Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-08-04
AMONG THE
LILACS
By Virginia Leila WentE

Copyright, lss. by W. X. caldwell

There was a suggestion OF approach
was redolent with lllacs. by CHANGING
toward the right IL was not difficult TO
SEE where the fragrance came from.
ON the other side OF the hedge In the
deepening twilight was purple forest
OF plumes and beyond that white In
the gray light. rose the old Howard
house the oldest in the tiny village as
we'll as the largest Selden Howard
was the only living representative Of
the family.
Presently the group on Mrs. Jones
yeranda began TO speak of Seldcn.
leading up To the subject from the fra
GRANGE of the bushes
Them lilocks Is sickishly sweet"
observed Mrs. Jones herself
Really nauseating." acquiesced the
boardcr who had been spending the
winter here in this little cottage among
the berkshire hills. BY the way, |
saw Il strange man nj the postotiice
this morning and | overheard some one
say he was MIR. Howard Very good
looking man he was and seemed 20
know thing or two"
That's him" confirmed Mrs. Jones.
But why shouldn't he know thing or
two He don't do nothin' but travel
and trapse round the country. Hardly
ever home and won't have thing 10
do with the people In the village.
The moon was beginning ~ show
red and low ia the warm dusk. aud the
iilacs made superb black shadow eff
fects on the lawn The little tired out
city girl who sat on the lowest step of
the veranda and who had just arrived
that day had nothing TO say. She was
tlllng her whole soul with the beauty
Of the coming night.
Pretty soon. carrying her lamp. she
went upstairs 10 her bedroom She
looked nj the high mound of feather
bed and at the small window at the
foot into which was already flooding
the spring moonlight. For a moment
she stood irresolute: then she lowered
the shade. slipped on checsecloth XII
mono. drew the pins from her hair. LET
ting II fall about her shoulders blew
out the lamp and followed her within TO
lean from the easement.
Il had been "A very long while since
Katherine Hope had looked from II
window over Il garden when the moon
was shining True. from the window
OF their stodgy city lodgings ON Elev-
enth street. her mothers and hers. she
had leaned out M times when her head
was hot and aching with too much
work and had caught breath of out
side aii. -: .hat was so different.
From that window she could look out
only on clotheslines. sheds. the back
windows OF the boarding houses on the
next street and there whatever rcstful
thoughts might come 10 her were made
havoc of by an accordion. cheap coon
songs or the catcrwauling Of feline
creatures on the fences below.
And now oh. the feathery. pale flor
essence of the lilacs over yonder!
Katherine drew her breath In with do
light as their dominant scent came up
To her. II only her dear mother could
Ht " lAl NV W fAilbs wv f'AAAa Va -
all But that had not been possible
When the physician had shaken his
head grayely over his young patients
WORKOUT condition and commanded an
Immediate change In the country IL
had been an that mother and daughter
could do 10 Scrape together the meager
savings for Katherine's rest Of fort
night. And Katherine was not one to
NEW and whinper over imposslbil!ties
She was here now. and she would
make the best OF every moment to
grow strong and we'll again that she
might go back with new life 10 her
office work and the companionship OF
her sacrificing little mother
The mild country air and the thou
sand odors OF the spring played upon
her face and lifted her lO0sened hair.
gildcd by the moonshine into the like
ness OF an aureole. Her white klmono
fell softly around her. from the position
In which she held her arms her soft
elbows were plainly visible. and her
exquisite face. leaning back bit
against the dark painted frame Of the
window. stood out like cameo.
The girl was little conscious Of any
thing except the wonder Of the night
nor was she aware of one who watched
her moment from the shadow of the
lilacs In the garden beyond the hedge
Selden Howard was returning from his
dog kennels. whence he had gone TO
look after sick collie. when his eye
had CHANGED to fall upon the figure in
the easement. aud IN sheer artistic APP
probation had rested there
shes like some young princess" he
thought to himself. pursuing his way
toward the big house. "or IA goddess
Her hairs like the silvery floss around
corn Her name ought to be- Perdlta.
Marpessa or Ariadne. How ever In
the world cid the Jones family stumble
across such creaturc?" The glamour
OF the girl wove itself into his dreams.
and In waking intervals he pondered
on plans for an acquaintance. "Ah. ha.
| have it, az last laughed he.
Early the next morning he went A.
fishing As luck would have II. he