The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-04-15
Miss Bradford's HoIIyhocks
By ELLA Nj. BANGS

Land Miss Elinor, I guess it's a
lucky thing you never married him.
Her mistress smiled when the other
went on. "'Pon the whole, when I
see how different folks turns out from
what you think they're goin' to when
they're young, wonder half the mar
ried folks are as happy as they be"
The summer passed, the hollyhocks
faded, later flowers blossomed and
were gone, while Elinor realized that
the dream Of her life, hitherto but
half acknowledged, had gone as well,
but life went on. If not quite the
same, at least as contentedly as be-
fore Eugene Sargent's visit
The winter wore away, and the old
garden was once more in bloom when
one morning EIinor was arranging
some flowers out on the piazza, she
heard an automobile approaching, and
looked up. The next instant she
sprang to her feet Two children
playing near by started suddenly to
cross the street. They were in the
path of the oncoming vehicle
She covered here eyes instinctively.
The next moment there was a crash
and tremblingly she looked out. The
autoist, at the risk Of his own life.
had avoided the children by steering
against a large rock rising on one
side of the roadway. The car was
badly damaged, and its one occupant
lay beside it unconscious.
Elinor ran down the steps and
kneIt beside the still figure. In him
she saw a stranger, perhaps forty
years of age, broad shouldered, and
with touches of gray in his dark hair.
She ran for Joel, who with a passing
neighbor, carried the man into the
house 4 doctor was sent for, and
meantime Elinor bathed his forehead
and bound up the cut on his head.
letter had fallen from his pocket; the
name upon it was Charles F. Taylor,
and a Chicago address.
In due time Doctor Sprague arrived.
His patient must have q few stitches
taken, but just yet he could not tell
as to how much or little he might
otherwise be injured.
Can you keep him here, Miss Brad
ford, for day or two?" he asked Il
would rather not have him moved at
present"
She could keep him, Of course, but
it was not until the following morn
ing that the strange man opened his
eyes to a realization of his surround
ings.
Where am II" were his first words.
Elinor moved over beside him. You
have been hurt" she answered, land
we are taking care of you"
Several moments later he asked a
second question. What happened?"
You risked your life to save two
little children"
Did it-were they-saYed?"
Yes, oh yes
A few days later Doctor Sprague
pronounced his patient out Of danger.
There, Mr.. Taylor" Elinor began
one morning as she placed a bouquet
on the table beside him, 81 am bring
ing bits of my garden to you, but
soon, 1 hope, you can go to the gar
den. 1 particularly want you to see
my hollyhocks."
A peculiar expression passed over
the mans face. 'I wonder why you
all call me Taylor"
In surprise Elinor explained. 81
see." he said then, land I am from
Chicago, but my name happens to be
Wyman-Tom Wyman."
His companion gasped. tom Wy
mani" she exclaimed, land I never
mistrusted 1t"
'1 must have changed more than
you have" the man went on, 81 would
have known you anywhere"
Whereupon, to her own indignant
amazement, EIinor found herself
bIushing like school girl.
For several years 1 have been in
tending to come back to the old
home" the man continued, but it
never came right till now. I hoped
to call upon you while here, but 1 did
not intend to literally hurl myself at
your door as seem to have done So
you see, have seen your garden, but
for that reason I am all the more
anxious to see it now"
A week later his wish was realized,
and as they walked through the old
garden he was telling more of his life
to his companion than ever before.
But" he ended graveIy, 'T have
never married. There has never been
any one-else"
ment, before he paused looking down
at her. Her glance met his and fell
before it. Then with all the-Ionging
of twenty years he reached out. his
arms. "EIinor."
And without a word she went to
him. A little later he took a small
case from his pocket and held its con-
tents before her.
DO you remember that?' he asked
1t was a faded, pink hollyhock.
Sugar In Mortar.