Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-01-31
4. He walked right up to the

kitchen window, for there stood Mrs.
Jones rolling the dough for breakfast
biscuit.
"Good-morning. Mrs. JONES'" said
he. "Pve got such Jolly big creel
full Of fish here that don't know
what to do with them. There's no
one over there"-noddlng toward the
big white house-"but my housekeep-
err, and she's sick this morning; so I'm
wondering if you'll accept theseP"
With the gallantry of knight he held
out to her his creel.
"Oh, Mr.. Selden" exclaimed the
good woman, bit clustered, but smil-
ing with unmistakable appreciation.
would the heavens fall nextP When
had Mr.. Selden Howard last honored
her humble dwelling like thisP Sure
ly not since his mother died, poor
soul) "Acept them2 Well, l just
guess l will And so Mrs. Patch is
sick2 Well, you'll just stay here to
breakfast; It'll be oil ready in fifteen
minutes" This was as much as How
ard had hoped for
you're awfully kind. Mrs. JONES'"
he said. affecting surprise, "and-yes,
believe I'll stay. I've sick collie over
in the kennels-I'll go and look after
her, then I'll be back to accept your
hospitality"
When Katherine Hope entered the
dining room, Mrs. Jones, Of course,
presented Mr.. Howard.
"How do you do, Mr.. Howard"
said she conventionally, with smile
little tired in spite Of the play Of
childish dlmples. But Selden was
looking down admirlngly on the fine
white parting that separated the
braids Of purest flax.
"And how dye like them, Mr.. Sci
dent" asked Mrs. Jones bit later
referring to the biscuit.
II love them" answered he-refer
ring to the girls dimples.
OF course, that was only the begin
ming. After that. Selden Howard man
aged almost daily to meet Katherine
or, at least, to catch a glimpse OF
her, Her lovely, tired eyes, and little
quiet ways appealed to him In an In
flnltely more tender and real fashion
than had those of many pampered
beauty whom he'd met in the course
OF his varied travels.
One morning Katherine was read
ing, 1.-THE House of Mlrth" out on the
veranda. At least, she was supposed
to be reading It. In reality. she had
closed the book, keeping the page
marked with her slim foreflnger. She
had only two days more here In Gods
green earth, and the lilacs seemed to be
calling her imperatlvely. She had
been breathing In lilacs to that extent
that her thoughts seemed to be fairly
scented with them. All at once an i'm
pulse Of yielding came to her Why
in the world should she not step over
the low hedge and go into the lilac
garden2
She did Bees hung above the pur
pie bloom, and little nttenuated fOun
tain tlnkled In the distance. Obi II
was altogether enchanting. Just ther
q golden-eyed sable collie came leisure
ly down the curved walk to meet her
"You beautyl" cried tho girl exult
unity, STOPPING to pat the dogs queen
" head. The collie, with slowly
swishlng tail, gently kissed her behind
the ear.
A commanding whistle from around
the turn Of the walk. and then:
"Mollie. Mollle, old girl, where are
your" Mollle sat with one ear up, the
ether down, as cOllies will when per
picked. She loved her master-but
also, she loved her new-fOund friend
"Ah" cried Selden, coming upor
them Unexpectedly. "But It is beauti
full to find you In my gardeni" he
said, looking gladly upon Katherine
"Do you know. last night I dreamed
you were here. You are very, very
welcome, little lady"
"Y0u see." she explained helplessly
trying to hide her telltale bushes, az
was the lllacs. They called me-"
Suddenly he took both her hands ir
his and drew her toward the bushes
Dear lllncs." he whispered whimsI.
cally, "she is here now-on enchant
ed ground-and we must keep her.
You belong to my garden" he added
masterfully, turning full upon Kath.
crime, "and ! will not let you go. The
house yondcr Is very lonely and waits
fol you. VIII you stayf"
Her answer Well, she was n girl
and very tired, and he was n man and
strong-and II was spring-and they
we're among the lilacsi