The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-09-13
MISS 'lIZA'S LILIES.
BY EVELYN LLOYD.
Copyright. 1913. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

\S'Psiis bt, 1910. ny ilt 0CttuiS .>tNopd-
per Syndicate)
Sylvia Stuart's eyes. accustomed to
the hard, gray city streets roved with
delight over the bright garden beds i'll
her aunts yard. Miss Eliza Stuart,
familiarly known through Fairview rs
Miss Liza white-hared and frail. WAS
displaying her spring beauties to her
niece, after six years separation. Miss
Liza was famous for her horticultural
achievements.
Sylyias glanses noted the presence.
one after another. of the blossoms
which she had reioiced in when, as a
growing girl. she had wandered
through her aunfs garden during her
holidays.
But. Aunt Liar" Sylvla's face
was rigid with amazement as she
looked at an empty brown bed in Il
corner by the low white fence that sep
arated the yard from Mrs. pattersons,
next door. where are your beautiful
lilies of the valley?"
"Over across" replied her aunt alb
ruptly, aud nodded TO a bed of exqui-
site white blooms against a back
ground of fresh green stalks that filed
corner of Mrs. Patterson's yard.
There was 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, tell
me what the matter is?'
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 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 "Reminiscences and her eyes re-,
mained fixed high on some unseen
point far beyond. "Well, 1t 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 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 life
= time"
:. "All the Pattersons are proud, Syl
= via, and so are the Stuarts. OF cours'
!. Jennie couldn't offer them: and 9
- course l couldn't accept them If sh
;, did but it does seem hard" she adde
:, wistfully as they mounted the pore
steps.
:. The peaceful silence Of the swe,
no spring night drew Sylvia out into Il
-. garden again later, where she lean,
on the white fence, bordering the COZ
H., plicated problem. Years before a ga
had been cut to facilitate passage h
ho tween the two yards-aIi opening us
,r- only by the two old friends and t
~ boy and girl lovers. Sylvia saw he
the grass had grown up close aron
~ 1t and that the hinges were rus
Plainly ii had not been opened sin
yo the memorable quarrel. And ther
To just on the other side, CLEANED the Ii
bed, beautiful and ghostly. like II
=, spirit of the friendship that had va
ished.
- Sylvia drew a sharp breath. Thos
= lilies didn't belong there. She turne
:. swiftly and ran to the garden too
chest, where she procured trowe
The damp turf beneath the gate yielt
ed ungraciously before her vigorou
- push, and a harsh creak arose fro;
y, ~ the unwilling hinges. She paused, BIT
- only the rustic of leafy branche
stirred the stiffness of the broodin
-, night. Silently she slipped over to til
lily bed, scooped up half doze
plants, and with few hasty pats CO.
" cred up the holes left by the extracte
=. roots. She rose, triumphant from he
=, impulsive venture, and found herse
~ face to face with the tall figure
Dick Patterson.
" at-who-how-," she exclaime
~ in utter confusion, then stopped.
- "Ive come to claim my own"
u replied steadily. "Sylvia"-his voit
was low and appealing-"rm ma
~ now-not the country boy you refuse
ne and l love you more than ever b
10 fore. Is it too liter"
en She shook her bead and looked I
az out of misty eyes. II love you" 81
VI whispered, and stopped. for his arm
~ embraced her But your mothe
ie- Dick p she exclaimed a moment late
cr 'My aunt ~
ir- Mother telegraphed you were hei
,e and that must come" he began, b
'e 4 voice overhead interrupted.
IL you made man of my Dick, S,
III vial haven't any quarrel with v,
now. And you take all those lilies
Liza. won't your
"Oh, Jennie" voice whispers
across from the opposite windo
: how'd you happen to be here? Isl
q II hao1ttffattcv