The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1902-11-13
A GARDEN PLOT
By Julia fruitt Bishop.

TWO very faipt-hearted young peo-
i pie were looking at one another
over the back fence of the vegetable
gardeh-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, Ill go to
my paternal ancestor and speak to
him about it," said the young man,
resignedly, adding the reservation,
cat least I'll kind of hint to him. ]
might as well take out a good slice
of life insurance before I start. But
if I do 60 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 asv 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 away!"
"Oh,s Tom,s we q can'ti'' came 50
frightened whisper over the same
barrier. "I'll-I'll speak to mamma
and see you here tomorrow evening,
Or why not come to tie house! Nam
ma never has said yon couldn't, you
know
ssOh, but the way she looks at metz
was the tragic response: Notify 9
whole lot, Nell! Wen trust to these
cold-hearted cabbages instead"
Whereupon the two parted with
such evidences of affection as the
vines permitted, and went yaliantly
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 snap, and
turned an accusing face upon he1
daughter. Anger had made her face
very@red. There was no doubt that
she knew all! Nell's heart beat q
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 go to your OWL
ROOM" she said, with austerev dig
nifty, .and remain there Until yot
can listen to reason and talk owe,
matters calmly" Esds934 E&2* ~
Mrs. Grayson swept out. of the
room, and Il thus abruptly ended
Nell's confession. ..5f,
Tom, gifted with a knowledge Of
men, that should make him a dip
lomat some day, waited until Col
Drane had eaten remarkably GOOD
dinner and was stretched at ease il
a capacious chair, as he could SEE
through the window. What he die
not ssee through the window wal
the perplexed frown upon the col
onelS brow-a frown which shunf
there in spite of the dinner and thu
chair. Tom was in the room and ad
vancing upon the enemy in good or
der before he saw the frown, an,
Immediately his ranks were throw,
into confusion. He faltered. "I'n
gonel" he said to himself. What b
said &out loud was, 81 have come t,
speak to you, sir, about q certai1
matter . e.
Quick as flash the colonel wa
up, with an apoplectic lookson 4shi
couIitenance.
You will do nothing Of the kind
sirl',s he shouted. IT know exactl
what you would say! Well, sir, yo
needp't say it! My mind is full
made up! Not word, siri You ma
60! u wish to be alonel" )