American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-19
LOVE AND LILACS
BY MILDRED WHITE.

Homer Brant drew his car up sud-
denly at sight Of the lilac bush. To
him In the roadway came the sweet
haunting odOr. Indeinably the per-
fume brought to mind the girl he had
so recently and so quickly learned to
love.
Homer had stopped there, on his
way to an engineering camp higher up.
He had intended to remain over night,
but with Justine Jordan's coming, his
visit had been prolonged.
During the first day they had visit
ed together, upon the hotel veranda,
the second found them roaming the
wonderful country In his car; at the
end Of one short enchanted week,
Homer caught the girl In his arms,
speaking out his love for her. And
that had been the end. Like some
startled bird she had escaped and
flown from his embrace, and when
after a troubled night, he awaited her
morning appearance, humble in his
apology-she had not appeared at all.
Instead the hall boy had handed him a
note in peculiarly characteristic hand
writing.
'Dear friend" 1t said, when this
reaches you, I shall be up among the
hills, fulfilling a mission which has
been postponed just n week. Spring
time, and lilac time, tempted me to
linger. When I meet you again, l hope
It may be in the more prosalc and less
romantic atmosphere of the city. With
best wishes ever-Justine Jordan"
Whereupon, Homer, inwardly Tuning
at his admired ones practical %coolness'
babe the inn good-by, and began a
searching tour of the hills.
What could be the delayed mission
at which she mysteriously limited and
which brought her to this isolated
country?
He alighted and made his way to
the lilac bush which grew beside the
open window Of a vacated log cabin :;
looking inside, he was surprised to
see a reclining camp chair in the CEN
ter of the room. Entering curiously,
he sank into the chair, idly drawing
from its side bracket a recent Illus
trated magazine. Some person evil
IDENTIFY made this rude shelter a read
ing place.
Gazing through the open door across
the vista of glorious scenery Homer
mentally complimented the reader on
his choice Of location. Then as he re-
placed the magazine a pad of writing
ape fell from the rack, one glance
at the bold and pleasing handwriting
brought a quick flush to his face. Sure
" this and the penmanship of his OWL
hasty note Of dismissal were the same
So Justine had found her way to this
deserted cabin then her stopping place
must be in a nearby farm house. The
heading of the closely written page
caught his attention, Dearest NJ
read, "Oh, my dearestl"
Homer Brant's heart pounded furi
ously. as his eyes fOrcibly followed the
lines: ACROSS the miles 1 have trav
eled to our trysting place, and yol
are not here. Instead, I find the low
ing note you braved danger to leave
Beloved, let not your courageous spiri
falter. Without one look into you
eyes, without a touch of your dea
hand, l could not go back to the world
Some way I shall manage our meeting
Never in my heart can there be room
for other than you. I am.-YOur Own.
The pad slipped from the man
trembling fingers. So this was tn
secret of the softly brOOding eyes
and love after all these years had bu
found him to make mOckery.
Homer sprang to his feet, as a gil
came through the doorway, came an
stood a moment, surprise and di
fdence in her gaze.
"Justine 7" he cried out sharply, the
>still inwardly raging. pointed to tn
written pages at his feet. II rea
your letter through" he said, II eve
forgot about scruples and it has SHOW
ed me why you ran away from m
love. But l want to know" he straigh
ened before her, 81 demand to know
why any man dare to ask a woman
meet him in secret, dare bring her II
TO threatened danger!"
Across the girls somber eyes fasI
ed her transforming smile. "Th'
man, is a German spy" she replied.
Brant came suddenly close, fierce
he caught her wrists In his gras
"And you" he breathed, "you-'
Tor a time she stood, looking stead
" into his face. LET me CO. 81
said at last, "and I will explain"
When he loOsed her hands, she smI
ed, and going to the camp chai
brought back an open magazine hol
ing 1t out before him.
Dazedly he read the title of a stor
I'm Love and War" and beneath
new serial, by Justine Jordan"
"You are more privileged tina OF
ers," she laughed. "for you have rel
the beginning of a later installmer
That is what I came out here to wrt'
The cabin is my study"
"So" he said slowly. "yOu are