Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-04-29
LAVENDER
Copyright. by ]. b. Lippincot. Coz
By LlzETTE WOODWORTH REESE

| been here month. and we haven't
has that hedge been growing. Mrs.
Field?"
Some of it's twenty year-old.
maybe more. The last planted was
eleven year ago."
Mrs. Bowden drew long breath.
How dear and old-timcy and strag-
gly 1t is! Now II my cuttings grow -.
and you must show me how to manage
them, Mrs. Field,--I'll be the proudest
woman In the world And when you
sit In church and smell the blossoms,
they'll be so sweet you'll think 1t
your own lavender and not mine at
all?"
Il don't so to church." said Mrs,
Field.
On one side of the fence rose the
graves, very distinct in the clear yell
low of the west. and beyond them the
church, distinct and dark On the
other stood the narrow old house, a
side window one sheet of quiet ra.
dance. The hedge looked dim and
cloud-like, and seemed to float away
into the softened space. Beyond the
hedge stretched acre after acre OF
market.garden, whose already fur
rowed levels were filling with phan.
tom mist, and out of this ghostliness
was blown a primeval aroma that
could be subtly detected under that OF
the lavender.
Il don't go to church." repeated Mrs.
Field. Il got tired of hearing preach.
ers talk about Mary Magdalenes and
the thief on the cross. You'd think
there was only two kinds of com.
mandments that ever got broke"
Mrs Bowden looked rather vague
II guess everybody gets tired OF
preaching sometime" she said. Then
she laughed. II seemed easy for her
| to do so.
Her neighbor gone, Mrs Field stood
a moment gazing out into the church.
yard II she had put her hand over
the sunken palings, she could have
touched her husbands tombstone. He
had been n hard man, certain rig.
idity of conduct had brought him an
enyiable reputation, which, after his
death, had ripened and mellowed into
that of the saint. Some fleeting recol,
lections Of their early youth, when
they had both lived away from the
neighborhood. came into his wlfe's
mind. Then some later and keener
ones that reused aud stung her. All
at once she spoke out sharply. you
| helped to drive her to IT, John
Field, and then, just like a man, you
had to go and die, and leave me to
bear It," Her voice rang out, pelting
the air as though with stones Sin
ner, sinner, sinner!"
She went back to her humble task
Of tying the lavender stalks, but the
light grew DINNER, the yard began
to melt away into the gathering dark.
ness, and presently she flung her
apron over the unfinished heap on the
little table and looked around and
about her. II wonder II she'll come"
she said An added breathessness
took possession OF her. Her body ap-
peared to strain forward In an atti.
tude Of almost painful watchfulness
Il wonder IL she'll come tonight" she
repeated as she went into the house.
Out In the lane each tree was n soft,
blurred black. behind which stretched
the distant and exquisite west. The
road itself was half-blotted track.
There were the old, shrill noises In
the hidden grass.
| Mrs. Field came out to her front.
door. JEAN" she called softly.
II seemed to her, so sharp was her
longing, that the girl must rise up be-
| fore her out of the brooding dark.
All hopes, her desires, her schemes,
her ambitions, had resolved them.
selves into that one cry OF her forlorn
heart. She had given up church, mar
ket, friends, all the petty but absorb
ing threats of country life. and lived
eleven lonely years In lonely house
that she might be at home whenever
Jean returned. Against that hour the
I chamber had been kept ready the
| garden pruned and tended I'm the old
| fashion. There should be nothing
new, HOlulhb dt'uoihb anu StTdUBe.
jean" and her voice struck into
| the dusk with passion that was like
flame, IF you're dead come back!"
| A step came faltering along the lane
outside.
jean"
There was no answer
Old Mrs Field went swiftly down
the gravel path.
The step began to draw nearer.
Il knew you'd come back, Jean, I've
been waiting. There's only you and
me now. Your fathers dead"
The guests came and rocked against
the far golden sky.
Jean! Jean!"
There was no answer.
Mrs. Field ran out into the road,
cropping bl.ndly before her with out.
stretched hands.
A hating figure came out of the pale
darkness and swayed towards the gar
den gate.
Jean" cried old Mrs Field.
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