Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-06-12
Wanderlust
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By JANE OSBORN

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II was one % the first warm days Of
spring and. because Mrs. Buttersby had
opened one Of her dlnlng.ropm win
dows. q scent Of spring freshness
morning sunshine on the blndcs 81
fresh young grass and breeze TINT
blew fresh from q bright blue Sly
mingled with the aroma % coffee,
buckwhent cakes and fried snusngcs.
But instead OF having a benedlctory
effect on the thirteen boardcrs-thls
FIRST breath Of spring-it seemed TO
cast them into n gloom that wns even
deeper than usual. II n often that
way with those first whlffs Of spring.
wewait for weeks and months Of win
Der expecting that the blue skies and
sunshine and freshness Of spring will
an our hearts with good will and con
tent. forgetting that with that spring
freshness and with those blue skies
come queer. unaccountable, qulxotlc
longing that make some Of US quixotic
fnclanchoiic and others downright III
natured.
Hortense Perry was Of the gently
meiancholic sort. while Matthew Watts
who sat behind an outstretched news
paper directly opposite her nj break.
fast. was one Of those whose spring
fever took the form Of extreme lrrita-
billy. Primarily this was because II
seemed 10 rouse In his heart feelings
Of tenderness that he was loath 10 own.
He found himself repeating 10 himself
snatches Of poetry that he had read In
his boyhood and TINT had managed 10
survive, tucked away somewhere In
the reeesses Of his mind: and then
there were dlsconcertlng. entirely
maudlin-so Matthew Watts thought
sentiments about the gentler half Of
mankind-not womanhood In general,
but Hortense Perry IN particular He
could sic across from her for an entire
winter-in fact. he had done sO--with-
out ever going any further than think
Ing that she was q mice girl" aud
hoping IN a passive sort Of why that
she would remain opposite him, slim
ply because her presence saved that
seat from being occupied by any one
with O less even dlsposition-and then
LEI come one Of those first balmy days
Of spring and he was tormented with
all sorts Of schOol-boy thoughts OF her.
n his eyes Tell on the graceful curve OF
her light hair as u wns arranged down
her ears and cheeks he was filled with
a silly desire 10 see the dainty cars
that only showed the merest coral edge
from under the waves Of hair. aud
when she put her little hand out to
reach the bread plate he was filled
with q really catfish desire 20 clap his
own hand over u and feel the softness
OF n moulded into the hollow Of his
own. II vas because OF these unnc-
eountable iongings that the cmlnently
sensible Matthew was irritable. The
only why 20 combat the spring frenzy
was 20 indulge In his IN nature, even
10 the point Of keeping his paper spread
before his face nj breakfast.
But the paper only barred his vision.
II did not render him deaf, and he was
not obllvious TO the occasional signs
that escaped from Hortense's lips. One
Of the other boarders asked her why
she sighed aud Matthew heard her
sigh agnln and say that she wns tired
Of living In Peace street-Mrs. But
tersbyis boarding house was In Peace
street. She said she iongcd 90 get way,
20 travel. 10 be a nomad; 10 fact. she
thought she WIS part gypsy. which was
hardy consistent with her blonde hair
md her round blue eyes. Matthew
thought
Then be heard one Of the boarders
remark that shat was wanderlust."
and Hortense sighed again and re-
proved the boarder for using German
word. After that Matthew conceived
q dislike for residence IN Peace street
SIN, he had lived there for several
years and he knew that when the at
tack % spring fever had passed he
would be well content with life at Mrs
Butterpby's-at least. Us well content
as no would be with life IN amy board
ing house.
Meantime. after dinner That hlsh'
Hortense went 10 her room with the
eagerness OF one who had some pleas
urable plans 10 make. First she pick
ed out tho bottom OF dime bank by
the aid Of O nail Gle aud fine hnir
pin. Then she counted the dimes The
amount was three dollars aud hnli'
Then che laid aside from that and her
weeks wages enough 10 pay weeks
rent 60 Mrs. Buttersby and then enough
for earfarea aud iunchcons' lew
other necessities and o minimum Tor
4 incidentnls She had nine dollars aud
a half left. This she put In special
purse m her handbag. and then she set
about taking an inventory Of her ward
robe. That evening she wished two
pairs OF doe-skin gloves, pressed
some dainty accessories Of dress and