Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-10-21
FANNY'S
OLD-TIME
FLAME
10 by D. ). walsh,I


r had been out late the night be-
fore at a party, one of those cozy
affairs where eight women gather
for an interchange of Ideas, bit OF
work and light refreshment. Fanny had
come home cheered and stimulated.
She had uttered no word to mallgn,
she had made a noticeable advance
In the sweater she was knitting for
poor little Alice Potter, and the tea
and cake had agreed with her. But
even so, she had, sleeping, somehow
wandered into q dream of Myron
Page
The dream fingered about her as she
bathed, brushed her grazing hair and
dressed for the day. At last she rum
mayed in a drawer and found faded
picture, at which she looked thought
fully. It was thirty years since that
picture was taken. She had worn
long skirt, big sleeves and a small hat
perched on top of her head. Her slim
glrlish waist had measured only sew
enteen inches. Then she could not
have spaded q flower bed to have
saved her life. And Myron was In his
way quite as absurd She smiled at
their innocent absurdlty as they stood
side by side, holding hands. 1t was
June and they were young. Now 1t
was fall, and while she was not ex-
actly old she was getting along. AS
for Myron-she had no idea what had
become of him.
Could she have married him2 She
wondered. Her friends thought she
could, had even urged her, but some-
thing had prevented her, some inner
ent independence or stubb0rnness,
they believed. There had never again
come a lover into her life, and, denied
husband and children, she had sought
to fiji her life with other interests.
She had succeeded admirably. At
fOrty-seven she had come back to her
old home town to live In her own
house. toast her own bread for break
fast and do as she pleased. All very
pleasant-except there was that men,
DRY Of her old lover buzzing around
her like a discontinued bee.
II was raining that morning, but
she loved the rain. Oh, she had end
less plans for a rainy day Eager to
enter them, she stopped at one cup
of coffee and one slice of toast. Slip
ping on her thick coat and close hat,
she ran to the garage, where stood In
readiness her honest old coupe. A
touch of the starter button, roar
and the Dragon was on his way.
Fanny, splashlng along wet streets,
stopped at various houses. She had
gay novel for little Mrs Bryant, who
was too sick to leave her room;
lively toy for the Horton youngsters,
which would amuse them, thus per-
uniting their mother to get out her
daily quota of washlngs, a box OF
homemade fudge for old Mrs Hale,
who loved sweets, and a bag of rosy
apples for Grandpa Hit.
The morning was nearly gone be-
fore she splashed homeward, humming
song that We'd with the easy purr
of the motor. AS she raced into her
own driveway she caught a glimpse
of somebody ringing her own front
door bell.
Leaving the car standing, Fanny
ran to lnterrogate her visitor He was
tall and thin, his coat collar was
turned up and his hat brlm turned
down. He wore glasses She thought,
81 don't know him." and spoke cheer
fly: "Good morning"
Her approach had been so rapid and
he had been so thoroughly absorbed
in punching the bell that he had not
seen her. Now he turned with some
thing like a start.
"Tannyw he said in deep tones.
"Oh! Why, it's you, MyrOnW She
gave him the handshake he sought.
"You surely haven't forgotten me !"
He focused his glasses upon her re-
proachfully.
"Oh, moi" She laughed nervously.
"WOn't you come In? Let me open
the-we don't lock doors here. And
IT'S such n Joy. Locked doors seem
so suspicious and-and forbiddlng.
Right this way, Myron. This Is the
living room. Take chair. I'll be
DICK III one IuOuleHls
As she ran her car into the garage
she thought strangely: at is just as
II had wished for him and he came
! suppose ! must ask him to lunch
There Is pie enough besides other
things, am glad cooked that
chicken yesterday"
She found MyrOn had made himself
comfortably at home during her brief
absence. He was sitting in one Of
the easiest chairs, his legs crossed,
contemplating the contents of the
room. He accepted her invitation
readily.
"Now don't go TO any trouble for
me-" he said. 81 didn't expect to stay
TO eat I came first to your door" he
glanced at his watch, more than an
hour ago I've been spending the time
with Mrs. Otis. She says you are liv-
ing here alone, Fanny"
"why notY' Fanny tried to keep her
voice bright.
lie shook his head. ut Is a sad life,
living alone. know" He sighed.
"On the cOntrary"-Fanny began in
some embarrassment. He interrupted
her.
zone OF anything Is an absurdity.
Human beings were meant to live in
pairs. My own dear companion
passed away year ago. He drew
out his handkerchief, removed his
glasses and wiped them vigorously.
Fanny arose. "If you will excuse