The Washington herald., 1915-06-10
1y ETHEL HARRINGTON.

Blacliterrics hedsed the road on either
side as it wound higher and higher to-
ward the Berkshires; here and there
some be!ated Strawberries. tiny specks
, Of crimson in the grass, joined their
! fragrance 10 the invigorating breath of
! the pines. From an implanted barn came
the persistent click-clack. thud-thud of a
loom. where Miss Lettuce was weaving
yards of carpet from little balls of COL
ored rag. a voice sharp enough to the
verge OF diSplea sure startled her.
Will YOU finish tomorrow, sister,"
lit don't hardly seem possible"
Twas promised. pears to me you're
uncommon slow. Surely you're not such
Il fool as to be thinking O. William Hen
derson and such nonsense at your age"
Miss Lettice's hand involuntarily
sought the fastening of her bodice. but
the faint crackle of the secreted paper
lens ears
The letter was delayed. He's going
away tomorrow
"Lettice Howard, he's no man for YOU.
We settled that years ago. I'm ashamed
for you-that you So much as think on
him now"
Hes free again" Miss Lettuce
spoke deprecatingly.
Free is it: II he wasn't good enough
with three children certainly amt no
gain With toss of the head, Mrs,
Alien recrossed the road to her cottage
Miss Lettuce sat miserably uncertain,
her hands idle in her lap; she forgot the
loom and Mrs. Harris, who was count
Ing on TIE finished carpet Her thoughts
we're with the curlyheaded lad from
whom her sister had separated her, be-
cause he failed to settle in the Gown
-haFa ha hU1r roll Inv
stone, was forever wandering. apparently
gathering little of this worlds goods.
Now he had returned and wanted to sec
her. II seemed Il cruel prank of fate, and
in the form of delayed mail prevent their
meeting. 4 tear gathered beneath her
lashes, but before it fell Il pair of warm
arms wound themselves around her neck
Aunt LcttiCe. you're in love-in
love. Don't ask me how 1 know, be-
cause you are. You don't listen to
what folks are saying, and as to the
carpet
Yes. dear. the carpet" Miss Lettuce
seized the shuttle and sent it flying
through the shed of warp-threads; her
feet mechanically worked the treadle
shifting the heddles, then with the bat
ten she bent the wool of rag into Place
again and again.
We can't talk through that noise"
she remarked plaintively.
My dear. there is nothing"
There is. you darling. come Tess
up. I'm not to be put Gifts fellow
sympathy. The crimson deepened in
the laughing face and with soft
wheedling she gained the desired con-
fdence and Miss Lettuce surrendered
her letter.
1t was in no sense a love letter.
yet it was the nearest approach that
the spinster had ever received: posi-
bly, she read between the lines:
Dear Lettuce: 1 am visiting my
brother Joe till Wednesday. l want SO
much to see you. If I'd be welcome
send me word
Yours. as ever. WILLIAM.
II only got it last Might
It's too late to write now" her
niece hurried on. but you must go to
Chatham to see him, make believe !
you're shopping. Jennie's going to-
morrow. I'll have Rob ask her to stop |
for you"
Sister would never listen-besides !
it's not the carriers day"
She's making a special trip for |
Rob's mother. Just to think-the girl |
rose excitedly. .it must be ten
years."
And you cared all this time-oh, |
Aunt Lettuce, how could you bear it!
Mothers good as sne can be. only she's |
had SO much trouble it's made her .
little hard. Do as / say. and I'll play |
for you. After breakfast |
come over here, as usual About ten,
walk down the road till the carrier
you. then to Chatham with
her and to Joe Henderson.s. ask for
and you'll have hours to-
sether. Jennie will pick you up on
neT homeward trip. You'll be back to
supper. Mother need never know I'M
ess you choose to tell her.
But the carpet-if she doesn't hear
he loom she'll come over TO find out
what's wrong"
Leave that to ME, I've got to think:
but I'll fix IL somehow"
During supper Mrs. Allen glanced
anxiously at her sisters flushed
and untouched plate. with
he morrow william would be gone,
hen Lettuce would return to her nor
nal self
Later when Annie wandered down
The road with Bob. the moonlight
showed their heads very close togeth-
Ir. while now and again the girl