Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1921-09-30
TARTS
BY MoLLIE MATHER.
Copyright. 1921. western Yewsp1per uaIon

NopSflsht' WI. western Newspaper CElon
John Hampton stopped his car at
the side OF tie sun-baked road and
! loaned back. ~cndcavoring TO catch the
breeze. This part nf the country was
not unfamiliar Ia him. for he hu,l lived
here as Il boy. returning often i'm his
| young manhood t. visit an old friend
or two whu 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 he had almost
forgotten them. His one impatient
wish now was 10 find the shortest
route back to the city. Important NJ
fairs awaited him there, and the pos
sibiIlty OF having to spend II night IN
this hilly isolation was unbearuhle.
Here and there, far back among the
stately trees, some Gld decaying man
sion showed ghost-like. These homes
had for the most part been deserted
long ago. or given over to the families
of foreign field lahorers, whose dusky
children played up and down the long
drivewayS of past grandeur. 1t was a
surveying job which had called Hump
ton from his office in Il big city build
ing out to the fOrsakcn bywny-for-
SNken, except for the touring ears
which went rolling silently upon their
various ways in various quests or
pleasure. The hill route led nn to
fairer parts. John Hampton was not
satisfied with the reports his engineers
brought to him. He wanted, literally,
Ia see "how the land lay" And now,
ms he leaned back in his coupe with
the wind lifting the graying hair an
his forehead. he noted. gratefully, Il
peat little sign. II was fastened IT, Il
tree nearby, nm artistic hcwn boari
itself.
Tea served IN the garden he read,
sandwiches, lcrp"nn,ir and tarts.'
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 ut the gate, over which
the sign TAINTED, Beneath lOw-spread.
ing trees. just beyond, was laid a tiny
table, and as the hot tired man from
the city sank into the rustic chair,
before the table. a young woman culli"
gracefully toward him, The effect %
her short white rutllcd frOCk was
pleasing, her small white shoes stepped
daintlly across the grass, And when
she bent attentivcly 10 take his or
der. John Hampton liked the gravity
of her gaze and the wave of her hair
against n pink cheek.
"TartsY" questioned The young ON
IN with n smile.
ooh. yes. we have THEN, with reel
currunt Jelly. They are considered
very nice" ~t..sFs''
She looked back at him.
81 make everything myself"
lie sat after she had left him. gazing
p%erpIexedIy up into the loft OF green
b0ughs above. What half-inemory
stirred him he could not determine.
1t seemed TO he II pleasing memory,
and yet The arrival of an inviting
~ arranged tray disturbed his r"veri",
The attractive young worna silently
left him to his refrcshment. Boy!sSly
John Hampton left the rest of hI'
meal, 4 bite into II tart.
"Currant Jelly !" 1t was delicious.
Where and when had he tasted such 81
TART? Again the Elusive memory.
There had been nothing inst like Il In
nh the years. He looked back toward
thp Oil crumhIing vcrnnda where the
whitehead figure sat. An unusual
Sonsc of rest and satisfaction possessed
him.
Lucy Lane had r~escmbled MS
dainty rulllrd young woman who made
clrranr tartS and Sold them. Hut Lucy
had been II dccorOus miss of twenty
or more years ago. He recalled Il pic
tire that she had given him then, tiS
long dark dress and hlgh-twistcd hair
flashed before him. Yet Lucy had
sailed in that grave sweet way. And
Lucy's eyes had been rs deep n blue
yelled. too. by dark and sweeping
lashrs. Could it be possible that she
had mnrricd and this was her dhuEli,
ter? He had quite forgotten Lucy Lam"
until the tarts stirred his memory. IT."
had ~courtcd-or played ut counting her
in her mothers kitchen, when Lacy
always busily employed, had rolled ONT
tarts for the young brothers ana SIS
tiers and filed them With currant jam.
The Whitehead young woman CAME,
hunIning her sony. across the avn.
She stood looking down upon him with
y smile.
us there anything else that yon
would Iikc?' she a.{lied him.
Yet" Jom Hampton said impi'-
sively. II would i:ke to know your
name. You remind me of some one |
once iuew--"
-.,nd forgot" added the woman,
quietly. "Nly name is Still Lucy Lane
When my family mnrri"d itid seat
tered came over 70 this old house "1
nv mncle'S and-he@an TO sell iartS for
n liviug.'
John Hampton leaned forward star
lug.
e. -nI ss,sLtt .Ip, tlls