The Atlanta constitution., 1900-11-19
CHAPTER XVI.
LITTLE GARDENING,


After its transitory CLEAN of excitement.
the chateau returned to it's normal con-
dition. and had it not been that Nine. de
Treilles was trifie more exactinS, and
her brother more pre-occupied since Gas
tons visit. everything seemed exactly
the same before.
Notwithstanding the various avocatiOns
which Molly had marked out for herself,
she was still often at a loss for employ
ment and therefore regarded as little
short of an inspiration the idea which
struck her one day. that she might devote
some of her spare time to the improve
ment of the garden Accordingly, the
next time she met NJ, de Sauvigny. she
asked him If he would object To her doing
"a little gardening now and then. He
looked astonished, and after a moment
rather annoyed.
II will tell you candidly," he said, with
an impatient sigh. that | cannot afford
to buy plants or TO pay for labour.
NO" returned Molly, little taken
aback by the seeming ungraciousness,
but YOU might allow me to work | could
trim the roses and tie UP the lilies, ana
weed some of the borders.
You are very energetic he said. with
actually smile. ,-r..
Il don't like to be IDLE returned Molly.
-, eII''-peeping shyly up at him-"may
To-
lyon may do any mortal thing you like
inside or outside the house" said Raoul.
II give YOU carte blanche-very hand
some of me is il not? Seriously, MISS
Mackenzie / only wish | could give YOU
more substantial aid in carrying out your
reforms 10,
A little later he came upon hef' perchcu
on a stepladder, hammer IN manu. pusn!
occupied in mailing up one oi the "iu'
wIIful, oVer-luNuTiant rose trees, W"i'",
with IFS wealth OF blossom, was detached
from the house wall. Her sailor nat lay
at her feet. her supply of nails and scraps
of cloth being stored inside. Her heau'
with its ruffIed bronze tresscs. was turn
ed q little on one side. her lips parted
I'm eoperness while She worked away as
if for dear life hammering her nnSerS
quite as often as the nails, Dut naklhS
nm for all want of skill by an immense
amount of good Will
She was so intent on her task that She
did not see Nj. de Sauvigny. vino Stood
for some moments Watching her with
much amusement. Presently ne mcF"u
on. still unperceiVed by her, but paused
again at the end of few PAGES. II was
- shame to be idle while that girl was
working so hard To improve the prop
erty.
can | help you?" he said suddenly,
returning To the foot of MollyS ladder.
She looked up. startled; but. seeing the
laughter i'm Raoul's eyes, began To laugh
too
What a lovely little creature she IS.
he thought. with Il sudden amazed ad-
miration-
The fact had never struck him in the
same way before: he had noticed her
beauty. as he mad noticed her youth, At
first with certain irritation, consider
ing both to be drawbacks under the ciF-
cumstances Finding. however. that
neither untitled her for her duties. he
had grown to tolerate them. but had GER
tainly not thought more highly of her
on account of them. Now, however, as
she looked down on him from the top
ot her ladder. with her bright eyes dane
ing and that pretty warm flush on her
checks: when the little white teeth Hash
ed out. and unexpected dimples were
made manifest as she laughed, her young
loveIiness impressed him altogether differ
emily. II struck him, first of al, with
a certain tenacr compassion, that 1t was
a thousand pities for a creature of that