The Snowflake herald., 1920-12-17
LILACS AND LYRICS'
BY GERTRUDE suRNHAM-

W. AS%V' Dy Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate !
Come down to Kew in lilac fine in
lilac time,
1t isn't far from London"
The lifting refrain persisted in the
NINA or a girl who stood irresolutelv
upon the London pavement one sprino
morning, When even that dingy city
was Delng afforded a glimpse of blue
SKY. At the corner barrel organ was
grinding out its tunes to appreciatiye
groups of dancing children.
Wen, why not 90 down to Kew2 It
really wasn't ''far from London" and
now that the war was over she would
soon leave England for America and
he opportunity would be gone. With
sudden decision she hailed a pasSino
DuS and started on the journey to Kew
with the haunting refrain still in her
mind
Lllacs, that was the magic word.
Liiacs, 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, a 1.-the, sturdy
lad in khaki, and a girl in a lilac
frock who raised shy, adoring eyes
10 meet his. The heavy odors of the
white and purple glory with which
ne had heaped her arms filled the ali
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 a race
who unf1inchingly 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, Lnbroken 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
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 Kensington, and
Kew Gardens lay before her. She
alighted 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 a bench, half-hidden
among the lilac bushes, and gave her.
self up to bitter-sweet memories.
man wearing the silver bars of
first lieutenant in the service of the
United States stood beside London
bookstan idly turning the leaves of
a book of poems. His eyes caught
the following lines:
Come down to Kew in lilac time, in
lilac time,
1t 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
Of
next bus that rumbed along toward
KensingtOn found him on its top, inn
mersed in deep thought. His mind
was far away in little New England
village which he had not seen for
over year. There stood a farm house
with clustering white and lavender IL
lac bushes. and beside them a girl in
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-
loving the rustic solitude to the ut
most. He turned a corner and came
uDon 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
light shining in the depths OF her eyes.
Still held by the enchantment or ms
dream, he turned and saw a girl SIT
ting on one of the garden benches
with bowed head AS he looked she
raised her head and he saw her race
AS recognition came he swiftiy
stretched out his arms and she new
TO them like a homing bird, too happy
TO be surprised. So swiftly had the
dreams of both become reality tha'
there was no consciousness OF abrupt
transition.
One hour later squirrel sKlppeo
,ut from behind the bushes and cockeo
his head to one side. He was watcn
Ing this couple who We're so close 10
pether on the park bench. so quiet.
save for the low murmur of voices ana
soft laughter.
IoiV long