Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-12-09
SEEDS OF ROMANCE
BY VERA M. HILLs

Senator Hibbard was returning to
his "old home town" to do penanee He
had not been there for over fifty
years. not since he had been uncere-
moniousIy dismissed from high
school, and sent, by the wise parents,
TO work his way through a technical
school.
OF all his boyhood FRANKS. the one
which stood out clearest in his mind
was the one which he had always re-
GREETED. Miss Betsy Perkins. near
neighbor of the Hibhards, had been at
thirty-seveu a real "old maid" But
It was whispered that she stin had,
"hopes." Then suddeniy there had
burst upon the town the story OF Miss
Betsy's romance She was receiv-
ing notes from an unknown admirer.
Miss Betsy grew younger-looking
day by day. but Mrs Hihbard was un-
easy I'm afraid there's something
wrong about IT." she told her husband
anXiouSly.
There came day when Miss Bet
sy was ia meet her loyer at the park.
/ Dressed in a new gown, and with
shining eyes, she had been there at
the appointed hour OF course no man
appeared Among the boys hiding BE-
/ hind the trees to watch her. Walter
Hubbard was the hero of the hour.
He had enjoyed writing those notes,
hut he did not enjoy seeing Miss Bet
sy trailing desolately homeward,
with quivering mouth. and hurt eyes,
He found that he had conscience,
and that it was an uncomfortable pos
session
Walter Hibhard. coming back as a
prosperous senator paused to speak
TO the proprietor of the general store.
us Miss Betsy Perkins still llving?"
He detected signs of surprise in the
mans face.
BETSY Perkins? Sure Small white
house ON the left, up the street" He
rang the bell and the voices ceased.
After moment of quiet someone ran
upstairs, ami someone else opened
/ the door.
She was very pretty girl. and the
senator liked pretty girls.
MAY / see Miss Perklns2" ne asked,
smiling.
Il am Miss Perkins" replied the
girl. "unless-unless you mean my
sister, Elfreda."
Il was looking for a Miss Betsy
Perkins, who would be quite an old
lady"
won't you come Inn You must
mean Great-Aunt Betsy; but she died
many years ago. Were you friend
Of hers?"
They had Just seated themselves
when stair ereaked; there was a
sound OF closing door and the noise
Of an automobile In the street beyond.
Betsy lose. trembling a little.
"Oh, will you excuse me a minute,
pleaseT' she said, and ran from the
ROOM
In few moments she stood, a
tragic figure, In the doorway.
ashes gone; my sisters gone away
to be married She's only seventeen,
and | was trying to persuade her
nor to- when--when you came. Oh,
l must stop her some way"
She seemed very helpless, and the
senator was used TO thinking and
acting quickly. Ten minutes later
they were in hired car speeding in
the direction of Allerton, haven
for e'opers.
At the parsonage the woman told
them that couple had come and
gone. "They went 10 get ring" she
said. and Betsy's sudden alarm died
down again.
I'VE are In Time" she whispered
exultantly, and the senator no longer
regretted having come.
They found the runaways In front
of the jewelers. shop. disagreeing
stormlIy. Elfreda was firm; II she
,'oultn't have the kind OF wedding
she wanted, She would not De mar
ried. She thought sine would spend
week 30 Allerton with Pussy VIII
lams.
well, THIS oyer-for while" said
Betsy or ner own doorstep. She held
out her hand In farewell, but the
Senator had other plans.
Little Miss Perkins," he said,
'you can't stay here all alone. Let
me take you up to the city for a
few days. Mother and miss all our
young folks And besides, for YOU
Aunt Betsy's sake"
Because she wanted to see much,
Betsy went In the great city sta
lion, when a CHEEKY voice said
"Grampp at her elbow, she would
have gone on, but the senator
stopped abruptly. He had forgot.
ten that Walter, his grandson and
namesake, was to meet him. But
there the young man stood, hat In
hand, looking expectantly toward the
girl.
Betsy Perkins was very pretty, and