The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-30
ONLY A GARDENER.

clouded, lOw-ccilcd, Dainly-furn-
ishcd apartment in an out-of-thc-way
old house, and though the other rooms
are the perfection of ncatncss, this ono
is in all the disarray and abandonment
of art.
Two young girl-studcnts arc resting
after their days work-resting, each
after her own manner. To one, Cert
rude Trcvolyan, tho word implied
utter repose; she, therefore, leaned
back her rcgal-lool1ing head in q COM
Portable old chair, as with half-closed
eyes, the words dropped listlessly from
hey coral lips. But to Esther Forbes,
rest was merely something less labori-
Gus, and seated on tho hcarth-rur, by
the titful glimmer of tirc-light, sho
glanced over daily paper, 'to glean,"
as she said, "a little news for grand
father ut suppcr-timc.
ooh, Gertie!' she cried, "listen TO
this: The Art Decorative Company is
offering three prizos-iirst, second, and
third class-for the best design for
screen decorations. 1t is to be n
yearly competition How l should
like to compete for one of the prizesr'
And should not IP Let us COM
mcnco tomorrow" And so saying,
Gertrude sat upright in her chair, and
opened widc her great dark eyes.
elbow delightful 'twould be-" said
she, 'to awake some morning and find
grapS' Miss Gertrude Trcvclyan has
obtained the first prize and cold
medal for the most original design. >"
81 shall be content with the second"
replied Esther; ''for that fifty pounds
is just what 1 shall want next sum-
mcr.'
And what do you want SO much
money for, childP"
"Ah, Gcrtie! were rs rich rs you, |,
too, might work for fame; but YOU re-
member how my dear old grandfather
suffered from last summers heat, and
yet refused to take from our little in
come the sum requisite for Il two
months sojourn by tho sea. If l
could put this into his hand, and say,
Let us 60, dear grandpa, like Nvo
happy pilgrims and enjoy Old Oceans
breezcs, oh, how proud l should bcr'
The girls were not relatives, but
only ncighbors, and the homo of each
was in that pleasant art-suburb of Lon
don that has grown up of recent years
about that Coclncy's paradise, Hamp-
stead Heath.
But rs Mrs. Trcvclyan disliked the
litter and untidincss of an artists
room, Gertrude frequently came and
''workcd," rs she called it, in her
friends studio.
Esther did not name her aspire tions
to her grandfather, but she lay awake
many long hour, thinking out that
proposed design.
Tho next morning, she found u note
from her fricnd-sho would be absent
for few days, rs her mother had
made somo engagements for them
Eoth-and very glad was Esther to be
alone with her unrcaizcd thoughts.
In the visions of the night, Il sister
Art, Pocsy, bad come to her aid. and
tho subject chosen was from Hoods
idyllic poem, THE Plea of the Mid
summer Fairies," where the littlo Olives
are entrcating tho pity of romorseless
Time.
She designed it rapidly, and ere
long the picture told its own story.
The old Mower could not be intro
duccd-he would have demanded too
much space--but one hand, portions of
his grey, colorlcss raimcnt, and his
scythc, to which clung fresh grass,
wcro visible. And rs Hood describes
it:
"a shady and sequostcrcd scene,
Like those famed gardens Of Boccacoio-"
So the fairies wore in half-shadow
and in various attitudes-somo kneel-
ing implOringly, somo bowed down
with grief, othors---"tho loyal fays''-
surrounding their queen, as though to
protect her. while few had, in de-
spnir, cast themselves upon the ground
among the flowers.
One, that seemed to have stepped
out from that bosky LEAKAGE to plead
with "tho dread King of years." point
cd to n group of lilies in the pictures
centre, upon which fell broad ray of
moonlight-as, with their stems folded
in their large grcon leaves, those pale,
pure lilies stood serene amid that desc
lation-and symbolic Of the limos Esth-
or had selected as her motto:
"Anu she that purincs the light,
Tho virgin Lily, faithful to her white,
Wheroon Eve wopt in Eden for her
"But | must have somc real liliosr'
exclaimed Esther. otis tho most i'm
portant part of the picture"
And away shGwent to q florists, the
most extensive in tho entire ncighbor-
uoou, uHu WHcIC Slc WIS WclI knOWn.
But he had not even one, and de-
clarCd, at that season, they could not
be procured.
"You might SEQ somo at Mr.. Mont
calm's of Oakleigh House, Miss
Forbcs," said Mrs. Jourdain, the flor
lists wife% 'Tor they hayo q iino con-
sorvatory, and iirst-class gardener at
tends to it. You will find him quito
gentlcman, and he will allow you to
draw from anything you like"
Esther further learned that Mr.. and
Mrs. Montcalm had lately returned
from the South of Franco, and that the
lady was so fond of plants and flowers
that he spared no expense to crafty
her taste.
Tho next morning, armed with her