Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-03-02
THE
SPRING
BREEZE
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y PRING had been long on the way.
but who could doubt that at last
~ II had come?
Not the lawn sloping from the
red-brick house to the avenue, for
wasn't grass sprouting all over II,
young and greenl Not the long line
Of trees, for newborn leaves were
shooting from every twig. Not Norsh.
surely, who. running back from an er-
rand to the corner grocery, knelt be-
side a tuft OF vlolets, delightedly
breathing in their fragrance. Her
hands reached out to gather them.
then fell empty TO her sides.
You're happier where you are.
darling" she murmured- "And the
mistress would only scold me for vast
ing my time picking you, she's that
cross :"
NOrah's hands were slim and pretty,
for all that they cooked and served
Miss BrockingalIs meals In the red
brick house and swept the rooms and
busted them and did a hundred
things besides, her little feet flying
back and forth and her voice lifted
in a song as bright as her Irish smile.
Louder, however, than lawn or trees
or even yiolets, a wandering breeze
sang out that spring had come
Spring had comet II was a rogue Of
q breeze, with an insistent voice that
wouldn't be silenced. II spoke Of cow
clips and dandelions and murmuring
rivers free at last from their load Of
ice, and as IT played with Norah's
sunny hair It whispered:
"Springtime Is counting umel Have
you a lover, Norah. to tell you how
pretty you are? Have you a lover to
stroll out with IN the lengthening
eyeningsl Why haven't you a lover,
NOrah!"
"Ah, be still p Norah said sharply
to her own thoughts. What would
be wantin' OF a lover-shure. all
they do Is waste your time and break
your heart sfterward. 90 I'm told"
Some may, some may, Norah," Hit
ed the spring breeze. But a tall.
straight young fellow, now, In police
mans uniform. with buttons that
shine In the sun-wouldn't he be the
right lover FOR pretty girl Of eight
een?7
81 Just despise a man that can only
look and look and hasn't spunk
enough to" Norah's thought re-
NAMED unfinished. "He wouldn't be
at loss for an opportunity II he
wanted II real hard Hes been on |
this beat ten days"
Hes shy and may be a bit slow |
those big men sometimes are" mur.
INJURED the spring breeze. But aren't |
his brown eyes kind and true, Norah.
and his smile. isn't It pleasant Now.
how would II be II you came to bis
help and made an opportunity your
self"
whist" cried Norah impatientIy.
"The way my thoughts do run on |
II must be the spring in the ART"
So the responsibility lay with the
spring breeze that blew the thought |
into NOrah's mind. She dallied with |
It, for all her show Of indignation.
and took IT with her into the base
ment laundry. where a large boiler
full Of clothes awaited her manipula-
lions With the perseverance that
marked It's parent. the spring breeze,
II kept repeating: 1T isn't as II you
were asked to do anything unbecom-
ing nice girl. Norab. But you know
you liked him from the first and It's
not everybody you like You're
choosy! o course. instead OF stand
ing gassing so long with old Mr. Aker.
man way down the avenue be might
he might-but II only goes to show
he's n nice boy and not bold like some
I'm thinking you'll have to help him,
Norah, after ALL" NOrah took the
piled-up laundry basket in her strong
yOung arms and carried II to the yard
back Of the house. The spring breeze
rushed at her almost more than a
breeze now, II had grown so bolster.
Gus. an help you" II boosted.
II dashed at the clothes Norah hung
ON the line and tossed them about
violently AS she clipped a clothespin
securely TO a bit OF muslin deeply
edged with lace, her eyes caught the
CLINT Of buttons on a blue uniform
walking straight up the avenue. He
had Just passed the Alderman house.
where the old master kept a body
lettering so long in conversation. II
If something light and pretty blew
on this lawn In his direction he
couldn't miss II and surely II would
be his duty-to say nothing OF his in.
clinatlon, for he knew where Norah
lived-to bring II straight back. Then
she would say: "Oh. thank you Mr..
Mr." And she would hesitate
just as II she hadn't heard his name
nj the corner grocery--a nice-sound.
ing name, Robert Dale. And then he
would say-and she would reply
Norah's hand stole up to the clothes.
pin. an help you, my girl p shouted
the spring breeze, grown into a fair
sized wind by this time. And II seized
the frothy bit OF lace and muslin and
sent It flying down the avenue. fol.
lowing gustlly to make sure II didn't
turn back, blessings on I'll
Just then Miss Brockingall put a
frownlng face at her bedroom window.
"Norahl" she cried sharply. Don't
waste your time looking down the
avenue There is plenty OF work wait.
ing for you in the house. Where's nv
Honiton handkerchief II slipped into
the laundry bag by mistake"
Faith, has 1t namef" asked
Norah, turning quickly to her mistress
for the next minute his heavy, meas.
ured footsteps would be sounding on