The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-08-13
Medals Spring
Cleaning
o. 1925. western Newspaper Union.1
By NELLIE R.

drag out things hidden by the win
ter's dark.
Medal What about this old tweed
suit and these tan oxfordsI They're
a wreck. I'll send them to the
O'Malleys.
Il must say the new generation isn't
much good. Media. You haven't
worked an hour at this houseclean-
Ing, yet you look all tagged out. For
mercy's sake, sit down before you
fall down"
AT this fortunately the
doorbell rang.
Probably that G. o. D. I'm expect
ing" grumbled Mrs. Hartley, and h
went out the door and down the
stairs.
With a relieved sigh, Media dropped
Imply upon her wide divan, her
heavy lashes dropped over her dis
tressed brown eyes. A vision formed
behind the closed lids.
She saw a sunny. t~ree-bordered
country road. Without the aid OF
memory she would have known 1t was
April by the tender, delicate lowell
ness of the pale greenery yelling the
Interlacing boughs. She walked the
sunny road-not alone. A pair of
vivid blue eyes looked ~Iaughingly into
her soft brown ones A laughing
voice jested-was 1t jest?
Just now l am the most Impecuni-
GUS young man for a thousand miles
around. But l have a rich. rich uncle
In China and I'm learning his bust
ness. Some fine April day like this /
shall ride up to my beloved's door In
a snorting machine. snatch up my
brown-eyed bride and carry her away
to a big ship"
They were approaching Aunt Ida's
gate. Daringiy, In the full morning
sun, he put his arm around her and
laid his warm, laughing lips on hers.
In spite of her shabby tweeds, her
sturdy brown shoes. she felt that her
soul walked beside him, CARRIED like
the trees in delicate, hlmy green and
that the spring of her life was unbe-
Iievably fresh, indeseribably sweet.
Her heart beat riotously. her breath
1uttered disturbingly.
Almost Immediately, Aunt Ida's
gate was reached and Aunt Ida her
self came out the door querulous and
complaining.
Medal I thought you came I o
take care OF me and here"
Media fed up the path; the blue
eyed prince passed; the vision
ceased.
That evening a telegram from
Brooklyn had announced her fathers
sudden death. She had caught a train
in the night. That had teen all ex-
cept letters-one tender and consola-
tory letter, gay and fanciful ones, but
no confirmation Of the proposal If the
embrace and the kiss had been a pro-
posal. Then, six months ago, the let
tiers had stopped.
And this was the April when the
prince was to drive up in a snorting
car and bear his bride to China.
Was there really a rich, rich uncle
in China? Or had she built her love
upon the foundation of a fantastic
jest? Lying there, her heart again
beat riotously. her breath fiuttered
disturbingly-but what a difference.
Angrily she dragged herself up, went
TO the window, sinking weakly to her
knees. She laid her head upon the
window sill and breathed deeply. Her
heart steadied. A big machine whirled
by. 1t slowed suddenly and backed.
"That's the sort Of a spiffy machine
he was to come In" she thought. In
creasing anger restored her strength.
She jumped to her feet and kicked
the oxfords into the center of the
room.
Il shall clean house now In earnest.
Old shoes-of all things to be senti-
mental overi My road to romance
must have been rocky by their looks"
The doortell pealed again.
~ hope whoever that is win keep
mother awhile" she thought, press
ing the rough cloth to her lips. 81
wonder how much Of our experience
Is impressed IN the garments we wear7
This suit seems haunted-it brings
back his very touch-his vibration. l
feel as If he were under the same roof
wi h me-"
thrill went through her-a sense
OF comfort.
$50 / felt last April and so / shall
feel again." Her eyes frightened, her
figure Strengthened. She hung the
suit away. She recovered the shoes
and set them carefully in the corner.
Then she closed the door and turned
the key.
"Give them to the o'Malleys? New
err"
AS she turned away, she heard her
mother call in an excited voice:
MEDIA" Then to someone else.
"She was always secretive-"
A gay voice interrupted:
but she can't be angry. went IN
expectedly and l did telegraph. And