Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-03-16
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LILACS
BY NELLIE A. FAIRBANKS.

% 1921 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
Bill Curtis vigorously applied the old
stubby brush broom to his well-worn
suit, then stopped for a moment to
gaze out across the great green fields
For 16 years, weather permitting,
Bill had watched and loved this time
of day. when the sun was casting its
last slanting rays.
Tonight he was leaving the home he
loved so well and the man who had
shared his home and with whom he
had worked for 16 years That was
the hard part of going. Something
that looked suspiciously like tears
weled up in his honest blue eyes. and
he gaZed for minute at the man at
the sink, doing up the supper dishes.
AS rule this man was laxative, but
tonight he was strangely silent.
The arduous task of making an old
suit look something like new was final
ly completed and Bill stepped out on
the little platform that served as a
piazza. He looked sadly at the two
empty arm chairs.
AT the end of two days journey
| will be with Marcia again" and
once more he could see the little white
clad figure as he left her that last
evening. Again he could hear the
soft sobbing as she begged him not
to be away long, and Bill held her
close as he whispered:
"When l have made the little fortune
l have dreamed of, then will come
back to you. And when l do come
back, Marcia, it will be in lilac-time
just like il is today"
The first few weeks had been I'M
bcarable to Bill; then as the months
and years passed he fell into that
rut of being perfectly satisfied with
working hard all day and spending
the long evenings with his faithful
companion and his pipe.
His little pile of money grew big
ger each year until he at last decided
il was time to go back 10 the old home
and Marcia. His heart beat faster
as he pictured the little vision in white,
and he sighed happily as he again
entered the little cottage. Bat his
spirits dropped when he beheld jim.
sitting with his head resting in his
Two hands, a picture of despair. Go
ing over. he placed his hand on Jims
shoulder and said:
We've spent some very happy years
here. old scout, but now l must he
going back to Marcia | wish you
could see her, jim small, with
wavy tresses and"
Yes. but 16 years makes an awful
difference, old man." Jim answered
Yes. yes" Bill murlnured, half alb
>entIy, lin some people. but not Mar
cia."
AT last the time came when the
comrades parted. Jim drove Bill over
the two miles to the railroad station.
and they silently pressed each others
hand, for neither could speak just
then.
jim drove back to the lonely cot
age, seated himself in his arm chair
beside the vacant one, and when the
big full moon arose its beams fell Oh
one lonely figure. and an empty chair.
In the meantime the train sped Oh
towards Bits old home and Marcia.
Ills journey ended at noon two days
later, but as Bill felt terribly roman
tic, he waited until the sun was set
ting. then Marcia must see him first
b., die lilac bush near her door. AS
he reared the house he wished he had
kept corresponding all these years;
bat them he felt sure Marcia loved
him enough to watch and wait for
him even though it was sixteen years.
He was almost at the gale when IA
sudden fear took possession of him.
Things did not look just right. What
# Marcia had gone away, or had died:
but 40, he must put such thoughts
away. At the gate Il piercing scream
reached his eal.-just as he was by
he lilac tree, where Marcia must see
him tirst-and two dirtyfaced boys
anne rushing around the corner of the
house the larger one finally overtak-
ing the other. and they Immediately
started a fist fight.
The door of the house opened quick
~, and woman, one who would cas-
lily tip the scales at two hundred. APP
peared in n sOiled Bingham dress,
sleeves rolled to her elbows, exhibit
ing pair of fat red arms thickly COW
cred with white sudS. and the equally
red face showed plainly she had just
emerged from the family washtub.
Bill rubbed his eyes and looked
again. There might just have been
an ordinary double chin attached to
that face, but Bill could swear he saw
four. He also noticed the thin, halt
gray locks, twisted into little hard
knot at the hack of her head. Crush
ing the innocent lilac where he had
few moments before so romanticafly
placed his hand. he stepped back a lit
tie farther.
There was no mlstaking. The eyes
proved it was Marcia. and If there
was the least bit Of doubt left In his
mind, it disappeared whep a man III