Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
Fanny's Old Flame.

Fanny Marsh had oversight. She
had been out late the night before at
a party, one of those coy little af-
fairs where eight women gather for
an interchange of ideas, bit of work
and a light refreshment Fanny had
come home cheered and stimulated.
She had uttered no word to malign,
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 wan
dered into a dream of Myron Page.
The dream fingered about her as
she bathed, brushed her graying hair
and dressed for the day. At last she
rummaged in a drawer and found
faded picture at which she locked
thoushtfully. 1t was 80 years since
that picture was taken. She had worn
a long skirt, big sleeves and small
hat perched on top of her head. Her
slim girlish waist had measured only
II inches. Then she could not have
spaded a f1ower-bed to have saved her
life. And Myron was in his way quite
as absurd. She smiled at their inno-
cent absurdity as they stood side by
side. holding hands. It was June and
they were young. Now it was Fall
and while she was not exactly old she
was getting along. AS for Myron-
she had no idea what had become OF
him.
!. Could she have married him? She
wondered. Her friends thought she
could, had even urged her, but some
thing had prevented her, some inner
ent independence or stubborness, they
believed. There had never again come
Io1,a1. i,,fn hor life and denied h1S.
band and children, she had sought to
fill her life with other interests. She
had succeeded admirably. At AZ she
had come back to her old home town
to live in her own house, toast her
own bread for breakfast and do as
she pleased. All very pleasant--ex-
cept there was that memory of her old
lover buzzing around her like a dis
contented bee.
1t 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, splashing along wet streets,
stopped at various houses. She had a
gay novel for little Mrs. Bryant, who
was too sick to leave her room, a
lively toy for the Horton youngsters
which would amuse them, thus per-
hitting their mother to get out her
daily quota of warshings; 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, hum
ming a 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 interrogate her visitor. He was
tall and thin, his coat collar was turn.
Ell UP and his hat brim turnd down.
He wore glasses. She thought, II
don't know him." and spoke cheerily;
Good morning"
Her approach had been SO rapid
and he had been so thoroughly alb
sorbed in punching the bell that he
had not seen her. Now he turned with
something like start.
Fanny he said, in deep tones.
"Oh! Why, it's you, Myron" She
gave him the handshake he sought
You surely haven't forgotten me"
He focused the glasses upon her re
proachfully.
"Oh, nor' She laughed nervously
won't you come in? Let me oper
the-we don't lock doors here. And
it's such joy. Locked doors seen
so suspicious and-and forbidding
Right this way. Myron. This is the
living room. Take a chair. I'll bt
back in one moment"
AS she ran her car into the garagt
she thought strangely: 1T is just a:
II had wished for him and he came
] suppose I must ask him to lunch
There is pie enough besides Other
things. l am glad l cooked tina
chicken yesterday"
She found Myron had made himsel
comfortably at home during her brie
absence. He was sitting in one of tn
easiest chairs, his legs crossed, con
,templating the contents of the room
He accepted her invitation readily.
y Nov. don't go TO any trouble To-