Show LILACS AND LYRICS by ga BURNHAM Z 1820 1920 by mcclure newspaper syndicate come down to kew in lilac iliac time la in lilac time it far from london the lilting refrain persisted in the mind of a girl mho stood irresolutely upon the london pavement one spring morning when eien een that dingy city was being afforded a glimpse of blue sky at the corner comer a barrel organ was grinding out its ita tunes to appreciative groups of dancing children well why not go down to kew it really far from london and now that the war was over she would soon leave england for america and the opportunity would be gone with sudden decision she hailed a passing bus and started on the journey to kew with the haunting refrain still in her mind lilacs that was tho the magic word lilacs white and purple how lovingly they clust clustered erod about the little new england home her eyes clouded with a sudden mist she saw again two figures standing by the bushes a lithe sturdy lad in khaki and a girl in a lilac rock frock who raised shy adoring eyes to meet his the heavy odors of the tha white and purple glory with which he had heaped her arms filled the air during those last sacred moments before ills departure tor for france there were caresses and promises but few tears for the girl was one of a race who unflinchingly sent their best to fight for liberty under the banners of the united states and the roan man would have bavo scorned to show emotion after ills his departure she had written him again and again at first the replies mere aero received as regularly as could be expected then had bad come silence unbroken silence all attempts to locate him had been in vain and the corroding agony of suspense grew upon her no one had heard and his name appeared on no prisoner or casualty list finally she had volunteered as a red cross nurse for foreign bervice eer vicc and there found partial surcease from personal sorrow now her work was over and she was going home going home to what with a start she came to herself the bus bug had reached kensington and kew gardens lay before her she alighted find and walked slowly along the birds were singing and their sweet notes were all that broke the silence the peace of it stole over her and she sank down on a bench half hidden among the lilac bushes and gave herself up to bittersweet bitter sweet memories A man wearing the silver bars of a first lieutenant in the service of the united states stood beside a london bookstall idly turning the leaves of a book of poems ills his eyes caught the following lines come down to new kew in lilac iliac time in lilac time it far from london ile he read absorbedly to the end of the poem then reread re read it turning with sudden decision he be asked the bookseller how lie ho could reach kew the bookseller gave him the necessary directions and advised him to go by all means to see the famed beauty of the gardens tho the young man thanked him and purchased the book of poems the next nest bus that rumbled along toward kensington found him on its top immersed in deep thought nig ills mind was far away in a little now new england village which lie he had not seen toy for over a year there stood a farm house with clustering white and lavender lilac bushes and beside them a girl in a frock to match her laughing face bent over the lovely blooms lie ile swung off the bus at kew and strolled down the winding paths enjoying the rustic solitude to the utmost no ile turned a corner comer and came upon the lilacs filling the air with magic sweetness this was familiar this was home and all that was needed to complete the picture was the girl looking up at him with the lovelight aig t shining in the depths of her eyes still hlll held by the enchantment of ills his dream he turned and saw BOW a girl sitting bitting on one of the garden benches with bowed head As ho he looked she raised her head and he saw her face As recognition came he swiftly stretched out his arms and she flew to them like a homing bird too happy to be surprised so swiftly had the dreams of both become reality that there was no consciousness of abrupt transition one hour later a squirrel skipped out from behind the bushes and cocked his head to one side eide lie ile was watching tills this couple who were so close together on the park bench so quiet save eave for the low murmur of 0 voices and soft laughter the man lied had explained the long silence in a way which increased the girls love and trust lie ile had been on a secret service mission of great daner ger which had made it impossible for sim him to communicate with anyone had bad since been liro promoted and cited for bravery then came the story of their appearance pe arance in the garden and be unwrapped the book of poems two heads came close together and the listening squirrel heard words which sounded strangely like this come down to kew in lilac time in lilac time it tar far from london and the man the girl and the squirrel all agreed with the poet that it was wag an excellent thing to do |