, 1897-04-22

too evident in that once lively, girlish
face. l naturally assigned this melan-
choly to grief for her dead husband
not knowing then that her union with
him had been unfortunate and that his
death had come to her as Il welcome re-
lief. However, in the course OF my
visit my eyes We're opened to the real
secret of her grief.
l remember the occasion well. On the
first morning of my visit | rose early
and took a stroll round the garden while
the dew of the summer dawn was still
white upon the grass. l had not expect
ed to find any one about at such all
hour, except, possibly, the gardener, and
l felt some surprise when, in a remote
corner of the garden, farthest from the
house, l came upon Helen. She wore II
holland apron and gardening gloves.
and was busy shipping off the dead
flowers i'll a long border with a pair of
scissors. She started at the sound of my
footsteps on the gravel, then came for
ward and offered me her hand.
"You are busy betimes," | said.
Yes she answered. 81 do not sleep
well, and gardening is the occupation
that l love best. I am often here earlier
than this. This is my w particular
little garden. No one else is allowed to
touch it. How.do you like it?'
''It is quite Il little fairyland," l
said, us l looked around me.
Then something seemed suddenly to
strike me. ! had seen this tiny floral
paradise before. Yes, yes! That rustic
summer house, that line of rose trees,
that long, OLD fashioned border, full Of
hollyhocks, and goldenrod, and pinks,
and c~olumbine, and balm, and boys
love-ycs, l had surely seen it before!
And then l remembered where. A sud
den sense of interest, of excitement, of
eager curiosity, made my heart throb.
"You-you-are fond of these old
fashioned fiowcrs?' l asked her, look
ing down into her face.
Il love them. l care for no others"
She spoke almost p~assionately.
"And l love them, too" L said, still
regarding her attentivcly. Partly for
themselves, more for their associa-
tons"
She trembled and turned away her
face.
"Ah, God!' she murmurcd, in a low
voice. ''Their associations!'
Then she exclaimed, with quick, nerv-
u energy:
"Mr. Lascelles, you have heard? You
know? Some Il has told you:h
NO" l answered. mo one has told
me-. But l think l can guess. Shall |
try?"
''If you like" she replied, her voice
sinking to n whisper.
81 think it all began with the growth
of a boys love-" l said.
Her face flushed crimson on the in
slant. a violent tremor shook her frame.
She clasped her hands in Il tense, ex-
cited gesture.
"You-you-have been told!'' she
gasped. This is no-no-guesswork."
II have been told nothing repeat
ed. Il never stopped to consider the
wisdom or the kindness of speaking
out. l was acting under an impulse
which entirely controlled me.) But l
have seen something, have drawn my
conclusions"
"Have seen something? What? Where?
I do not understand. Explain!"
IA little garden, the counterpart of
this. That same summer house filled up
the corner The rose trees ran Just So,
and along one side there stretched Il
border of exactly that size and shape
full of the same dear, old world plants.
There they grew-the hollyhocks, the
goldcnrod, the creeping Jennie, the col.
umbinc, the sweet william, the can
terbury bell. But the gardeners favor
lite above them all, the plant which he
loved and priced the most, was-boy's
love-"
She stared at me with a dazed, Devil
dered air. Her eyes We're fixed on mine.
But she did not speak.
EVERY day. went on, when it
vas fine he weeded and tended his
plants and when it was wet he sat i'll
his summer house and watched them.
His IL thought was that they might be
trim and ready against the arrival Of
some one; some one whom he always
expected; sone II who never came"
She put her hands to her face. She
uttered Il low, gaspims cry.
Then she tottcrcd, fell forward and if
I had not caught her in my arms, would
have lain fainting OIL the gravel.
The last scene of my story was enact
ed n week later. With the consent and
indeed with the approval of DIR. y. it
was arranged that l should take Helen
to the asylum and that she should
be allowed to see her faithful gardener,
who had been waiting for her so long.
l was present at the interview. I shall
not easily forget it.
When he saw Helen, he started. He
turacd very pale. He ercmbled all over
Then he shaded his eyes with his hand
and half closed them, like one coming
out of darkness into a strong light.
"How do you find your %garden?" he
asked her, i'll an uncertain, wavering
voice.
"Georgel Georgc!' was al she could
find to say, but in her uttcrancc Of the
name throbbed a world of pathos.
"After you went" he continued, still
speaking in 4 low and dreamy tone,
ruthless hands made havoc of your
garden. But l restored it just as it was
Just as you-had-loved it. renewed
the border myself. l replanted all your