Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-08-02

-nodding toward the big white house
but my housekeeper, and she's sick
this morning; so I'm wondering If you'll
accept these" With the gallantry Of a
knight he held out to her his creel.
"Oh, Mr.. Selden!" exclaimed the good
woman, bit tlustered, but smiling with
unmistakable appreciation. would the
heavens fall next? When had Mr.. Sell
den Howard last honored her humble
dwelling like this? Surely not since his
mother died, poor soulD Accept them?
Well. I just guess will! And SO Mrs.
Patch is sick! Well. you'll just stay
here to breakfast. It'll be all ready in
fifteen minutes" This was as much
as Howard had hoped for.
You're awfully kind, Mrs. JONES'"
he said, affecting surprise. "And-yes,
l believe I'll stay. I've u sick collie
over in the kennels. I'll go back and
look after her; then I'll be back to ac-
cept your hospitality"
When Katherine Hope entered the
dining room Mrs. Jones of course pre-
sented Mr.. Howard.
"How do you do, Mr.. Howard" said
she conventionally, with smile, a lit
tie tired in spite of the play of childish
dimples. But Selden was looking down
admiringly on the fine, white parting
that separated the braids Of purest
fax.
"And how dye like them, Mr.. Sell
den?' asked Mrs. Jones bit later, re-
ferring to the biscuit.
II love them" answered he, referring
to the girls dimples.
OF course that was only the begin
ming. After that Selden Howard man
aged almost daily to meet katherine,
or at least to catch glimpse of her.
Her lovely, tired eyes and little. quiet
ways appealed to him in an infinitely
more tender and real fashion than had
those of many a pampered beauty
whom he'd met in the course Of his va
ried travels.
One morning Katherine was reading
1.-THE House of Mirth" out on the veran-
da. At least she was supposed to be
reading 1t. In reality she had closed
the book, keeping the page marked
with her slim forefnger. She had only
two days more here In Gods green
earth, and the lilacs seemed to be call
Ing her imperatively. She had been
breathing in lilacs to that extent that
her thoughts seemed to be fairly scent
ed with them. All at once an impulse
of yielding came to her. Why in the
world should she not step over the low
hedge and go into the lilac garden?
She did. Bees hung above the purple
bloom. and little attenuated fountain
tinkled in the distance. Oh, 1t was al
together enchanting. Just then gold
en- eyed sable collie came leisurely
down the curved walk to meet her.
"You beauty!" cried the girl exultant-
ly, STOPPING to pat the dogs queenly
head. The collie, with slowly swishing
tail, gently kissed her behind the ear.
A commanding whistle from around
the turn of the walk, and then:
"Mollie, Mollie, old girl, where are
you?" Mollle sat with one ear up, the
other down, as collies will when per-
picked. She loved her master-but
also she loved her new found friend.
"Ah!" cried Selden, coming upon
them Unexpectedly. "But it is beauti-
full to find you in my gardenv he said.
looking gladly upon Katherine. "Do
you know, last night dreamed you
were here. You are very, very well
come, little lady"
You see," she explained helplessly,
trying to hide her telltale bushes, at
was the lilacs. They called me-"
Suddenly he took both her hands in
his and drew her toward the bushes.
Dear lllacs," he whispered whimsi-
cally, ''she is here now-on enchanted
ground-and we must keep her. You
belong to my garden" he added mas
terfully, turning full upon katherine,
"and l will not let you go. The house
yonder is very lonely and waits for
you. You will stay?"
Her answer? WE'LL she was girl
and very tired, and he was man and
strong-and it was spring-and they
We're among the lilacs!