The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-11-30
Poetry and
Patches
Dy JESSIE DOUGLAS.
, 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndica

AS Sue swept the kitchen and held
open the screen door to brush off the
stone step she stopped for a moment
In breathless delight.
A round. gllstening moon slid into
her vision against bank Of violet
clouds. The commonplace Of every
day was shut out. The little maple
tree was Swallowed like a bamboo on
the edge Of the whispering stream. the
faint breath Of lilacs drifted to her
with sudden overwhelming sweet
ness.
Sue, the incurubly romantic, left the
broom leaning against the door. went
hurriedly into the kitchen and found
the stump Of pencil behind the wooden
clock and the piece Of paper on which
she kept the butter list and crept
out again to the mOOnlit step.
In the silvery light she wrote the
first line:
"You taught me what It meant to
love-"
And when several hours later she
had written the last:
"In l!lac-scented nights Of spring."
she gave q sigh Of relief and went
softly up the back stairs to her bed
room under the caves.
Before she could repent she sent the
little poem to one Of the daily news
papers. addressed in her own odd,
vertical hand.
AS the days went by Sue completely
forgot her moment Of madness. For
there was much to Notwithstanding
Cleaning. the spring painting. the tiny
patch Of garden that Sue always de-
voted to her bachelor buttons and
pink peoples and old-fashioned white
pnks. Besides. Rosamond was going
to graduate in June and dress that
Rosamond had detreed should have
innumerable tucks was being made by
Sue.
Sue was bending over the last tuck
with queer little pain shooting across
her shoulder blade when Rosamond
flut:ered into the room. RosamOnd
was the family beauty. She was fair
and 1.-the and just eighteen. with clear
bl,,e eyes that she knew how to use
and a dimple in her smooth peachy
che Elk.
I'm dying to try 1t on; do hurry,
Sue!" she cried impatiently.
Sue Strengthened her shoulders,
slipped the frock over Rosamond's
fluffy hair. and as she caught the tiny
loops into their places she heard
sigh Of pleasure
II do look rather nice, don't /,
Sue?" Rosamond asked, smiling &C.
statically. you're dear, Sue, II
you're not pretty. Oh, forgot, this
came for you today"
She held out letter that she had
put in the pocket of her gingham
frock, and Sue, tearing 1t open, looked
at It with daZed eyes.
"aIy Dear Miss Moore-I read with
much pleasure your poem in the Sem
tinel entitled In Lilac-Time.' have
made musical setting for 1t, and If
1t would be possible to arrange meet
Ing should be glad to do So Per-
taps you would enjoy hearing 1t. Sim
cereiy, ROBERT HERNDON."
Her poem In the Sentinel! Sue ran
to the pile Of newspapers behind the
kitchen door and on hands and knees
went through them. Hidden away In
a corner In fine print was her poem.
Her cheeks burned as she read 1t and
ter heart thumped rapturously How
large her name looked: Susan Moore.
What are you dressing up ior?"
Rose asked that afternoon. "Why, I'd
almost think you had a beau, Sue
Moore!" She giggied at her own wit.
lr few nervous sentences Sue had
told Rosamond the bare outlines Of
her daring, the poem she had written
md the man who sent her letter.
you've got to see him! You must
pretend that you wrote the poem."
She pushed her sister to the door as
she heard the bell t'nkle through the
house.
On the landing above with hands
clasped over her heart, she heard his
voice deep and pleasant and Rosie's
answering giggle.
Ealf an hour later Sue crept down
the stairs to the garden. Some one
else was bending over a border. Some
one who Strengthened and gave her a
quick glance of comprehension.
II said good-by to your sister
few minutes ago, but there was some
thing about your garden"
Sue liked his smile and the CLEAN Of
his white teeth; she liked his thought
full dark eyes and the touch of white
at his temples. She lifted hands full
of pink poppies to him. Perhaps 1t
was their color that touched her
cheeks with pink. perhaps 1t was the
fragrance Of the garden that made her
seem so sweet, for white butterfly
lowering a moment rested against her
soft. dusky hair and the man said
quietly: ut took you for flower!"
ooh. Sue!" voice called from an
upper window, "stOp incoming there
and come In and mend my dress!"
she lifted startled eyes but Robert
Uerndon smiled Understandings,
touching the latch Of the gate.
A CLINT OF humor showed In his