The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-10-27
TARTS
~ moLLlE nATHEH.


leaned back, endesvorfng to catch the
breeze. This part Of the country was
not unfamiliar to him, sor be had lived
here as 9 boy. returning often 10 his
young manhood 70 visit an old friend
or two who remained. But many
years had passed since John. busy In
the building Of a fortune, had Travelled
the roads Of yesterday. Few land
marks still remained: be had almost
forgotten them His one impatient
wish now vas 20 nnd the shortest
route back TO the city. Important az
fairs awaited him there. and the pos
sfbtfity Of having to spend nigh: Ia
this hIly isolation was unbearable.
Here and there. far back among the
stately trees. some oid decaying tnan-
sion showed ghost-like. These homes
had for the most part been deserted
Tong ago. or given over TO the families
OF foreign field laborers. whose dusky
children played up and down the long
driveways OF past grandeur. II was a
surveying job witch had called Hamp-
ton from bis Office In a big city build
ing out 10 the forsaken byway-fOr-
saken, except for the touring cars
which went rolling silently upon their
various ways in vrious quests Of
pleasure The hiil route led on TO
fairer paris John Hampton was not
satisfied with the reports his engineers
brought to him. He wanted. literally.
TO see '.hOw the land lay" And now.
as he leaned back in his coupe with
the wind lifting the grazing hair on
his forehead. he noted. gratefully. 4
neat Iittle sign. II was fastened 10 a
tree nearby. an artistic hewn board
itself
Tea served 10 the garden" he read.
Sandwiches. lemonade and tsrts.-
John Hampton did not know that II
was the tart suggestion which decided
him. But he sprang lightly for all his
increasing weight, down into the road
and turned in at the gate. over which
the sign faunted. Beneath low-spresd-
Ing trees. just beyond. -~as laid a riny
table, and as the hot tired man from
the city sank into ,he rustic chair
before the table. a young woman came
gracefully toward him. The effect Of
her short white ruffied frock was
pleasing. her small white shoes stepped
dalntily across the grass. And when
she bent attentively 10 take his or
der. John Hampton liked the gravity
Of her gaze and the wave Of her hair
against a pink cheek.
an with a smile. :
"Oh. yes. we have them. with REQ
currant Jelly. They are considered
very nice"
She looked back at him.
II make everything myself"
He sat after she had left him, gazing
perplexedy up into the loft OF green
boughs above. What half-memory
stirred him he could not determine.
II seemed TO be a pleasing memory.
snd yet The arrival of an inviting
" srranged tray disturbed his reyerie.
Tie attractive young woman silently
left him TO his refreshment Boyishly
John .Hampton left the rest OF his
meal, TO bite into a tart,
"Currant 1ellyl" 1t was delicious.
Where and when had he tasted such q
tart7 Again the illuslve memory.
There had been nothing just like II In
all the years. He looked back toward
the old erumhling veranda where the
white-clad figure sat. An unusual
sense Of rest and satisfaction possessed
hln.,
Lucy Lane had resembled this
dainty rufiled young woman who made
currant tarts and sold them. But Lucy
had been a decorous miss Of twenty
or more years ago. He recalled a pic
ture that She had given him then. In
long dark dress and high-twisted hair
flashed before him. Yet Lucy had
smiled in that grave sweet way. And
Lucy's eyes had been as deep a blue--
veiled. too, by dark and sweeping
lashes. Could II be possible that she
had married and this was her daugh-
ter? He had quite forgouen Lucy Lane
until the tarts stirred hfs memory. He
hsa courted-or played at courting her
In her mothers kitchen. when. Lacy.
always bustly employed, had rolled out
tarts for the young brothers and sis
ters and filled them with currant jam.
The white-clad young woman came.
hurnrning her song. across the lawn.
She stood looking down upon him with
smile.
us there anything else that you
would likef" she asked him.
Yes" John Hampton said impul-
slvely, Il would like to know your
name. You remind me OF some one
once knew"
And forgot" added the woma1,
quietly. my name is still Lucy Lane"
When my family married and scat.
tered came over to this old house OF
my uncle's and-began 10 sell tarts for
living"
John Hampton leaned forward star
ing.