplying