South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-24

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violets. In their depths she knew
nestled a faded little note. water
stained and ink run. ith shaking
fingers she took It out and re-read
the never forgotten words:
Il add@a
Maiden, Fair Flora.
Who rivals Aurora
In charm"
There were five verses in which
Fred had declared his passion and
sued for her hand. Fred was al
ways sending her things with verses
inside.
Why hadn't she married Fred?
She picked up the photograph again
and looked thoughtfully into the in
tense eyes. and glanced rather 70 oily
at the dark hair waving back ro-
mantically from the forehead If
had married Fred" she reflected.
Il wouldn't be cleaning Emery
Irons's attic. I'd bs roaming hand
in hand with him mid the blossoms
OF Normandy, as he used TO say.
Fred. l mean" and her heart stirred
uneasily. Il wonder why I did mar
~ Emery Just because-well, be-
cause he insisted so. I guess. He's
that kind-makes everybody do just
as he wants And besides, Emery
was nice before he got so deep in
business and gray haired and stout
But Fred" she sighed softly again
and shook her head. I'm afraid 1
missed something in life. I wonder
where he is and if-if he is married"
she said, tenderly laying the flow
ers and photograph back in their
box and closing the drawer.
The bell rang and Mrs. Irons went
!. gr4r- Ene Oh oh "a
sembled a blue checked beetle in a
night cap.
Looking through the net curtains
on the glass door she identified her
visitor as an agent, and opening IL
rather belligerently. armed with a
roun& Of copper tipped refusals. she
suddenly found herself voiceless and
unable 10 move with chagrin and
astonishment Her caller was none
other than her former sweetheart, OF
whom she had just been so fondly re-
minisCing, Fred Mapleton. Fred OF
the curly hair. passionate eyes and
supple. graceful contous; but now
partly bald. eyes faded and embed
ded in puffs OF fat. a figure rotund;
but not portly. and clothes that IL
they bespoke their wearer had taken
the advice Of Polonius, and that his
4
could buy, certainly attested a short
bank account
But IT was neither the clothes, the
badness nor the agents case he
carried that fairly stupefied Mrs.
Irons. It was the eyes-eyes that
spoke Of indulgence. soft living and
decline. eyes that had lost their tenn
per-their manhood. She drew back
involuntarily. and he caught the
motion
Isis the lady Of the house in?"
he asked hurriedly.
''N-nO!" said Mrs. Irons family. !
starting TO shut the door. Tin |
sOrry!" she added rather compass |
before the latch clicked.
The telephone rang three times
before she answered. 1t was Mr..
'That you. FIo7"
Eyes. dear"
What you doing?"
Cleaning house"
"Oh. it's too nice-cut II out and /
get somebody to do IL. I've sort or
got spring feyer-feel as moony as a
.wo-year-old. Let's get the car ana
run out to Mayfair Inn for dinner
lust US two" His voice was as firm
and snappy as fine steel And Mrs.
Irons knew the clear. fearless look
In his eyes. She put her arm tender
~ around the telephone.
"All right, dear, I'd love to. I !
think I've got spring fever too. I'll
get ready right away. It's nice or
you 70 think Of II.
After all, the world was just right.
Tomorrow she would finish the at
tic-and there was some other
things TO go to the rubbish man.