Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-20
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
SUNBONNET SUE
By Anstis NJ. Renedr

MISS SUSAN reached up for the
lNl frilly, white sunbonnet on the third
hook
"Bother" said Miss Susan: she paused
irresolutely a moment. then pushed open
th, screen door No one could see her
from the street and there was on'y
the SILENT shuttcred house next door
vacant for years. swinging her basket
gently. Susan crossed the Nelvety lawn
to the south trelis. where her roses
grew. Quietly she moved about among
the great, rich blooms, until. spying
perfect rose high on the trellls. sre
climbed upon the garden bench: 10 cut
the flower. She leaned eagerly forward
slipped. and in clutching ut the trellis
dropped the rose. 1t fell, with sort.
little sound, fairly upon the open book
of man in the garden next door
startled. he looked UP, dropped his book
and seized pair OF crutGhes a, h,s
side When he had risen and faced her.
Miss Susan saw upon his uniform
majors insignia.
Hello, Sunbonnet Sue :" he said. twirl:
ing the rose. rs this posy for me?
Many thanks"
II dropped IT," she said in pretty
embarrassment hut you are quite vel,
come to It. Would you care for more!
| have so many"
The Majors cap lay on the grass. and
the sun turned the gray In MS piack
hair to silver. -
II should like some immensely; my or
derlv. who keeps house for me. doesnt
care much for 'gew-gawS ana the olo
place needs bright touch or two.
Susan was shipping bustly; Sce had
, gotten down from the bench, hut the
Major was tall and could lean over 'ne
/ fence easily. ,. -.
You have come to live here she
asked. ,. ,rr;,ed
last night. The place was left me by
n great-aunt whom I'd never seen.
didn't take the trouble TO lhNeStleas,,
until the surgeons agreed that Seve,aI
weeks rest was imperative Tor TINS ts
OF mine. So I packed up ana brouent
that / haven't been before. .,,o.,,,
The next morning she STOOD nrS'ta ~ ,ls
hv her kitchen doHr; Mrr tnDti read she m reached
for the sunbonnct. Roses must pe 'e''ueu'
Major or no Major ..,,,,, ,,o, do,.
and ,re next and the NJ Nt; in taci. even
wher II rained, the Major t"uin u, hjc
o..or, TO get a breath Of a'r III HIS
o"sM susan was continually leaving piI'
,o,,s hooks or a garden hat on the VICE
soat beneath the tr"llis and such 'hihss
must be rescued from ram i,t, IL tho
- Rut ma sturtiumS bloom lalthiuI
and ncrsistently with care u"'' '''e
IN the autumn. ho,dorea and a
" The rrutches were abahh"Htu "iu :,
cane took their place uN'a x,,nrienres,
mo Major told his war cNp'' '~cn.'o' ~
,tu;rg sad or humorous. MISS Susaf,
,istanaG with shining eyes, hut she Sa'u
One golden morning in september inc
Major said a brief goou-n!' susan
rIutrhpd wildly at the fence +.
iR,t-are YOU able? Your leg
ohio began The Major was very pale
and stern. his voice was hoarse'
when a man is on the point OF max
, ing a fool of himself, dear child, l!
time to say Good-oy' am IL, ioa.E NV ,"e
, little sue. but don't forbid me to remeh
her YOU. Some day when you are olde'
? think that his love for you once n'au'
2 a man better a.,
And then fate, masqueradng i'll th'
I fat unwieldy form of the grocer's wife
: rame nuffing along the quiet street He
7 loud voice carried distinctly into I'M
hack garden as she declared to her com
wal. I've known Susan sence the da
she was born, thirty-four years ago mex
month and | never see her cut seen
5 Gamer, Hair down like young un. the
saw a-handiu' flowers over the fenc
every day to thet soldier-feller' sh'
r The voice died away as it's owne
waddled on, leaving tense silence IN III
back garden. .,,
[ susan met the Majors eyes squarel!
:, "lf it is any consolation she sai
=" unsteadily, "let me confess that
care, too And | shall--pay-all my Ill
for this silly deceit"
{ The Major cast his cane reCklessI
y aside and climbed the fence, He too
"A Miss Susan's hands in a irm grasp.
Sue. aren't you a bit behind II
q days, dear. You've accomplished a b
of successful camoutiage :"
d sue. couldn't you possibly be marie
4 in "A sunbonnet instead Of a bridal veil
u The neSt complete novelette, - HE
IA THnIGE