Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-12-11
A GARDEN PLOT
BY Julia Truitt Bishop.

Two very faint-hcarted young peo-
j pie were looking at one another
over the back fence of the vegetable
garden-she in the garden among the
cabbages, he outside in the seldom
used street. Between them was the
fence, with it's green burden of but
ter-bean vines. Practical, everyday
life and hard realism could go no
further.
"Of course, if you say so, I'll 60 to
my paternal ancestor and speak to
him about it, said the young man,
resignedly, adding the reservation,
'at least I'll kind of hint to him.
might as well take out good slice
Of life insurance before start. But
if 1 do go you've got to promise that
you'll go to your mother. I'm not
going to run all the risks!"
ooh, yes, suppose I'll have to CO."
said the girl, desperately. "And I'm
Just as afraid as I can be. I know
there's some plot against us. Your
father came to see mamma yester-
day about something, and mamma
Just looked at me awfully after he
had gone. I've been afraid to speak
to her ever since!"
Maybe they're going to send you
back to school again" was the saw
age remark from across the butter
bean vines. II won have it, Nell, and
that's the end of it. If it comes to
that. we'll run awaV!"
"Oh, Tom, we can't!" came a
frightened whisper over the same
barrier. "I'll-I'll speak to mamma-
and see you here tomorrow evening.
Or why not come to the house! Nam
ma never has said you couldn't, you
know"
"Oh, but the way she looks at me!'
was the tragic response. "Not by q
whole lot, Nell! Well trust to these
cold-hearted cabbages instead"
Whereupon the two parted with
such evidences of affection as the
vines permitted, and went valiantly
forth to make confession.
Nell found her mother writing at
her little desk in the corner; but
at Nell's approach Mrs. Grayson shut
and locked the desk with a snap, and
turned an accusing face upon her
daughter. Anger had made her face
very red. There was no doubt that
she knew all! Nell's heart beat a
hurried double tattoo, and her nicely
composed, dutiful little speech died
on her lips. All that she managed to
say was Mammal" But she did that
with such an emphasis that appalled,
her. Mrs. Grayson turned pale.
"You had better 60 to your own
room,'' she said, with austere dig
nifty, ''and remain there until you
can listen to reason and talk over
matters calmly"
Mrs. Grayson swept out of the
room, and thus abruptly ended
Nell's confession.
Tom, gifted with knowledge of
men that should make him Dip
lomat some day, waited until Col.
Drane had eaten a remarkably good
dinner and was stretched at ease in
a capacious chair, as he could see
through the window. What he did
not see through the window was
the perplexed frown upon the col
onel's brow-a frown which hung
there in spite of the dinner and the
chair. Tom was in the room and ad
vancing upon the enemy in good or
der before he saw the frown, ant
Immediately his ranks were thrown
into confusion. He faltered. I'm
gone!'' he said to himself. What hi
said out loud was, Il have come tt
speak to you, sir, about a certain
matter"
Quick as a flash the colonel was
up, with an apoplectic look on his
countenance.
"You will do nothing of the kind
sir!" he shouted. 81 know exactly
what you would say! Well, sir, you
needn't say it! My mind is fully
made up! Not a word, sir! You may
goi ] wish to be alonel"