The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-28

Selden Howard was returning from MS
dog kennels. whence he had gone to
look after sick collie. when his eye
had CHANGED to fall upon the figure in
the easement and in sheer artistic APP
probation had rested there.
"She's like some young princess" he
thought to himself. pursuing his way
toward the big house. ''or goddess.
Her hairs like the silvery floss around
corn. Her name ought to be Perdita.
Marpessa or Ariadne. How ever in
the world did the Jones family STUN
BILE across such creature?' The CLAM
our of the girl wove itself into his
dreams. and in waking intervals he
pondered on plans for an acquaintance.
"Ah, ha. have itr' at last laughed he.
Early the next morning he went
a-fishing. AS luck would have it. he
secured well filed creel On his way
home. without ceremony. he lifted the
latch of Mrs. Jones low back gate and
entered He walked right up to the
kitchen window, for there stood Mrs.
Jones rolling the dough for breakfast
biscuit
"Good morning. Mrs. Jones'" said he.
'T've got such jolly big creel full Of
fish here that don't know what to do
with them. There's no one over there
-nodding toward the big white house
-"but my housekeeper, and she's sick
this morning. so I'm wondering If
I,a In,
try of knight he held out to her his
creel
"Oh, Mr.. SeldenI' exclaimed the good
woman. bit fustered, 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. pour soulD Accept
them? Well, 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.
When katherine Hope entered the
dining room Mrs. Jones, of course, pre-,
scented Mr.. Howard.
"How do you do, Mr.. HowardY' said
she conventionally. with a smile, lit
tie tired in spite of the play Of child
ish 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.
Il love them" answered he, refer
ring 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 10 him In an infinitely
more tender and real fashion than had
those of many pampered beauty
whom he'd met in the course of his va
ried ira yels.
One morning Katherine was reading
popular new novel out on the We
randa. At least she was supposed to be
reading II. In reality she had closed
the book. keeping the page marked
with her slim forefinger 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 10 that extent that
her thoughts seemed to be fairly scent
ad xxffh hnr A OF r1ea
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, Ii was al
together enchantingl Just then a gold
en- eyed sable collie came leisurely
down the curved walk to meet her.
'You beautyr' cried the girl exuit-
antly. STOPPING to pat the dogs queen
ly head. The collie, with slowly swish
ing 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
your Mollie 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.
"Ahv cried Selden, coming upon
them Unexpectedly. But it is beauti-
full to find you in my gardenr' he
said, looking gladly upon Katherine.
do you know. last night | dreamed
you We're here You are very, very
welcome, little lady"
'You see" she explained helplessly.
trying to hide her telltale bushes. lit
was the lilacs They called me-"
Suddenly he took both her hands In
his and drew her toward the bushes.
Dear lilacs," 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.
land | will not let you 20. The house
yonder is very lonely and waits for
you. You will stayF"
Her answer: Well. she was girl
and very tired. and he was man and
strong. and II was spring. and they
were among tie lilacs,