The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-10-06

Dg, bees buzzing. leaves stirred 10
ow rustling by the breee.
The older Of the two old ladies
niffed without breaking the rhyth
mic clicking OF her needles. De
gclous, isn't Il, Lucia" she said. IN
sxacfIy the same soft. well bred
folce that had been saying II
through innumerable blossomings
zone by
Receiving no answer she nnl@hed
ne 30 loops OF her needle and turn
I'd. Her sisters crochet work lay
neglected in her lap. her sisters IN
seeing gaze seemed pushing thru
he vine screen as the hungering
or something beyond A scoSl dis
igured the pretty. refined face.
whats the matter. Lucia sick
mo, only wicked, Lois mean,
ssnt to be wicked I--I-ha,e all
mis-. II isn't delicious I've been
wing ell the years 9hen ! agreed
sIih you II was The swearing OF
aow sounded real nice
Lois rose and went into the house.
Ehcn she came back she carried a
sink edged cup with a blue dover.
Drink this, child she ordered -
pill make YOU feel better
The child drank obeGiently, but
nook her head Makes me feel
sorse," she declared It's like all
me rest Whenever ] felt bad or
nid something different or The
seather changed I've had 20 drink
,hamomile tea out Of this cup /
hate the gentle pink edge and the
prim flower"
Lucia, Lucia"
"Boshl" irreyerently and with en-
ehasis. 81 heard a boy say that on
he sidewalk. az stole IL. I'm going
n use q right along now, and other
words | know
what started you OF Ike this
i.ncia dear? Let me call the doctor
You never"
"Yes, I have, always, inside just
haven't let il erupt. that's all The
tay I was given the cup, when seven
gears old. was playing pirate and
making believe something bad righl
along. had TO or die Father
rover let US go TO public school for
lear we'd Learn rough ways, and ne
never let us have any girls TO play
With. or go out in the yard. for tn,
same reason. We recited lessons 20
hin and sat on the piazza and told
zach other about the delicious fra
srance OF the flowers. That vas all,
except what made believe inside.
Then last night The two men walked
By, and one OF them nodded toward
our piazza and said something about
The old ladies'. We are old ladies'
LOIS" bitterly. you &c and | Al.
[ lay awake last night thinking
about Ii. Father died when he was
so and mother was past 10. Were
Of long lived family. Reasonably.
we got 30 years more OF H. We get
up In the morning and have toast
and tea, dust a little, and pick dry
leaves of our flowers, and then
crochet and knit some more. When
teas over we continue the crochet
ing and knitting. For change and
Amusement and real excitement We
listen TO footsteps going along the
sidewalk. and hear words. We've
got just 80 cents a day income 10
hive on. with no rent TO pay because
We own the house. We don't dare
vpend any more for fear there won't
be enough for old age and the buy
ngs, And 80 years! I'd rather
die!"
''Deary. Deary!" soothed the old
sr woman. You're excited about
The mans words. We're not so very
pld. Try and calm yourself, child
But Lucia bumped over in her
rocking chair. letting the crochet
work fall TO the floor and then kick.
Ing II into the vines Il don't want
10 calm myself" she said. I'm
OF the 30 years, and OF the
20 that are past I'm going TO cut
loose, as | heard a boy say on the
but | want little talk
with you first. glory In all the
I've thought. and In
what I'm planning, and am sorry for
only one thing"
Whats that. child7"
"You and Bill Logan. was just
Is then, and a bold smugglerg irl.
That's what made me push thru the
bushes and lean over the front fence
and answer Tommy Lerken when
he spoke 20 me. We both leaned
over the fence for q week after that.
Then Tommy proposed and | accept.
ed. and We were planning 10 elope
when father came UP behind and
He climbed over the
fence and thrashed Tommy, who
wouldn't run. and be wouldn't strike
father because he was an old man. -
She giggled reminisceDtly. and
then sighed. II never heard from
Tommy again." she unused. Father
bought up some old debts OF his,
believe, and threatened him with the
law or something. But I'm glad
knew him. and that we were engag
ed. It's the one live week of my
whole life. The only thing I'm sorry
for Is you and Bill II vas the sec
end evening-no, the third-that
rot Won out there and let Tommy