The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1918-12-06

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It was a warm spring evening, so
warm that they had veptured to sit
out ON the little wooden yeranda.
There was a suggestion Of approach
ing summer in the breeze and the air
was rcdoleut with lilacs. BY glanc-
ing toward the right it was not diff
cult to see where the fragrance came
from. on the other side Of the hedge,
in the deepening twilight, was a pur-
pie forest Of plumes, and beyond that,
white in the gray twilight, rose the old
Howard hOuSe-the oldest in the tiny
village, as we'll as the largest. Sell
den Howard was the only living repre-
sentative Of the family.
Presently the group on Mrs. Jones
veranda began to speak Of Selden,
leading up to the subject from the fra
GRANGE of the bushes.
Chem Hooks is sicklishly sweet
observed Mrs. Jones herself.
"Rcally n%auseating, acquiesced the
hoarder, who had been spending the
winter here in this little cottage
among the berkshire hills. "By the
way, I saw "a strange mar at the post
office this morning, and ! overheard
some one say he was Mr.. Howard.
Very good-looking man he was, and
seemed to know a thing or two"
"That's him" confirmed Mrs. Jones.
'But why shouldn't he know "A thing
or two? lie don't do nothiu' but trav-
Il and trause round the country.
Hardly ever home, and won't have a
thing to do with the people in the viii
mge."
The moon was beginning TO show
red and low in the warm dusk, and
the lilacs made superb black shadow
effects ON the lawn. The little tired
out city girl who sat IN the lowest
step Of the voranda and who had just
arrived that day had nothing to say
, She was filing her whole soul with the
beauty Of the coming night.
Pretty soon. carrying her lamp, she
went upstairs to her bedroom. Sit.
looked at the high mound Of feather
} bed. and mt the small window Mt th'
foot. into which was already iloodin.
: the spring moonlight. For a momen
she stood lrresolute, Then she low
cred the shade, slipped IN Il cheese
cloth kimono, drew the pins from he
halr. letting it fall about her shouI
ders. blew out the lamp and fOllowe.
her whim TO lean from the easement
It had been a very long while sine
katherine Hope had looked from
+, window over a garden when the moo
was shining. True. from the windo'
4 of their stutfy city lodgings on Ele'
enth avenue-her mothers and hers
she had leaned out Mt times when he
n head was hot and aching with to
o much work, and caught a breath @
+ outside air. But that vas so direl
ent. From that window she coul
look only on clOtheslines, sheds, th
back windows of the boarding house
, Oh the next street; and there, wha
q over restful thoughts might come I
I. her were made havoc Of by an accord
r on. cheap coon songs, or the caterwau
II ing Of feline creatures on the fence
below.
And now-oh, the feathery, pale flo
essence of the lilacs over yondel
Katherine drew her breath in with d
light as their dormant scent came u
VI To her. If only her dear little motht
could be with her to enjoy the beau
II of it all But that had not been posS
II Bile. When'th physician had shake
as bis head gravely over his young p
tient's WORKOUT condition, and col
handed ala immediate change In Il
country, it had been all that moth
--a d"""htar rnnld do TO sCraDe I
gether the meager savings Tor NaJ
:, crimes rest of a fortnight. And Kat
crime was not one to new and Will
In per over imposslbilities. She was he
n now-and she would make the best
every moment to grow strong Al
well again, that she might go ba
with new life to her office work Al
G. the companionship Of her sacrificl
little mother.
~ The mild country air and the the
a. sand odors Of the spring played up
Ie her face, and lifted her loosened ho
:. gilded by the moonlight into the Ill
ness Of an aureole. Her white
mono fell softly around her; from t
position in which she held her arr
hel soft elbows were plainly wish
ana her exquisite face leaning back
hit against the dark-painted frame
the window stood out like a cameo
The girl was little conscious of Al
thing except the wonder of the nigl
nor was she aware of one who watcl
her a moment from the shadow of
lilacs in the garden beyond the he'd
Selden Howard was returning from
dog kennels, whence he had gone
I'll look after Il sick collie, when his
had CHANGED TO fall upon the figure
the easement, and in sheer artistic
probation, had rested there.
II "She's like some young princess, "
thought TO himself, pursuing his "
toward the big house, cor a godd
her hairs like the silvery 4
around corn. Her name ought 70
G perdita. Marpessa or Ariadne, II,