Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-18
LILACS
BY NELLIE A. FAIRBANKS.

stubby brush broom 70 MS well-worn
suit, then stopped for a moment 70
gaze out across the great green fields.
For 70 years, weather permitting.
Bill had watched and loved his time
Of day. when the sun was casting its
last slanting rays.
Tonight ne was leaving the home he
loved so well and the man who had
shared his home and with whom he
had worked for 10 years. That was
the hard part Of going Something
that looked suspiciously like tears
welled up IN his honest blue eyes, and
he gazed for a minute at The man al
the sink, doing up the supper dishes
As a rule this man was talkatiye, but
tonight he was strangely silent
The arduous task Of making an old
suit look something Ike new was final
~ completed and Bill stepped out On
the little platform that served as q
piazza. He locked sadly al the Two
empty arm chairs
at the end Of TWO days journey
I wiu 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 mol
to be away long. and Bill held her
close as he whispered:
when I have made the little fortune
I have dreamed Of, then I viii come
back 70 you. And When I do come
back, Marcia, il will be in lilac-time,
just Ike il IS today"
The first few weeks had been IN
bearable 70 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 mis- faithful
companion and his pipe.
His little pile OF money grew big
ger each year until he al last decided
it was tine 70 20 back 10 the old home
and Marcia. His heart beat faster
as he pictured the little vision IN white,
and he sighed happily as be again
entered the little cottage. But his
spirits dropped when he beheld jim
sitting with his head resting in his
TWO hands. q picture OF despair. Go
ing over. he placed his hand Oh Jim's
shoulder and said:
We've spent some very happy years
here old scout. but now I must be
going back to Marcia I wish you
could see her, Jim-so small, with
way treSses and
Yes, but 16 years makes an awful
difference, old man" jim answered
Yes, yes Bill murmured, half alb
sen1ly; in some people, but not Mar
cia.v
Al last the tine came when the
comrades parted Jim drove Bill over
the tuo miles 10 the railroad station
and they silently pressed each others
hand. Tor neither could speak just
thee.
Jim drove back TO the lonely cot
tage. seated himself in his arm chair
beside the vacant one. and when the
Big full moon arose its beams fell on
che lonely figure. and an empty chair
In the meantime the train sped on
towards Bits old home and Marcia.
His journey ended Al 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
by the lilac bush near her door. As
he neared the house he wished he had
kept corresponding all these years;
bur then. he felt sure Marcia loved
him enough 10 watch and wait for
him even though il was sixteen years
He was almost at the gate when 3
sudden fear took possession Of him
Things did not look just right What
if Marcia had gone away, or had died
but no. he must put such thoughts
away. At the gate piercing scream
reached his ear-juSt as he was by
the lilac tree, where Marcia must see /
him first-and Two dirty-faced boys .
came rushing around the corner OF the
house. the larger one finally overtak- /
ng the other. and they Immediately /.
started q fist hghr.
The door Of the house opened quick /
". and woman. one who would cas- +.
ly tip the scales ar two hundred. ap- T.
feared in a Soiled gingham dress. +
sleeves rolled 70 her elbows. exhibit +
ne a pair Of fat red arms rhlckly Gov
,red with white SudS. and the equally /
ed face showed plainly she had just /
merged from the family waSh1ub.
BIZ rubbed his eyes and looked
gain. There might just have been
n ordinary double chin attached 10
hat face. bur Bill could swear he saw
our. He also noticed the thin. half
ray locks. twisted into s little hard
NOT At the back OF her head. Crush
~ the innocent lilac where he had
aw moments before 50 dramatically
laced his hand. he stepped back a liz
e farther.
There was no mistakins. The eyes
roved il was Marcia. and If there
as the least bit Of doubt left in his
ind. il disappeared when q man In
seralls brushed past him and called
II ]