The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-08-13
Lilac Time in
Ellington
By LAURA MONTGOMERY

f~~~~ 8.
&C. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndcate)
When Mary got off the night train
at the quiet little town Ellington
she went directly to her home. Had
her neighbors known that she planned
to return. there would have been many
Invitations extended TO the lonely girl
who was coming back alone after her
trip abroad with her invalid mother.
The search for health had been un-
successful and Mary had spent the
remainder of her cherished hoard of
money in buying her return trip ticket.
She had told no one of her coming
for she mad been too heartsick to
write after her mother had taken the
! turn for the worse. She had the i'll
stinct of wounded animal t. return
to the places she knew and as she
drew in long breaths Of the sweet
country air, she knew that she had
done the right thing. She had her
fiashlight in her travelling bag, and she
snapped this on after she had I'M
| locked the old-fashioned door that led
into the back parlor. The aspect of
the Well-remembered room with the
dear, shabby furniture brought the
quick tears to her eyes. 1t would be
very hard to move about these empty
rooms and to know that she could do
no more for the parent who had suf-
| fered 50 patiently; but, somehow, she
felt nearer her dead here than she had
done in the sunny French pension with
its bleak, whitewashed walls and the
strange foreign faces
The Meddlicott home was at the very
outskirts of the village and only near
one house; this was the Smiths house,
which was next door, with large
grounds and many trees about 1t.
Therefore, when Mary set all her doors
and windows wide open the next morn
ing there was no one near enough to
observe. Il suppose some one will see
Gy smoke" thought the girl as she
lighted the kindlings under the log
in the CRATE, land l shall enjoy the
chats with my old friends. There is
no place like home, discovered while
away"
She hustled about, hoping to set the
place In its usual spOtless order before
the advent of the neighbors she longed
to see, and 1t was nearly ten o'clock
before she stopped to listen as the
morning train tore through the town.
tender smile touched her lips as she
stood leaning on her broom and think
ing of the hundreds Of times she had
listened 20 that train and watched
the fluffy spirals of smoke float lazily
along the length IF the train and then
drift upwards.
why, Mary Meddlicott, why didn't
you let us know you were coming
homer" A pair of arms thrown warm
ly about the slim, blue-ginghamed
waist aroused her.
Il just came last night" she said.
Il knew how good you would be, but 1
just thought I'd creep In and get it
over with alone"
Amanda patted her arm gently:
well, you shan't sleep another night
here, alone. I'll be over again to get
you for dinner"
1--WE been planning all morning and
l can't bear to think of going away
to teach; l want to be at home and
I'm going TO open a boarding house.
What do You think of the plan?"
There are several people | know of
now. The hotel has been closed all
winter, and the teacher from he vii
lage school is looking about now for =
place to board next fall-and-" Mary
wondered why her old friend sudden
ly halted with twinkIing eyes and
stood as though thinking. "And what?"
asked the girl
Nothing was the evasive repIy.
Didn't you feel afraid so far awav
from the other houses last nfghtY'
Mary shook her head.
You know the Smiths house has
the name of being haunted. Did Won
hear anything?'
No. | wonder why they don't rent
1t. Seems shame for srch fine
estate to fall into decay" returned
Mary, delicate pink staining her
smooth cheeks as she recalled the
quarrel between the two families.
The feud had grown out of a mere
trifie. ball thrown by Marys little
brother had broken a pane of glass in
the greenhouse. and touchy old Mrs.
Smith had fused and nagged until
the families were on terms of bitter
silence.
Amanda, watching the telltale ex.
pressiOns fit over the young face
knew that Mary was thinking of tho
brown-eyed Frank Smith who hed
been a childhood sweetheart and whom
Mary had not seen for years. "Dop,t |
bother to set bread this morning"
she said after long pause, and she
smiled to herself as Mary started
confusedly. Evidently The girls
thoughts had not been properly TO-
cussed upon cooking. For / have nv |
baking in the oven. and I'll start You |
with two loaves, just for luck" she |