Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-11-17
BISCUIT PERFUME
BY r. RAY BAKER

At seven o'clock George Henderson's
alarm clock rang dowa the curtain on
The dream and his eyes sprang open
The room looked the same as AT.
| ways. and yet there seemed something
strange about it. Finally it dawned
on him that perfume from the past
was seeming up his surroundings
| perfume of baking biscuits.
The strange thing about 1t was that
IN bis dream he had been seated AT a
table about to begin an attack on
warm biscuits and maple syrup.
The faint sound Of an oven door
banging shut and the rafting of pans
came from the next room.
THE new light housekeepers.
George commented. as he erawied from
bed and began to dress. THAT won't
last long. Mrs. Maloney simply won't
stand for any baking"
Arriving at his office. George waded
into his correspondence gave instruc-
tons to his assistants and clerks then
secluded himself from all callers and
gave himself up to day dreams.
Elsie Havers was the cause and the
subject Of these dreams, George could
not forget her, although he had seen
her last ten years ago. At first. when
he came to Detroit, he had given her
scarcely thought. he was so busy
making good in the real estate "game
and besides. his fellow workers were
acquainted with number of attractive
city girls. one of whom quite can
uSated George and allowed him 10
spend a great deal of time with her
and a great deal of moner on her: IN
til her former sweetheart. who had
been West. came back and married
her, and took her to Colorado.
When George recovered from the
blow he discovered he had never loved
vivian; 1t had been simply a case of
infatuation. His thoughts naturally re-
verified to Elsie. and he ATTEMPTED 10
renew his neglected correspondence
with her. His letters came back un.
opened, stamped unclaimed" He
wrote to mutual friends and learned
that Elsie and her mother had left
Harbor Springs and were living In Chi
cago. although their address was unob.
tainable.
"Why not pay the old town visit.
anyhow" he asked himself after few
moments more of cogitatioa.
Twelve hours later he stepped Off
the train at Harbor Springs. AS he
walked up bluff his gait increased.
Before long he met a farm fifvyer
In which he noticed number of large
TN cans
Hello" he called. wait a minute
The driver applied the brakes, and
the machine stopped.
well, well.' said the driver. "If II
amt George Henderson,
"Bill Jackets!" George exclaimed
and he extended a hand, which met
a firm. warm clasp. Are you still deal
Ing in maple syrup2"
You bet. Here's thirty gallons. I'm
taking 'em to the store"
Wont twenty-nine be enough for
the store" asked George, reaching for
his pocketbook. II haven't tasted
maple syrup in ten years."
Nope. / can't sell It," Bits face
was covered with multitude of grin
ming wrinkles as he added, "but I'll
give you one, for old times sake, you
know. You used to be my best Gus
TONER"
George thanked him and trudged on
with his can of syrup. 1t was heavy.
but it wouldn't be after he found the
shady spot Soon he came to a four
Corners. On each of the corners was a
house. George paused In front of the
smallest.
"Elsie's old home" he sighed. "Won-
der who lives there now?"
He mounted the porch. The door
was open and only screen barred his
progress. To his establishment the
same perfume that had assailed his
nostrils two mornings ago came from
the interior of the house.
He knocked, and a middle-aged ladN
with white hair. hustled to the door.
When George saw her he dropped the
can of syrup on the porch floor.
Mrs. HaversT he almost shouted.
wringing her hand.
'Nhs "CAis OtoTSe. IL .uOeS seem
good to look on your face once more.
And what's in that can? Maple syrup?
l might have knowed It, You're lust
In time for breakfast-and we have
biscuits-always do for breakfast
even down in Detroit"
George was walking toward the
kitchen. He stuck his head through
the doorway and his eyes took In a
young lady bending before the oven.
The girl looked up and their glanees
met.
"What-what are you doing here?"
she faltered, and her eyes found the
| floor
u just dropped in for breakfast
You see, l have maple syrup, and you
you have the biscuits; so thought
we might collaborate