The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1921-05-06
LIL.ACS
BY NELLIE A. FAIRBANKS.

Bill Curtis vigorously applied the Ole
stubby brush broom to his well-worI
suit, then stopped for moment to
gaze out across the great green fields
For 16 years, weather permitting
Bill had watched and loved this time
of day, when the sun was casting its
last slanting rays.
| Tonight he was leaving the home ne
loved so well and the man who had
shared his home and with whom he
had worked for 16 years. That was
the hard part Of going. Something
that looked suspiciously like tears
welled up IN his honest blue eyes, and
he gazed for a minute at the man at
the sink, doing up the supper dishes.
AS a rule this man was laxative, but
tonight he was strangely silent.
The arduous task Of making an old
suit look something like new was final
| ly completed and Bill stepped out on
the little platform that served as
| piazza. He looked sadly at the two
empty arm chairs.
"At the end Of two days journey
1 will be with Marcia again." and
once more he could see the little white
clad figure as he left her that last
evening. Again he could hear the
soft sobbing as she begged him not
to be away long, and Bill held her
close as he whispered:
when have made the little fortune
have dreamed of, then 1 will come
back to you. And when 1 do come
back, Marcia, it will be in lilac-time,
just like it is today"
The first few weeks had been I'M
bearable to Bill; then as the months
and years passed he fell into that
rut of being perfectly satisfied with
working hard all day and spending
the long evenings with his faithful
companion and his pipe.
His little pile Of money grew big
ger each year until he at last decided
it was time to 60 back to the old home
and Marcia. His heart beat faster
as he pictured the little vision in white,
and he sighed happily as he again
entered the little cottage. But his
spirits dropped when he beheld Jim,
sitting with his head resting in, his
two hands, picture Of despair. Go
ing over, he placed his hand on Jim's
shoulder and said:
We've spent some very happy years |
here, old scout, but now 1 must be |
going back to Marcia. l wish you |
could see her, Jim-so small, with I
wavy tresses and"
Eyes, but 16 years makes an awful |
difference, old man." Jim answered.
Eyes, yes" Bill murmured, half alb
sently; Sin some people, but not Mar
cia"
At last the time came when the
parted. Jim drove Bill over
the two miles to the railroad station,
and they silently pressed each others
hand, for neither could speak just
then.
Jim drove back to the lonely cot
age, seated himself in his arm chair
beside the vacant one, and when the
zig full moon arose its beams fell on
me lonely figure. and an empty chair.
In the meantime the train sped on
|
lis journey ended at noon two days
alter, but as Bill felt terribly roman
lc, he waited until the sun was set
ing, then Marcia must see him first
y the lilac bush near her door AS
e neared the house he wished he had
ept corresponding all these years;
ut then, he felt sure Marcia loved
i'm enough to watch and wait for
i'm even though it was sixteen years.
He was almost ct The gate when a
ldden fear took possession Of him.
Kings did not look just right What |:
Marcia had gone away, or had died;
ut no, he must put such thoughts
way. At the gate a piercing scream
cached his ear-iust as he was by !
lie lilac tpee. whepe Marcia must see
m first--and two dirty-faced boys
lme rushing around the corner of the
)use, the larger one finally overtak- :
g the other. and they Immediately i
arted a fist fight.
The door of the house opened quick | t
, and woman, one who would cas-
tip the scales at two hundred, ;ap- | t
Jared in soiled Bingham dress, I
eeves rolled to her elbows, exhibit t
E pair of fart red arms 'thickly COW
ed with whit e suds, and the equally
face showed plainly she had illst
lerged from the family washtub.
Bill rubbed his eyes and looked
ain. There might just have been
: ordinary double chin attached ito
at face, but Bill could swear he s. aw
lr. Be also noticed the thin, h alt
ay locks, twisted into a little he ird
OF at the back of her head. Cru sh-
the innocent lilac where he hadf