Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-07-25
A Key to'the
Situation
BY ANNA r. BURR

AVA ably lucky that her window
overlooked the Jewetts' back garden.
When one sits In the same room sew
ing, day after day, winter and sum-
mer, 1t means much to have some
thing pleasant to gnze upon-some-
thing, too, which is shut from the
rest of the world by a high wall. The
Jewett garden seemed Miss Bents
particular property, the maple trees
the grass plat with the bed Of scarlet
cannas, the border which saw the
seasons through from daffodils to dah-
lias and the little summer-house. All
this was like stage set for small,
pleasant happenings; the coming to
and fro of ice man and grocery boy;
children at their games; the kitten ca
pering after bit of paper-a drama
(dOmestic) for an audience OF one.
Miss Bent's spectacles would stare at
1t, her tired old face brighten, she fell
a stitching harder than ever. It be
longed to her; and when child got its
feet wet or the kitten mewed for Its
forgotten saucer Of milk, Miss Bent al
most rang the door bell. Once or twice
the play had society scene In 1t. such
as Molly Jewett's garden party. and
then the audience was rapt. A striped
tent, rugs on the grass, and walters
who ran about with ice cream and
strawberries! Molly herself, aged
eighteen, wasn't happier than the
unlimited guest. Susan Bent came
lat noon, with the ice cream
freezers) and stayed until dusk
hid the last glimpse Of departing
young people. She was in an ecstasy;
although she would have to sit up all
night over her neglected work in order
to finish it on time.
Her sense of possessing the garden
she looked at, had led to an odd Incl
dent-odd, because Of Susan's nature.
She was honest as the day. honester in
fact than many April days; but when
she picked up key on the sidewalk.
which had plainly fallen out OF the
garden door, she kept 1t. She kept
that key, though 1t unQuestiOnably be-
longed to the Jewetts; and she hung
1t up on a nail by her lookingglass.
Somehow that key confirmed her
queer sense Of ownership in the gar.
den. In her twilight hour of rest she
would sit and twist 1t between her
fingers, to look dreamily out on the
naples and the red cannas and sage.
and always she dreamed Of another
party-she longed for it.
This hope grew very high when Mol
ly Jewett began going with the Tay-
lOr boy. He was nice looking boy.
Roddy Taylor. If rather thin; he had
q turn-up nose and he whistled as he
came along about five o'clock. Later
on the pair took to going in and out
by the garden door. Sometimes they
stayed at the gate long time, and
then Miss Bent would rise hurriedly
and leave the window. What she saw
there once or twice made her feel I'M
comfortably like an eavesdropper she
realized humbly that 1t had nothing
to do with her.
One afternoon that spring she saw
them coming but there was something
different somehow. Molly was walk
ing stiffly, very far away from the Tay-
lor boy, and his young face looked
proud and angry. When they reached
the garden door 1t was plain that this
time Susan Bent need feel no delica-
cy about staying at the window. So she
stayed and stared; she could hear
nothing, but she saw very we'll. She
saw Molly's angry toss Of the head
rot chn ND
ran within, slamming it behind her,
and leaving Roddy Taylor on the
wrong side. Once alone, the girl
turned uncertainty toward the house
and then paused and ran instead into
the summer house In the corner. The
watcher from the window could see
the bright head bent on her arms.
"Ny landw cried Susan Bent.
The party; the reception with the
tent and the guests and the refresh
ments. which had seemed so certain
was 1t put in peril? There stood
Roddy Taylor, dumb and dazed, out
side the shut door in the garden wall.
His miserable face looked up and
down the street. If he walked away
well, there would he no reception
that spring. Susan Bent wasn't SEN
timental; she didn't care about the
silly young creatures. not she! But
she did want her bright hour! With
an inspiration. up she threw the win
dow and called aloud:
'Roddy Taylor!" "Roddy Taylor !"
Instinctively, the boy looked up and
heavy key clattered on the pave
ment at his feet. "The summer
house" Miss Bent cried wildly, and
under her breath she added: "You
gump!"
Then she damned down the window
and turned into the room, covering
her eyes. I think probably she
prayed.
She heard rush of quick steps
and then silence fell. Twas a long
time hefOra Sho want IN tho window,