Smyrna times., 1930-12-24
Lilac Bushes Were
Big Magnet
By RUBY DOUGLAS

- dow of the big living room of
his sisters house and looked out
into the drizziing rain. Two half
grown lads were attempting. more
or less futilely, to set out some IL
lac bushes in the lot next door. Bob
had been watching them for some
time.
Il say, Helen." he called out to
his sister in the other room, Il have
more than a notion to go out and
help those boys"
What boys?" asked his sister.
'Oh, a couple of lads who have
tackled job too big for them
in the new place next door, I'D
love TO give them hand and | need
the exercise"
"But-Bob, it's raining and you
must remember you are not well
yet" protested his sister.
Bob had spent the last two weeks
out on Long Island at the advice
Of his physician who thought a rest
after a severe attack of "du" would
put him in good shape. His sis
ter'S home mad been more than
warmly offered to him. but now he
was beginning TO chafe under the
inactivity.
After an argument in which the
convalescent won, he found him
self arrayed in a borrowed raincoat
and gOlaShes cutting across the
wet grass to where the boys were
still struggling with the unwieldy
bushes.
Tackled tough job. boys. didn't
you?" he asked.
You said it," spoke up one.
Let me give you a lift" said
Bob, taking the shovel from the
other.
In short time he was cumming
with the boys as if he had been
their contemporary and the work
was progressing splendidly. And.
more than that. Bob Marvin found
himself feeling the thrill of life
as he had not felt it in weeks.
The three were setting out the
last of the lilac bushes when a
lovely girl came upon them.
"Sis-of all things" exclaimed
one boy
Good night !" said the other
with brOtherly appreciation.
Mother fold me that you boys
We're trying to set out my lilac
busheS-that Tony had not come to
do it-and ! was worried for fear
you would make a mess of it," she
flashed a brilliant smile ar the
stranger
"They were having a rather
tough time of it until | came out
TO get some fresh air and have
some fun with Them" volunteered
Bob.
This Is our sister," began the
elder of the lads. with q genuine,
II belated. attempt at the courte-
sizes.
And am Bob Marvin-my sis
ter lives right there" said Bob.
After a few rather inane re-
marks the quartette became almost
as friendly as the trio had been
and Joy explained that these bushes
were some very cherished Iilacs
known as Lucy's Iilacs. Lucy had
been the cid colored woman who
had lived below them when they
were tiny tots and had done days
work and helped to bring them all
up. She had grown such large and
lovely lilacs year after year about
her little cottage garden that Joy
told her when they gof into their
new house the first thing they were
going to plant was some of those
lilacs.
When Bob's sister could stand
no longer the worry over Bob be-
ing out so long In the drizzle she
called TO him out of the upper
window.
Bob replied to her cheerily and
turned to his new friends. Come
along and we'lI have a cup of hot
tea. My sister will probably pour
hot tOddy into me and wrap me up
In blanket"
Joy stepped back. "Oh. we
couldn't think of intrudlng."
"Intruding, nothingi My sister
would love to have you." he said,
looking straight into Joys lovely
eyes.
Bob's sister was delighted. She
had been wondering what the new
neighbors would be like.
But there were two at the tea
party to whom it was a never-to-be-
forgotten occasion. Bob knew that
after having met girls up and down
the world he had come out TO Long
Island to look into the eyes of the
only girl In the world. He tried TO
be patient and he succeeded rather
we'll.
Each day found them together
on the new lot and Bob's sister
gave them many opportunities to /
be together.
One June night Bob wandered
with Joy TO the shadow cast by the +
tallest of Lucy's lilac bushes.
do you remember the day we
shipped all the buds off these lilac I
bushes. the day after we planted
them?" asked Bob.
''Yes-and ! said it didn't mat
ter If we missed one years blooms
because there would be flowers and
fragrance forever If the plants
we're cared for-fhen? or course
remember, Bob. Silly"
Sand do Won ramanhar that