Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1920 — LILACS AND A LADY. [ARTICLE]

LILACS AND A LADY.

By CRAWFORD LUTTRELL.

<C UN, by M«Cl«r« N.w.p<p«r Byndlc*t») She had loved Gordon Wilson ever since she could remember, bnt his attitude toward her was the same big brother Interest that he showed his own sister, Anne. He tweaked her ear and made fun of the little Une of freckles that dusted her aristocraticlooking nose. He told her about his intermittent spasms of love for various girls, moat of whom were visiting favorites. In other words, Gordon loved so many that Peggy felt there was some balm for her own heartache th that very symptom. No affair had ever lasted long enough to cause her any real anxiety. She was having a cup of tea with of them seated on a big tufted davenport that was drawn up hospitably before a cheery little blaze that seemed to take the chill out of the wide living room, when Gordon came in. “Hello, girls! I'm just in time for some jam cake, huh? Say, Peg,,! sure did like that new hat I saw you wearing on F street today. Sorry I couldn’t stop and take you for a spin, but I had a rich old prospect from Podunk or some other equally famous place, and I knew if he got out of the car without buying it some other enterprising automobile salesman might beat me to ft. I put the deal over and sold a roadster besides. Hence my ability to leave the Shop early and play the role of gentleman of leisure.” He sat down between the two girls and helped himself generously to cake that was piled in thick, luscious slices on the tea cart. He pushed the cart toward Peggy. "Pour me some tea, child! I need refreshment. How did you like that girl I had at the dance last night? She’s a regular girl, believe me! She’s as bright as a dollar and she has good looks, too. Did you ever see such eyes and such wonderful hair?” * “Pshaw, Gordon, you’ve heard that she is worth a cool million,” said Anne laughingly. "That accounts for your Meas of the golden tint in her hair and the sparkle in her eyes. You’re thinking what that cash will do to help out in these days of_the'H. C. L.” 'The young fellow set down his empty cup and looked around quizzically at his sister. “Well, being rich won’t keep roe from loving her, of course, Miss Romantic. lam going to take her to the theater tonight and then supper at the club. What are you folks doing?” “Peg’s going to the Winters’ big dance with Jim Winter himself. Do vou know. Peg, Jim’s quite mad about you? Hl bet he proposes tonight !” Gordon turned suddenly. “Jim Winter ! Gosh, he’s got all the money there la, girls. Aad that home! It’s a palace r “Peg has a wonderful frock to wear, orchid with touches of turquoise about it and a huge ostrich fan, turquoise, too,” Anne told him. “You know Jim confided, to me last night. Peg. that he thought you were the prettiest girl in this town. Td hear what he will have to say about you tonight in that creation.” -a vum! tha rhlfi In Hitt hand and turned her face to the light “I’ll swear. Peg, you are pretty, freckles and all! Look at me! Let’s see your eyes!” he demanded, ~ Peggy felt the red creeping up from her beating throat. She put her little teeth together in an effort to keep her chin from quivering. He was so casual about it; she must never by any chance let him know that those level gray eyes of his shook her heart as the wild March wind outside tossed the burgeoning boughs of trees. Suddenly there was a strange, dawning light In those same gray eyes that ' were so dose to her own. “Well, they are pretty, aren’t they?" asked Anne, watching the two with a little knowing smile on her lips. Almost instantly, before he could frame a reply, Peggy stood up. “Hl have to run along now," she said breathlessly. She reached down for her big silver gray fox scarf that she had tossed on a chair nearby. All at once, courage born of - that strange look that had lighted Gordon’s eyes for one brief second, possessed hw. “if I decide to be Mra. Winter. Anne, shall I call you tonight, even if ft la late?” “I want to be the very first to know, you dear." Anne acknowledged. “You’re silly if you don’t marry Jim, with his good looks and all that money. You’ll be a real princess out of a fairy tale!” “I’ll take you home.” said Gordon. “My car is on the _ ' “Won’t ft make you late for your engagement?” suggested Peggy. “It’s nearly seven now,” glancing at her wrist waten. . “That won’t matter.” exclaimed Gordon mechanically. -Til run her home in your car, bud,” ’ offered Anne maliciously. “You can be dressing while I am gone. You’ll have to have dinner, too, you know.” Gordon was struggling into a light topcoat. “Ready. questioned eagerly. of purple lilacs as they rode slowly down the long driveway before the house Stars glimmered brightly over£**7 A Httte silver sickle of a moon

Gordon quirky in a voice that not even I Peggy could mistake for a brotherly tone. She clasped her globed hands tightly in her lap and looked away where swiftly moving clouds seemed to be rocking the little sliver cradle of a moon In the sky. “We’ve known each other ever since we could walk, haven’t we. Peg?" asked Gordon In a voice that was still subdued. - She answered in a monosyllable, not daring to trust her own voice. “We’ve been great old pals, haven*t we?” he continued. Peggy did not answer, and presently the machine slid noiselessly to a stop before the shabby old brick that had always been home to her. Boxwood shielded the driveway from the street Gordon groped for and found, one of . her cold little hands. It trembled in his as he lifted Urgently and held it above his heart “Feel anything wrong there?” and then, at her eloquent silence, he pressed her hand still closer. “The darned thing Is nearly beating out of me,” he laughed shakily. Stm Peggy could not find her voice. There seemed to be something thick, binding. In her throat It contracted painfully when she tried to swallow. “If you can’t feel It, perhaps you can hear it” he argued and gently, ever so gently for big, brotherly Gordon, he put his arm around her. silver fox furs and all, and drew her head In its closefitting little turban to a place where bls heart hammered under her cheek. “Oh, llttlest one," he whispered softly when she did not resist, “its been you all the time, and 1 have been such a fool I didn’t realize how dear you were, how Mank this old world suddenly seemed when I thought of It without you to love. I love you, girl. Could you ever think of me as —as a husband?” His big rich voice was trembling with eagerness. The little turban tilted drunkenly over one ear as he strained her to him. “Is—is it Jim Winter? He has looks, money, every-thing-—but, girl, nobody could love you as I do.” “Do you think for one second. Gorden Wilson, that I would let any man but you kiss me—like this?” asked Peggy, suddenly finding her recreant voice.