Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-01-23


mysteries of a perfect day. As her
eaze wandered appreciably from the
distant hills to the nearer meadows
and orchards. their peace seemed re-
| flected in her face. But when she
glanced down at her own garden
quick frown accompanied an impa-
tient exclamation, "That pesky dog
again l declare it's enough to pro
woke a saint, which / never claimed
to be. If there's one thing on earth
more bothersome than another. it's
/ neighbors who don't care two pins for
other peoples comfort"
Once upon a time before Miss Ly-
dias coming, the path from her steps
had run directly through that yard and
the next, ending at the adjoining
house and was well-worn trail. But
little cloud had appeared on the
friendly horizon. at first no bigger
than mans hanl, and grew to such
| proportions that the spite fence had
appeared to stop all intercourse.
However, two young folks lived on
| either side, and love laughs at fences
as well as locksmiths, so just where
the big maple stretched its branches
| over the top an almost invisible gate
had been made and many a night had
| the lovers found it an ideal trystng
place. But this was years ago and the
original owners had moved far away.
The gate was fitted now with latch
and hinges, but she had never used IT,
as the next house had been empty I'M
| til lately and then she had been dis
| appointed to learn that 1t was only
lone bachelor who had taken the
| farm
| But today with sudden determine
tion she picked IN the broken tulips
and started down ths path Meantime
her neighbor, happily unconscious Of
trouble. and feeling at peace with
every man, went whistling to the barn.
Round the corner whisked large cat,
| holding a chicken in its mouth and
disappeared through the very hole un-
der the fence that the mischievous
pup had used "Drat that cat" cried
the farmer, there goes another of my
going to be stopped right now" and
he too strobe down the path toward
the gate. stepping through It just as
Miss Lydia was about to reach for the
latch. Dear me- was her startled
thought, "it's himself Now's my
CHANGER though her courage was 60
ing fast, for she was a shy soul. "She's
the one this interviews coming to-"
ran Farmer Johns mind "for I saw
her petting that ornerv cat one day"
and simultaneously they spoke.
"Ma'am. that cat of yours"
"Sir, your dog"
Then they broke off in blank amaze
ment A long stare. and again they
cried in unison:
"John."
"Lyddy"
Elbow in the world?-"
"What on earth?"
And stopped again for want Of
breath, seemingly. If so. John was the
first to recover it.
'Lyddy-tell me, have you been lIv-
ing here all these long years? l left
home the day after we quarreled Just
to make YOU sorry; but was sure YOU
would send for me TO come back And
when I'd waited as long as I could
stand II. and was starting home. had
a long spell of sickness that mighty
| near kept me from ever seeing old
| BARLOW again. And when I did get
! there, nobody knew where you we !.
went away .to work again and was
al and bought this farm for a change.
Just now your cat caught another
chicken. and was coming over to-
Lyddy. are YOU marriedT'
Lydio's face famed like pink
peony why. no. John. You see mas
health never was good in Barlow. SO
when an OLD aunt left her this little
place she wanted to try the country
air. And / was secretly grieving over
YOU. John, and wanted TO come where
! nobody knew me; So we just quietly
moved away off here; and when ma
died at last Just STAYED on. I hadn't
Inquired your same of anyone, and
| was coming 10 tell Won how your dog
was spelling my garden"
'Lyddy" said John softly, do YOU
remember the night of the big sleigh
ing party, wheu you and I promised
to he pals Ger llfe7 Look, I've carried
his with me always"
And he produced from his pocket
! book a funny little tintyne that she
had given him on that occasion.
'Will you give me a chance 70 make
M for all we've missed since theng
Twas all my fault we quarreIed."
! "No, mine, too, FOR | was stubborn :"
was the quick reply; but oh We're
! too old to marry now"
"oid,--you?" cried John. You look
sivteen to me, and that's a fact And
didn't our old copy hooks say that it's
/ never too late to mend?
'Wen. don't know" twinkled Ly-