Evening star., 1928-12-04
Purple Hvacinths.

~ ANCE was disappointed in some
vague way when he glanced
about the smart little fiat where
i Elizabeth lived Just why thi:
should be even he could moi
have said, for it was very proper
apartment with deep chesterfield
backed by a davenport table holding
the customary two table lamps at
either end. There were four books or
the table, all of impeccable taste ano
choosing. The shades were drawn half
way down, allowing shadows to lie on
the highly polished floor here and there
The radio case was closed neatly and
in the whole room there was not one
spot of disorder or confusion.
I'VE may leave for Denver tomor-
row." EliZabeth's mother said, land
so Elizabeth ran downtown to do a
little shopping"
But her packing!" gasped Rance,
who was used to his mothers lengthy
preparations for any trip however
trivial
"Ah," laughed Elizabeth's mother,
''you don't know Elizabeth as well as
I thought you did. Her things are in
such perfect order that she could
leave for a two years European trip
at an hours notice. Not an old let
ter around, not a paper - nothing to
be looked over or disposed of-that's S
Elizabeth" Her eyes were proud of
her only daughter as she spoke, but
someway Rance felt dissatisfied.
AS long as the day was shot" any
how, he told himself, he'd run out to
Drapersville and see his mothers old
school chum. Mrs. Eckert. His mother
had asked if he had been out there
several times and when he wrote again
he would like to be able to tell her
that he had and give her the little
friendly gossip that he knew she want
ed to hear.
1t was only an hours ride out to
DraperSville and for that reason
Rance was surprised to find it so
Small-towniSh. Before he stopped any
one to ask where the Eckert family
lived he was arrested by a pot of
purple hyacinths in window curtain
ed with golden easement cloth.
There was a poignant stab at his
heart for an instant. Purple hyacinths!
His mothers favorite flower! From
the time he was a little lad in romper
suits he could remember his mothers
purple hyacinths. Always a pot of
them blooming on her low mahogany
sewing table or yellow bowl of the
cut blooms on the dining table
A girl with golden, fluffy hair came
n'it on the porch and glanced at him
sitting before the house in his low rae
ing car. Her eyes, deep, velvety pansy
color, met his and then with a low
laugh she ran out toward the car.
"Oh!" she said gayly. I'm so glad
that you came! We've been looking
for you for long time! Come right
in. won't you?"
He felt like the chief character in
a story who meets with an amazing
experience or adventure. Whether to
follow this golden-haired girl into the
house with the golden curtains and
the pot of purple hyacinths or whether
to decline gracefully before the ad-
venture got a bit too thick for COM
fort and good Sense-which should
he do? Then he remembered his
mothers purple hyacinths. Purple hy-
acinthS, house grown, took great care
and incesSant attention from the time
they were but bulbs planted in the
pot until they passed through the va
rious stages of tiny green shoots and
budding blossoming. In house with
blooming hyacinths there could be
nothing very troublesome, and besides
eyes like purple velvet-who was she,
In the house he was agreeably as
tonished to find studio room facing
north and on mahogany highboy his
own photograph! His eyes travelled on
and on and saw that the woodwork of
the room was creamy white, with here
and there a bit of yellow lacquer A
yellow canary sang in golden cage and
a tawny cat watched the bird lazily
without attempting to trouble it.
Get up. Giggle!" ordered the golden
haired girl laughingly to a puppy lying
in the most comfortable chair in the
room. Hes not used to guests, you
can see," she said with grave eyes meet
ing his.
MY dear Rance" said an elderly
woman who at this moment came into
the room. She held him of at arms
length and looked at him appraisingly.
Anne did well with you," she said at
last as his eyes met her scrutiny
you're a son to be proud of. thought