Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-07-26
AMONG THE
LILACS
BY Virginia Leila Wenfr
Copyright, 1905. by W. r. Caldwell

NOh OAQ illc IAbul Nuo uOt ~
see where the fragrance came from.
On the other side of the hedge in the
deepening twilight was a purple forest
of plumes, and beyond that, white in
the gray light, rose the old Howard
house, the Oldest in the tiny village as
well as the largest. Selden Howard
was the only living representative Of
the family.
Presently the group on Mrs. Jones'
veranda began to speak OF Selden,
leading up TO the subject from the fra
GRANGE of the bushes.
"Ihem lilocks Is sickishly sweet"
observed Mrs. Jones herself.
Really nauseating," acquiesced the
boarder who had been spending the
winter here in this little cottage among
the Berkshire hills. by the way. l
saw a strange man at the postoffice
this morning and 1 overheard some one
say he was Mr.. Howard Very good
looking man he was and seemed to
know thing or two"
That's him." confirmed Mrs. Jones.
"But why shouldn't he know a thing or
two? He don't do nothin' but travel
and trapse round the country. Hardly
ever home and won't have a thing TO
do with the people In the village"
The moon was beginning TO show
red and low in the warm dusk, and the
lilacs made superb black shadow ef-
fects on the lawn. The little tired out
city girl who sat ON the lowest step or
the veranda and who had just arrived
that day had nothing to say. She was
filling her whole soul with the beauty
of the coming night
Pretty soon, carrying her lamp, she
went upstairs to her bedroom She
looked at 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 n cheesecloth ki-
mono. drew the pins from her hair, let
ting 1t fall about her shoulders. blew
out the lamp and followed her whim to
lean from the easement.
1t had been a very long while since
Katherine Hope had looked from a
window over n garden when the moon
was shining. True. from the window
of their stodgy city lodgings ON Elev-
enth st-~et, her mothers and hers, she
had leaned out at times when her head
was hot and aching with too much
work and had caught breath OF out
side air. But that was SO different
From that window she could look out
only on clothesllnes, sheds, the back
windows OF the boarding houses on the
next street, and there whatever restful
thoughts might come 20 her were mad9
havoc OF by an accordion. cheap coon
songs or the caterwauling OF feline
creatures on the fences below.
And now-oh. the feathery. pale for
escence OF the lIlacs over yonderi
Katherine drew her breath In with de-
light MS their dominant scent came up
TO her. IL only her dear mother could
be with her to enjoy the beauty OF it
all. But that had not been possible.
When the physician had shaken his
head gravcly over his young patients
wornout condition and commanded an
immediate change In the country IL
had been all that mother and daughter
could do 10 scrape together the meager
savings for Katherine's rest OF d fort
night. And Katherine was not one 10
new and whlmper over impossibilities.
She was here now. and sh0 would
make the best OF every moment TO
grow strong aud well again that she
might go back with new life to 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 loosened hair.
gilded by the moonshine into the like
ness Of an aureole. Her white kimono
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
lllacs in the garden beyond the hedge.
Selden Howard was returning from his
dog kennels, whence he had gone 10
look after n sick collie, when his eye
had chanced TO fall upon the figure In
the easement. and IN sheer artistic np-
probation had rested there.
"she's Ike some young princess" he
thought 20 himself, pursuing his way
toward the big house. ''or goddess.
Her hairs like the sllvcry floss around
corn Her name ought to De Perdita.
Marpcssa or Arlndne. How ever Ia
the world did the Jones family stumble |
across such "A creature?" Tho glamour |
or the girl woye Itself into His dreams. |
and In waking Intervals he pondercd
on plans for nm acquaintance. "Ah. In, |
/ have ~" nj last laughed ha.
Early the next morning he went a.
fishing. As luck would have II. he |
secured n well filled creel. On his way |
home. without ceremony. he lifted the |
latch OF Mrs. Jones' low back gate nnd |
entered. lie walked right up 10 the
Kitchen window. for there stood Mrs |
Jones rolling tho dough for breakfast
biscuit.
Good morning. Mrs. Jones'" said he.
I'VE got such jolly big crecl fun OF
fish here that I don't know what 90 do
with them. There's no one over there"
-noddlng toward the big white house
but my bousekeepcr. and she's sick !
this morning: 80 I'm wondering II you'll
accept thcscr With the gallantry OF a
knight he held out 10 her his crecl.
"Oh, Mr.. Soldcnw exclaimed the good
woman. bit fiustered. but smiling with
appreciation. (Nould the
heavens fall next1 when Ind Mr.. Sci
den Howard last honored her humble
dwelling Ike thisG Surely not since his
mother died. poor soulD Accept thcmr
Wen, Just guess WILL And so Mrs.
Patch is sick! Well you'll just stay
here 10 breakfast. It'll bc nil ready In
nftccu minutes" This was Ms much
ns Howard had hoped for.
you're awfully kind, Mrs. Jones'"
he said. affecting surprise. "And-ycs.
believe IN stay. I've n sick collie
over in the kennels. I'll 80 back and
look after her. then I'll De back 20 ne
ccpt your hospitality"
when Katherine Hopo entered the
dining room Mrs. Jones OF course pre-
scented Mr.. Howard.
"IIow do you do. Mr.. Howard" said
she cOnycntionHlly. with n smile. lit
lie tired I'm spite OF tho play or childish
dimplcs But Selden wns looking down
on tho fine, white parting
that separated the braids OF purest
fax.