The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-02
EUening Story
Poetry and Patches.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS

Z SLO1lG step Sil6 SlOpp6Q bQE d II4OInSAt
| in breathless delight.
| A round, gIistening moon slid into
: her vision against a 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 Iilacs drifted to her
with a sudden overwhelming sweet
ness.
Sue. the incurably romantic, left the
broom leaning against the door, went
i 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:
I'm lilac-scented nights of spring.
she gave a 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 do-bread-making
cleaning. the spring painting, the tiny
patch of garden that Sue always de-
voted to her bachelor buttons and pink
poppies and old-fashioned white pinks
Besides Rosamond was going to grad
uate in June and a dress that Rosa
mond had decreed should have in
Vulnerable tucks was being made by
Sue.
Sue was bending over the last tuck
with LITTLE lin ShnnfiTcr
her shoulder blade when Rosamend
fluttered into the room. Rosamond
was the family beauty. She was fair
and 1.-the and just eighteen, with clear
blue eyes that she knew how to use
and a dimple in hsr smooth peachy
cheek.
I'm dying to try it on: do hurry
Sue!" she cried impatiently.
Sue Strengthened her shoulders,
slipped the frock over Rosamonds
loops into their places she heard a
sigh of pleasure.
Il do look rather nice, don't I,
Sue 2" Rosamond asked, smiling &C.
statlcally. You're dear, Sue, if
you're not pretty. Oh, I forget this
came for you today"
She held out a letter that she had
put in the pocket of her Bingham
frock, and Sue, tearing it open, looked
at it with dazed eyes.
My Dear Miss Moore-I read with
much pleasure your poem in the Sen
tnef entitled In Lilac-time' 1 have
made a musical setting for it, and if
1t would be possible to arrange a meet
ing 1 should be glad to do So Per-
haps you would enjoy hearing it. Sin
cerely, ROBERT HERNDON.''
Her poem in the "Sentinel"I Sue
ran to the pile of newspapers behind
the kitchen door, and on hands and
knees went thru them. Hidden away
In a corner in fine print was her poem.
Her cheeks burned as she read it and
her heart thrumped rapturously. How
large her name looked; Susan Moore.
what are you dressing up for?"
Rose asked that afternoon. why, I'd
almost think you had a beau, Sue
Moorei'' She giggled at her own wit.
In few nervous sentences Sue had
told Rosamond the bare outlines of
her daring, the poem she had written
and the man who sent her a letter.
~ ou'Ye got to see htmi You must
pretend that you wrote the poem"
She pushed her sister to the door as
she heard the bell tinkle- thru the
house.
"on the landing above with hands
clasped over her heart she heard his
voice deep and pleasant and Rosie's
answering giggie.
Half 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
quick glance of comprehension.
81 said goodbye to your sister a
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 it
was their color that touched her
cheeks with pink, perhaps it was the
fragrance of the garden that made
her seem so sweet, for white butter
lily hovering moment rested against
her soft, dusky hair and the man said
quietly: at took you for a flower!'
"Oh, Sue!" a voice called from an
upper window, stop incoming there
and come in and mend my lress!''
she lifted startled eyes but Robert
Herndon smiled Understandings
touching the latch of the gate
A CLINT of humor showed in his
brown eyes,
That's the way it always is in life"
ne smiled, you have to go from
poetry to paches!'
She watched him down the walk;
suddenly the daX-Was golden and the
air was laden with flower sweetness.
The next afternoon Sue, crossing
the hall to Rosies pink and white
room, saw the frothy white frock that
Rosie's graduation. An impulse made
her slip off her own plain dress and
step into the white daintiness of the
commencement frock and surveyed
herself for a startled moment as she
heard steps on the stairs.
Sue" Rosie said at the doorway
Sue, where are you? : That-that
musician person wants to see you--''
She cried out in dismay at the Sue
she saw all in white, slender, flushed,
exultant. Then Sue had turned and
slipped down the stairs. Before her
courage left her she crossed the cool
shadowy living room and faced a tall
man, who stood modify staring at
bowl of pansies.
We'll" he said with evident relief
in his voice.
The something that leaped to his
eyes brought a delicious terror to Sue.
the gentle, Sue, the unprepared.
He caught her hand a moment and