Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-16

soDer old motner mao oeen . bright
yellow. but she was o a little faded
by the sun and the carse OF her family.
why do they do ity' she asked.
Il guess they do 1t to add to the gay
ETY. of nations" the man said. Just
before feast days and holidays II is GUS
tomary to dye the family dogs"
They were passing by the village
church which looked a II Il came from
one of the toy villages made in Ger
many" II is surrounded by tall prim
populars-the only prim things In all
Santa Anita-and IL is plastered on the
outside with cleaning stueeo and eneir-
eled by a high wall made with a seal
Hoped top garnished with balls that
look like human heads. Beyond the
church they entered the plaza. Two
m~usicians, playing the guitar and the
bendola, sat under a matched pavilion,
while several young men and women
wsltzed in the sunlight. The ground
was deep under fine dust and the
starohed skirts Of the women swept It
up In choking clouds. yet they eircled
about slowly with faces OF placid con-
tent.
The young American girl looked at
them with n curious expression OF
mingled curiosity and contempt. The
man laughed again. I'm afraid you
don't approve" he said.
Il should think that they ought TO
be working at this time in the day"
abe answered.
But we're not working, either"
THAT Ia different, though. you know.
we have worked. we have earned a
vacation. At least 1 have" she went
on with a sigh. After teaching for
three years a person needs a rest"
why do you do It,"
The girl turned on him with dignity.
because / haven't any money. and be-
sides a person must do something-must
feel that she 10 doing something for the
world"
'1But your aunt and uncle are rich.
They would, no doubt, be glad to take
care of you"
Il couldn't let them do that" the girl
replied steadily.
You are very independent" the man
said. "lf you had a husband would you
allow him to support your"
The girl looked at him with a faint
smile turning up the corners OF her
mouth. II had never thought OF that.
I will have to consult my New England
conscience"
While they talked they had crossed
the little plaza and entered a shady
garden that sloped down to . canal half
covered with the bright green OF the
water hyacfnth. In the centre OF the
garden was a small cantina where the
weary ones RECALLED themselves with te-
ouila and cervesa. The man made a
bargain with two brothers who had fol-
lowed IN his train for a tour OF the
floating gardens. Their nat bottomed
boat lay moored in the canal at the
foot of the garden. and they set two
boards in the bottom as seats for the
Americans and picked up their long
poles.
Now" said the man, as he ohered
his hand to help the girl into the boat,
"You must remember that the floating
gardens don't float; but then you know
the hanging gardens Of Babylon didn't
hang"
The girl put out her land and was
about to spring into the skin, when she
felt a tug at the skirt OF her gown. The
joyous purple dog had followed her and
evidently wished to be OF her party. He
waggea his helitrope tail so entreating-
IL that the girl said. Cant we take
him along?"
You can take him II o will
promise to leave your New England
conscience here on the bank" the man
answered gravely.
call right the girl said. She gath
cred the purple dog in her arms and
stepped into the boat.
The boatmen dug their poles into the
slime at the bottom Of the canal and
the skif shot from the shadows into
the broad sunlight Of the floating gar
dens. The canals are like a silver net
work thrown over the fields. Each
floating garden is in reality but an OBJ
long plat OF ground surrounded on all
sides by narrow waterways. On some
of the gardens were growing lettuce,
radishes, salinowers and other vegeta-
bles. while others were covered with
peoples, sweet peas and ~nasturtians.
The sun shone through the petals OF
the yellow and crimson peoples until
they seemed like bits Of flame CULVER
ing on slender stems.
1t was midday. A soft silence lay
over the floating gardens. The Indians
piled their poles with scarcely a rip
pie of tho sluggish water. The per-
fums of the flowers came across he
water like a sweet wind. Above, the