Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-03-29

trees near the front of the house, but
she paused as though to indicate that
she was through with his services.
.'Thanll you for showing me through
the garden" she said quite graciously.
''What is your mama 2
"My name is Borth,'' replied the
young man.
Good morning, Borth," she said. 81
think we shall get on very we'll to-
gether.'
She nodded carelessly and moved on
toward the carriage. The coachman
sprang from his box and opened the
door, and Berth watched her drive
away. He FASTENED down to the gate
and looked after the carriage until it
was out of sight. Then he walked
slowly and with bent head back to his
garden. but all it's joy and brightness
seemed to have departed
| Two days later Mr. Berth was taking
a morning ride on his chestnut cob
along the highway which led to the
railway station. He saw a carriage APP
| proaching, in which were two persons,
a man and beautiful young woman.
His pulses quickened as he recognized
Miss Olney. The man beside her was
a real estate agent named Boswell,
whom Borth knew. He raised his hat
as Mr.. Borth approached. The young
man returned the salutation, but first
bowed respectfully to Miss Olney. She
started and looked at him with eyes
which expressed establishment and dis
may. Borth turned up lane that he
might the more easily gaze after her.
He saw her bend toward Boswell and
say something in hurried and SEEM
ingly anxious manner
He waited in the lane until the car
riage had disappeared over the brow Of
a hill; then he turned his horses head
and followed it at distance. 1t passed
his own property, and from afar he
saw it turn into the driveway leading
to the Martin estate.
Then light broke over him. He gal
loped home and, going to his room,
quickly changed his riding dress. He
had n strong presentiment that he was
going to hear something from Miss
Olney. He wandered impatiently about
\
went out into the garden. He had a
| feeling akin TO tenderness for this spot
where he first saw her. At the same
time he could not rid himself of an i'm
preston that he had somehow treated
her badly. He tried to imagine her
own sensations now that she had dis
covered he singular error.
A manser ant approached the bench
where he sat musing
ga lady is on the terrace, Sir" said
the man, asking for Mr.. Berth. She
would not come in, and asked her to
have seat in the summer house while
l looked for you through the garden"
Borth sprang to his feet and has
tened toward the terrace. While he
was still some distance away he saw
her coming toward him.
ut is fitting that should come to
you" she said before he could speak, "to
apologize for an ineXcusable rudeness.
I am profoundly Inundated, and ask
your pardon"
/ Her cheeks were crimson, and the
expression Of her face was one of
genuine distress, but she bore herself
+. proudly even in her humiliation.
"My dear Miss Olney." began Bortfi,
you must not speak so over such Il
/ trifle." But she interrupted him.
NO, please hear me first. My uncle
bought in the Martin property for me
! early last winter. l saw it once only,
just before we went to Florida l re-
turned week ago to take possession.
On Monday drove out to see my coun-
try house. | was to have met Mr.. Bos-
we'll at Biretta station, but missed
him. never dreamed | would not
know the place, but they are alike from
the road. | drove in here. The garden
was so inviting. You know the rest"
Yes: you found cross looking fell
low in rough clothes turning up the
ground and you naturally supposed
him to be the gardener"
"He neither looked nor acted like a
gardener. No; there is no excuse for
me-"
well, he was gardening. wasn't he?
And that makes him gardener Miss
Olney, you have unwittingly paid me
the highest compliment. The cultiva-
tlon OF flowers is passion with me.
My work pleased you, and l am more
than delighted.
ITO think how | behaved and that
ordered you-yes, ordered you--to cut
me those flowers! Ohn' She covered
her face with her hands for moment.
Wasn't it splendid" The young
man laughed joyously.
But you We're to blame, too" she
said, flashing an indignant glance from
her splendid dark eyes. "Why did you
let me so on? You must have realized
at once why was here. 1t was unkind
of you not to tell me-
MY dear Miss Olney, l had no idea
whom was entertaining. am an
Englislllnan, you know, and it took me
until this morning to realize the true
state Of affairs On Monday was at a
loss to determine whether it was a
princess of the royal blood or a beauti-
full being from another world who so
suddenly appeared before me- | only