The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-03-10
WHITE
IILACS
81
By FLORENCE MEILISH
Q Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

Wv wouldn't come. j ex-
pect Amos and the
children every minute. My. but
you look tiredi"
"It was close on the train"
"Step into the bedroom and fresh
en- up bit, you thought you'd wear
your tan-colored dress"
"It's my best one, Syivie."
"It makes you look all Of color.
somehow"
Janet obediently Strengthened her
collar before q small mirror.
"An of q colorl" she echoed. 81
didn't suppose anybody was gong
to notice my looks. Perhaps Gladys
is old enough to be critical. Well,
as Paul said, i am what ] am.
She went to the open window and
shifted the fragrant air.
white lilacsl My goodnessl
wonder if that old book. is In the
case now. Yes, of course. Pretty
sentimental, but was just girl. "
She laughed indulgently as she
turned the leaves. She had followed
pretty rustic Millicent Brant's story
eagerly until Reginald Harcourt
came out of his thrilling adventures
to claim her.
land so romance had come to
Millicent.
That was the last line. How well
Janet remembered
She had finished the book that aft
ernoon when they had left her alone
to go to Seth Kimbans funeral.
Then she had gone to stand under
the white lilac by the gate, listen
ing for Uncle Andrews wagon,
thinking that Millcent was very
much like her and wondering how
her own romance would come.
1t had never come.
Still, Janet had been pretty once
in her quiet way. She had faded,
angular prettiness even now.
The next fall after her visit she
had begun to go to singing school,
and Dwight Burrows had been home
with her two or three times. Then
her father had fallen from the barn
loft and broken his leg, and her
mother had been laid up from sci
atica.
After that, Bellies husband had
been killed in the saw mill, and
Belle had come home with the chill
dren
Belle was never very strong OF
very dependable, and Janet had
stood patiently in the gap. Dwight
Burrow had transferred his atten-
tons to May Logee.
If she ever thought of that hall
hour when she had stood under the
lilac, listening for her uncle's wag.
on and dreaming dreams, it was
with smile for her girlishness. Ne
and trim from long habit, she sci.
dom gave thought TO her appear
ance.
Now Janet was left alone.
She had given herself without
stint until it seemed to her in her
late thirties that there was little left.
Now Amos Barlow, two years a
widower, with his eight-year-old
Gladys and his fve-year-old Oscar,
stood in her path confronting her
like manifest destiny.
They're coming!" called her cou-
sin, land dinners just ready"
Janet started and came out hast
lily. Mrs. Harley Ball had left a
pan of biscuits in order to gaze
down the street.
I'D know Amos anywhere by his
walk. All the Barlows have that
gait, and little Oscar is catching it.
Gladys is ahead, as usual-a smart
kid, but she needs training. Oscars
more docile, but he's backward and
dreamylike. You'll wake him up,
though. You have way with chill
dren."
Janet looked startled. why, Syl-
vie, / haven't promised Mr.. Barlow
yeti"
Bat of course you will. You'd
better settle everything after dinner.
I've started a little fire in the sit
ting-room fireplace to take off the
damp chill. You can show Amos
those pictures. Addie got on her
Western tour. III keep the children
out, popping corn or something,
and I'll show Harley back to the
store But don't look so down-heart-
ed, Janet Amos is a good provid-
er, and he has no bad habits
steady as the kitchen clock. Such
a nice disposition, too. He was pa
thence itself with Charlotte in her
long illness.
Janet sighed. Yes, know, Syl-
vie {,
81 know what the matter is, Janet
Ransom. / saw you porting over
that old book Of Mothers, Mill
cents Romance Oh, remember!
1t came to her in the shape of city
chap who called her
"A violet by a messy stone
Halt hidden from the eye
well, romance didn't come to
you, Janet, nor to me, either, unless
you count Harley. I believe you are
still in the romantic age. Ten years
from now you'll be thankful for o
good home and a good providei