Lavender and Old Lace

In Lavender and Old Lace, we are presented with a poignant and humorous tale of four romances along with dashes of mystery and even a touch of the supernatural.

Ruth Thorne, a newspaper reporter in the city, comes to stay in the home of Jane Hathaway, an aunt whom she has never met. Aunt Jane is on a trip abroad but instructs Ruth via a letter to place a lantern in the attic window each night. No one knows why.

A fellow reporter, Carl Winfield, is suffering from eye problems and has been sent to the same small town. Ruth and Carl are thrown together through a recommendation from Ruth’s boss and a gentle then passionate courtship ensues. In comic parallel, the maid Hepsey and the town carriage driver Joe pursue their own romance.

Meanwhile, Aunt Jane is briefly missing from the organized trip abroad and when she abruptly returns to her home—well, that’s a revelation and another romance!

Hepsey provides a clue to the mysteries by mentioning Aunt Jane’s friendship with Miss Ainslie, a woman much beloved by the villagers and yet considered somewhat crazy. Her story and lost love holds the key to understanding everything!

Originally published in 1902.

Public Domain (P)2024 Martha H. Weller