The herald., 1920-01-29
SWEET PEAS
BY LOUISE HOFFMAN.

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Gertrude Fraser was sealing the
last jar Of pineapple when she heard
tmid ring at the front door Through
the glass panel she caught a glimpse
OF dainty little woman in a cool white
wolfe gown. She opened the door and
found herself gazing into a pair of the
softest velvety brown eyes she had ever
seen.
Scarcely had a word Of introduction
been spoken before these comparative
strangers. instinctively, felt a mutual
attraction.
The little woman, Miss Eunice
Sprague, was carrying an exquisite
bouquet Of sweat peas, which she silent
ly placed In her hostess hands.
How lovely" exclaimed Gertrude,
ecstatically, They are my favorite
flowers, inseparably linked with my
dearest and sweetest associations.
Why, here is my old friend, Marks
Tey," drawing forth a dusky bicolor
Of huge size. land here is Dobbie's
Cream and Wedgwood Blue and beau
tiful Blanche Ferry with blush-white
WINGS" she rambled on, naming each
In turn.
The little woman's velvet brown eyes
glistened. "Tm sure you love them"
she murmured, sinking into comforta-
BILE winged chair which Gertrude drew
forward. do you grow Them"
I'VE planted some. but unfortunately
they are little late"
Gertrude buried her flushed face In
the delicate fragrance and drew great
drafts of inspiration from their depths.
She was so tired. Housework discour-
aged and fretted her so. There was
such an infinite amount Of detail. One
was never done. She could direct q
staff Of servants In hotel management
with comparative ease. But she found
II quite another matter when her two
hands must do the work Of cook, wait
ress, chambermaid and seamstress,
even II the establishment was small.
Her idea of rest and relaxation In .
small house. to which she had fed In
this quiet little hamlet, had proved q
delusiop. Yet here was this little wom-
an from the narrow confines Of farm
life. who had probably been accus-
toned to this drudgery all her life.
fairly radlating peace and quiet.
They chatted away like old friends
on various subjects for q few minutes,
but Gertrude went back to the flowers.
"Come and see my sweet pea trellis,"
invited Gertrude.
"Why," exclaimed Gertrude in rap
lures. as they entered the garden.
"Here is a King Of the Whites In bios
som. They we're my bridal flowers, you
know" she explained happily reminis-
cent as she picked the glistenlng i'm
naculate white blossom.
The little woman's velvso brown eyes
glowed with a strange sympathy. How
strange" she murmured. Then in a
scarcely audible tone she confided
"They were to have been mine, too.
But your love story ended happily"
Will ycdEuluS
Gertrude Fraser glanced up quickly.
In a flash she saw the little woman
was yearninS for the prize every wom-
an longs for. And here she was max
ing herself miserable because she
couldn't attain an impossible ideal in
housekeeping. Suddenly, she came to
. realization Of her priceless blessing.
mo. no. don't say it's ended happily
yet" she begged, leading the way to a
secluded garden seat.
The little woman looked troubled and
the sadness in her eyes deepened. 1t
was such a shock to have this new
found friend ruthlessly dash her cher
ished dream on the rocks.
II meant" continued Gertrude softly
radiant a. she caught the fieeting e1-
preston. my love story Is going on
happily. I'm happier now than I was
on my wedding day"
The little woman leaned forward
eagerly. I'm 20 happy to hear you
say that" she breathed. Il knew you
must be happy. How could You be
otherwise In q dear little home like
thisi You know" she explained. this
was ny old home. and I've always
loved II. I was born here"
Robert and I were to have been
married the year before we moved.
We had planned to have oceans Of
sweet peas for our wedding, and Rob
ert had helped me plant them. A month
before our wedding Robert was obliged
70 make trip to Paris, and while there
war was declared" She paused q mo-
nent. at is Ave years this summer
since I saw him last gaily waving his
cap as the steamer disappeared from
view. Then one awful day early in the
war I received Official notice that he
was lost In action"
A motor whirled into the driveway.
A young man, with the assured air Of q
welcome visitor. painfully ALLOTTED and
s.hares; Alexander George Ehrhard, 10
shares; William NJ. Ehrhard, Is shares
FELIX J. DREYFOUS,
Notary puhlie