The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-08-30
MISS 'lIZA'S LILIES
BY EVELYN LLOYD.
opyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicatel

per Syndicate.l
Sylvia Stuart's eyes, accustomed to
| the hard, gray city streets. roved with
| delight over the bright garden beds La
| her aunt's yard. Miss Eliza Stuart,
! Familiarity known through Falrview 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 rejoiced In when, as Il
| growing girl, she had wandered
| through her aunt's garden during her
holidays.
But, Aunt 'Liza" 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 yalley?"
"Over across" replied her aunt abb
| ruptly, and nodded to bed of exaui-
| site white blooms against back
| ground OF fresh green stalks that filled
| 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 ner arm through hers, "tell
| me what the matter is2"
| Miss Liza motioned her to keep 81
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, sniffed little to assure herself
/ that she was not crying, and replied j:
''You remember how angry Jennie
Patterson was because you wouldn't
marry her Dick?p Sylvia nodded In
/ silent remlniscence and her eyes re-
mained fixed high on some unseen
| point far beyond. s'ANell. 1t was the
next spring that some pest killed every
one Of my beautiful lilies--my beauti-
full posles," she interposed mournfully
as IL dreaming Of the beauty Of lost
child.
Sylvia exclaimed Indignantly, - call
1t pretty selfish and unfair of her not
to give some OF them buck after you
had been such good friends for life
time r.
4Ail the Pattersons are proud, Syl-
via, and so are the Stnarts. or course
Jennie couldn't offer them, and Of
course I couldn't accept them IL she
did; but 1t does seem hard" she added
wlstfully 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, pondering the COM
plicated problem. Years before d gate
| had been cut to facilitate passage be-
tween the two yardsan opening used
only by the two old friends and the
the grass had grown up close around
1t and that the hinges were rusty.
Plainly 1t had not been opened since
the memorable quarrel. And there,
| just on the other side, cleaned tile lily
| bed, beautiful and ghostiy, 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 d trowel.
The damp turf beneath the gate yield
ed ungraclously before her vigorous
push, and 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
i lily bed, scooped up half dozen
plants, and with few hasty pats COW
cred up the hofes left by the extracted
roots. She rose. triumphant from her
impulsiye venture, and found herself
face to face with the tall figure of
Dick Patterson.
"What--who-ho she exclaimed
In utter confusion, then stopped.
I've 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 1t too later"
She shook her head and looked up
out OF misty eyes. II love you,o she
whispered. and stopped, for his arms
| embraced her. "But your mother,
Dick'' she exclaimed moment later.
/, MY aunsl''
,, Mother telegraphed you were here.
/ and that must come" he began, but
a voice overhead interrupted.
.You made man Of my Dick, Syl-
j vial haven't any quarrel with you
| now. And you take all those lilies to
Liza, won't you?'
@Oh, Jennie" voice whispered
across from the opposite window,
| "how'd you happen to be here? Isn't
| 1t beautiful"
II heard the gate creak and I
| jumped out OF bed quick as fash"
j $50 did T." Miss Liza replied ex-
psfadIv aT,ya heap igstnnfnp fnr III al y