The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-07-30
Jenny Lee came slowly down Mile

Jenny Lee came slowly down Mile
o. from the Herrick house on the
hill. where she had been sewing all
day. The evening was so warn that
the coat she had needed In the morn
Ing felt uncomfortable now, and she
had thrown II back on her shoulders.
6he was late in getting home be-
cause she had stayed to tea. In
Westmore a seamstress Is entitled
TO two meals as well as to q dollar
which In Jennys case was q real
sodsend.
As she walked Jenny thought
dreamily Of the pretty things she
had worked upon all day--the sheer.
lacetrimmed linens which Bess Her
rick was to wear under her wedding
gown. Jenny had always made Bess
Herrick's clothing. and. although the
beautiful satin wedding gown was
beyond her skill. she was fashion
ing the things that went with It. She
had even seen the gown itself, which
had arrived that day from the city
a pearly robe. with Q veil like morn
Ing mist. But It was less the dress
she remembered than the lifted
radiance OF Bess' young face as she
cried: "Oh, Jenny. don't you just
wish you were met"
Jennie Lee was tired tonight
tired In body and spirit She drag
sed along like q bird with both
winds broken. Mile-st. streamed
with lighted cars, whose occupants
were cooling of after the heat and
stress Of the day. Jenny had TO
wait a long time at q crossing be-
fore she could get suficient courage
to pass over. Then she moved down
shabby, old, quiet street which
grew darker and Quieter and shah
bier the farther she went At the
very end was her house.
Two generations Of Lees had &C.
cupied the house before It came to
Jenny. II was little gray house
like a hornets nest. On either side
OF the yard were palings. but the
front was open to the street. Here
crowded Jenny's flowers, some Of
which were descendants of her
grandmother's poses. Soft waves Of
perfume rose into the night air.
They came forward to greet Jenny.
She could distinguish the odor Of
spice pink. blush roses, and white
nancies. She loved best the white
nancies for an old, sweet. simple
reason Of her own. AS she went up
the narrow path she reached out
and broke a bit from the nearest
white flower cluster and pressed 1t
to her face. It's sweetness and the
memory of Bess Herrick's wedding
dress set her heart aching.
Jenny opened the door. The close,
cosy breath Of her home breathed
upon her. The room was not more
than gray dark. for the moon was
floating up like while globule.
Jenny took OF her hat. She started
to take OF her gray coat. and then
she changed her mind. She also re-
covered the chimney from the lamp
and started to strike match, but
changed her mind about that also.
I'm always changing my mind"
she thought. 1T has been my
curse"
She dropped down into the near
est chair and submitted herself to re-
Election. II wish I hadn't seen that
dress" she thought. II wish they
hadn't asked me to make those
brd dial things. II brings 1t all back.
II has seemed all day as If" A sob
came into her throat. She tried to
swallow it. why. II he was right
here in the room with me he couldn't
be any nearer than he has been all
day"
The small, warm room choked her.
A pun of air came in at the open
door, freshly scented with the
nights Installations. The dark be-
came very dark In the corners. but
across the floor under the window
the moons white glance grew. Jen-
ny sat staring at It. ITS a pretty
night" she thought. 81 guess I
won't light up at all. guess I'll just
60 to bed by the moonlight"
She rose to close the door. but
paused to look out. The flowers
seemed to sigh. the moonbeams to
beckon. II might sit In the porch a
few minutes" she thought, "I'm not
very sleepy"
On either side the little old.fash-
toned latticed porch was a wooden
settee. Jenny sat down. With her
hands folded. she looked wistfully at
the flowers which breathed and rock
ed in the moonlight. She looked
until she ceased to see or think or
move. She had fallen asleep.
Slowly. as II she were being pull
ed out the depths of languor, she
opened her eyes. A shred OF dream
chung to her. She seemed to hear
voice and to behold q face which
long years before had passed out
Of her life. The moon was right over
the house, and its light came down