Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-09-05
MISS 'LIZA'S LILIES,
BY EVELYN LLOYD.
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)


familiarly known through Fairview 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 glances noted the presence
one after another, of the blossoms
which she had rejoieed in when, as a
growing girl, she had wandered
through her aunt's garden during her
holidays.
But, Aunt Liza y Sylvia'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?"
'Over across" replied her aunt abb
ruptly, and nodded to bed of exqui-
site white blooms against a back
ground Of fresh green stalks that filled
a corner of Mrs Pattersons yard.
There was q 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
hnd slipped her arm through hers, "tell
me what the matter isl"
Miss Liza motioned her to keep ST.
lence till they turned the corner of the
garden path, when the little white
cottage next door was out of sight
Then she stopped and dried her eyes
with a corner of her spotless white
apron, shifted 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 "Well, it was the
next spring that some pest killed every
one of my beautiful lilies-my beauti-
full posies," she interposed mournfully
as if dreaming of the beauty of lost
child,
Sylvia exclaimed Indignantly, 81 call
1t pretty selfish and unfair of her not
to give some of them back after you
had been such good friends for life
time !"
"All the Pattersons are proud, Syl-
via, and so are the Stuarts. OF course
Jennie couldn't offer them, and of
course | couldn't accept them if she
did but il 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,
Gust on the other side cleaned the lily
bed, beautiful and ghostly, like the
spirit of the friendship that had van
ished
Sylvia drew sharp breath. Those
lilies didn't belong there. She turned
swiftly and ran to the garden tool
chest, where she procured a 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 leafy branches
stirred the stiffness of the brooding
night. Silently she slipped over to the
lily bed, scooped up half dozen
plants, and with 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.
"What-wh o-how--," she exclaimed
In utter confusion, then stopped.
"Tve come to claim my own" he
replied steadily "Sylvia"-his voice
was low and appealing-"Tm a man
now-not the country boy you refused
and / love you more than ever be
fore. Is ii too later"
She shook her head and looked up
out of misty eyes 81 love you" she
whispered, and stopped, for his arms
embraced her. 'But your mother
Dick r,she exclaimed moment later
'My aunt J"
"Mother telegraphed you were here
and that / must come" he began, but
4 voice overhead interrupted
"You made "A man of my Dick Syi
vial haven't any quarrel with yo'
now. And you take all those lilies Z
Liza, won't your"
"Oh, Jennie" voice Whispered
across from the opposite window
'how'd you happen to be here? Ism
1t beautiful"
81 heard the gate creak and
Jumped out Of bed quick as flash.
80 did l." Miss Liza replied ex
citedly. "Tve been listening for 1t ST
years,"
"And | have, too. Sh-h-they're 60
ing back to your yard" A gray hea'
issued from Mrs. Stuart's window
"Oh. Sylvia: you've forgotten Tn