The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-18
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Lilac Tinne
ny Laura REID Mon.pomery
IcppyEIght lg2l. By the MccIure

70 return, there would have been
many invitations extended 10 the
lonely girl who was coming back
alone, alter her trip abroad with
her invalid mother. The search fOr.
health had been unsuccessful and
Mary had spent the remainder or
her cherished hoard Of money In
buying her return trip ticket.
She had told no one OF her COM.
Ing for she had been too heart
Stck TO write after her mother had
taken the turn for the worse. She
had the instinct OF a wounded
animal 10 return 10 the place 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 flash
light In her travelling bag and she
snapped this on after she had un-
locked the old-EashEoned door that
led Unto the back parlor. The aspect
~ the well-remembered room with
the dear, shabby furniture brought
the quick tears to her eyes. It
would be very hard to move about
aese empty rooms and TO know
sthat. she could do no more for the
: parent who had suffered so
patiently; but, somehow, she folt
nearer her dead here than she had
done in the sunny French pension
wlthlts bleak whitewashed walls
and the strange foreign faces.
The Meddllcott home was at the
hkYefy 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
vide open the next morning there
was no one near enough to oh.
setTe. u suppose someone will see
my smoke" thought tho gill as
she lighted tho kIndltngs under
tthe log in the graato. and | shall
enjoy the chats with my old
friends There is no place like home
discovered whllc away"
She hustled about hoping 10 set
the place in Its usual spotless or
der before THE advent Of the neigh
bors she longed to see and II was
nearly 0 o'clock before she stop
ppd 70 listen as the morning train
tore through the town. a tender
smile touched her lips as she stood
leaning on her broom and think
I ing of the hundreds OF times she
had listened 10 that train and
watched the fluffy splrals of
smoke float lazily along the length
Of the train and then drift up
wards.
why Mary Meddllcott, why
didn't you let us know you were
coming homer" d pair or arms
thrown warmly about the slim.
blue-glnbham waist aroused her
81 just came last night" she
said. KNEW how good you would
be but ! Just though I'd creep in
and get it over with alone"
Amanda pattcd her arm gently.
well, you shan't sleep another
hIght here, alone. Ill be over
again to get you for dinner"
tt'ye been planning all morning
and I cant bear to think OF going
away to teach; ! want to be at
home and I'm going to open u
boarding house. What do you
think Of the plant"
There are Ueveral people
know OF now. The hotel has been
closed all winter and the teacher
.{Sgom the village school is looking
shcut now for a place to board
next fall-and-Mary wondered
why her old friend suddenly halt
ed with twinkllng eyes and stood
% though thinking. And what
asked the girl.
NOTHING" was the evaslve re-
ply, didn't you feel afraid so far
away from the other houses last
night"
Mary shook her head.
1You know the Smiths house
has the name OF being haunted
Didiyou hear anything?"
mo, I wonder why they don't
J rent It Seems a shame for such
fine estate to fall into decay"
returned Mary, a decliate pink
staining her smooth checks as she
recalled the quarrel between the
two families. The fued had grown
oht of a mere trifle, a ball thrown
BY Mary's little brother had
broken a pane of glass in the
greenhouse and touchy old Mrs.
Smith had fused and nagged until
tAefamllies were on terms Of bit.
.ler silence.
Amanda, watching the telltale
Expressions fit over the young
face knew that Mary was thinking
@Sf the brown-eyed Frank Smith,
Rho had been a childhood sweet-
heart and whom Mary had not seen
fur years. "Don't bother to set
sbsead this morning" she said al.
tsr a long pause and she smiled
20 herself as Mary started con-
fusedly, evidently the girls
thoughts had not been properly
Ifocussed upon cooking. ''for I have
my baking in the over and I'll
ptart you with two %loaves. just
for luck" she added, descending
fhenside steps.
T. her mind a tumble Of
IteikEs, hurried over her dust
Sing EoYhe wanted to get out into
DE old.fashioned garden and see