The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-10-24

the hard, gray city streets, rOTed with 1
delight over the bright garden beds in /
her aunt's yard. Miss Eliza Stuart, /
Familiarity known through FairYiew as |
Miss Liza, white-haired and frail, was |
displaying her spring beauties TO her /
niece, after six years separation. Miss
Liza was famous for her horticultural |
achievements.
Sylvia's glaRees noted the presence, |
one after another, Of the blossoms |
which she had rejoiced in when, as q
growing girl, she had wandered |
through her aunt's garden during her |
holidays.
But, Aunt Liza r' SyIvia's face
was rigid with amazement as she
looked at an empty brown bed in a
corner by the low white fence that sep
arated the yard from Mrs Patterson's,
next door. where are your beautiful
lilies of the valley?"
cover across" replied her aunt alb
ruptly, and nodded to a BED of exqui-
site white blooms against a back
ground of fresh green stalks Jnat filed
corner Of Mrs Patterson's yard.
There was a culver Of the muscles
about her face which betokened the
approach of tears. She turned abrupt
ly and walked in the opposite direction
from the snowy flower beds.
'Dear Aunt Liza" Sylvia begged as
she stepped swiftly to her aunt's side
and slipped her arm through hers, ''tel1
me what the matter is?'
Miss Liza motioned her to keep 81
lenee till they turned the corner of the
| NH 70
| cottage next door was out of sight.
Then she stopped and dried her eyes
with q corner of her Spotless white
apron, shifted a little to assure herself
that she was not crying, and replied:
you remember how angry Jennie
Patterson was because you wouldn't
marry her Dick?" Sylvia nodded in
silent Renaissance and her eyes re-
manned fixed high on some unseen
point far beyond. ''Weil, it was the
next spring that some pest killed every
one Of my beautiful liIies-my beauti-
full posies," she interposed mournfully
as If dreaming of the beauty OF a lost
child.
Sylvia exclaimed Indignantly, 81 call
it pretty selfish and unfair OF her not
to give some of them back after you
had been such good friends for a life
timer
"AlI the Pattersons are proud, SyI-
via, and so are the Stuarts. OF course
Jennie couldn't offer them, and Of
course I couldn't accept them if she
did; but it does seem hard" she added
wistfully as they mounted the porch
steps.
The peaceful silence of the sweet
spring night drew Sylvia out into the
garden again later, where she leaned
on the white fence, bordering the COM
plicated problem. Years before a gate
had been cut to facilitate passage be-
tween the two yards-an opening used
only by the two old friends and the
boy and girl lovers. Sylvia saw how
the grass had grown up close around
1t and that the hinges were rusty.
Plainly it had not been opened since
the memorable quarrel. And there,
just on the other side, cleaned the lily
bed, beautiful and ghostly, like the
spirit of the friendship that had vah-
ished.
Sylvia drew a sharp breath. Those
lilies didn't belong there. She turned
: swiftly and ran to the garden tool
chest, where she procured q trowel.
! The damp turf beneath the gate yield
ed ungraciously before her vigorous
push, and a harsh creak arose from
. the unwilling hinges. She paused, but
only the rustic of 1eafy branches
, stirred the stiffness Of the brOoding
l night. Silently she slipped over to the
I lily bed, scooped up half a dozen
plants, and with a few hasty pats COW
cred up the holes left by the extracted
roots. She rose, triumphant from her
impulsive venture, and found herself
: face to face with the tall figure OF
Dick Patterson.
2 at-who-how-," she exclaimed
s In utter confusion, then stopped
: 'Tye come to claim my own" he
). replied steadily. "Sy1via"-his voice
now-not the country boy you refused
and love you more than ever be
: fore. Is it too later"
I She shook her head and looked up
U out of misty eyes. 81 love you." she
i, whispered, and stopped, for his arms
) embraced her. 'But your mother,
Dick % she exclaimed q moment later.
my auntI''
j Mother teIegraphed you were here,
: and that I must come" he began, but
s voice overhead interrupted.
: you made a man Of my Dick, Syl-
r vial haven't any quarrel with you
o now. And you take all those lilies TO
. Liza, won't you?"
"Oh, Jennie" voice whispered
: across from the opposite window,
e how'd you happen to be here? Isn't
1t beautiful?H
n 81 heard the gate creak and !
: jumped out of bed quick as a flash. -
$50 did T." Miss Liza replied ex-
citedly. 'Tve been listening for 1t six
I years"
IS "And I have, too. Sh-h-they're go
: ing back to your yard" A gray head
n issued from Mrs. Stuart's window.
e ooh, Sylvia; you've forgotten the
! lilies, you silly girlF'
= Sylvia's happy laugh rose as she
:, gathered up the neglected blooms.
Z aA1d Dick 20 Miss TiZa'S head