Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-08-06

LllacS, white and purple, how lovingly
they clustered about the little New
England home.
Her eyes clouded with a sudden
mist. She saw again two figures
standing by the bushes, 1.-THE, sturdy
lad in khaki, and a girl in a lilac
frock who raised shy, adoring eyes
to meet his. The heavy odors of the
white and purple glory with which
he had heaped her arms filed the air
during those last sacred moments be-
fore his departure for France. There
were caresses and promises, but few
tears, for the girl was one Of race
who untlinchingly sent their best TO
fight for liberty under the banners Of
the United States, and the man would
have scorned to show emotion.
After his departure she had written
him again and again. At first the re-
plies were received as regularly as
could be expected, then had come ST.
lence, unbreken silence. All attempts
to locate him had been in vain and
the corroding agony Of suspense grew
upon her. No one had heard and his
name appeared on no prisoner or cas-
ualty list.
Finally she had volunteered as 4
Red Cross nurse for foreign service,
and there found partial surcease from
personal sorrow. Now her work was
over and she was going home. Going
home. to what?
With a start she came to herself.
The bus had reached Kensingtsn, and
Kew Gardens lay before her. She
alightea and walked slowly along. The
birds were singing and their sweet
notes were all that broke the silence.
The peace Of it stole over her and she
sank down on q bench, half-hidde1
among the lilac bushes, and gave her.
SELF up to bitter-sweet memories.
A man wearing the silver bars Of
first lieutenant in the service Of the
Omitted States stood beside London
bookstall, idly turning the leaves Of
q book Of poems His eyes caught
the following lines:
"C0me down to Kew il lilac time, IA
lilac time,
It isn't far from London"
He read absorbedly to the end Of
the poem, then re-read It. Turning
with sudden decision he asked the
bookseller how he could reach Kew.
The bookseller gave him the necessary
directions and advised him to go by
all means to see the famed beauty Of
the gardens.
The young man thanked him and
purchased the book Of poems. The
next bus that rumbled along toward
Kensington found him on it's top, I'M
naersed In deep thought. His mind
was far away In little New England
village which he had not seen for
over a year. There stood a farm house
with clustering white and lavender II
lac bushes, and beside them a girl in
a frock to match, her laughing face
bent over the lovely blooms.
He swung off the bus at Kew and
strolled down the winding paths, en-
joyiRg the rustic solitude to the ut
most. He turned a corner and came
upon the lilacs filing the air with
magic sweetness. This was familiar,
this was home, and all that was need
ed to complete the picture was the
girl, looking up at him with the love-
hight shining in the depths Of her eyes.
Still held by the enchantment Of his
dream, he turned and saw girl sit
ting on one of the garden benches
with bowed head. As he looked she
raised her head and he saw her face.
As recognition came he swiftly
stretched out his arms and she few
to them"l like homing bird, too happy
to be surprised. So swiftly had the
dreams Ct both become reality that
there was no consciousness Of abrupt
transition.
One hour later a squirrel skipped
out from behind the bushes and cooked
his head to one side. He was watch
ing this couple who were 50 close to-
gether On the park bench, SO quiet,
save for the Row nt1rmur Of voices and
soft laughter.
The man had explained the long ST.
lence in a way which increased the
gfrls love and trust. He had been on
a secret service mission Of great dan
ger, which had made it impossible for
him to communicate with anyone. He
had since been promoted and cited for
bravery.
Then came the story Of their ap-
pearance in the garden, and he un-
wrapped the book Of poems. Two
heads came close together and the
listening squirrel heard words which
sounded strangely like this:
"Oome down to Kew in lilac time, In
lilac time,
# isn't far frem London"
Ard the man, the gin, and the squir-
re3 al agreed with the Deet that It
WAS "A excellent thing to d..
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