The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-01-02
4 GARDEN PLOT.
By Julia Truitt Bishop.
Observation-Disclosures

| TWO very faint-hearted young peo-
L 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 its 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 go to
my paternal ancestor and spsak to
him about it." said the young man,
resignedly, adding the reservation.
lat least I'll kind of hint to him.
might as well take out a good slice
of life insurance before l start. But
if do go you've got TO promise that
you'll go to your mother. I'm not
going to run all the risks!"
"Oh, yes, suppose I'll have to 60"
said the girl. desperately. "And I'm
just as afraid as / can be. 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 sincel"
Maybe they're going to send you
back to school again." was the saw
age remark from across the butter
bean vines. 81 won have it, Nell, and
that's the end of it. If it comes to
that, wen run away!"
ooh. Tom, we can'tl" came a
frightened whisper over the same
barrier. "I'll-rn speak to mamma-
and see you here tomorrow evening.
Or why not come to the housel Nam
ma never has said you couldn't, you
know"
"Oh, but the way she looks at mel"
was the tragic response. "Not by
whole lot, Nelll Wen 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 Nells 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 go to your own
room," she said, with austere dig
nifty, "and remain there until you
can listen to reason and talk over
calmly"
Mrs. Grayson swept out Of the
room, and thus abruptly ended
Nell's confession.
Tom, gifted with a knowledge of |
men that should make him a 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 |
the window. What he did /
not see through the window was
The perplexed frown upon the col
onel's brow-a frown which hung
here in spite of the dinner and the
hair. Tom was in the room and ad-
'ancing upon the enemy in good or
Ter before he saw the frown, and
his ranks were thrown
nto confusion. He faltered. I'm
yonel. he said to himself. What he
aid out loud was, Il have come TO
peak to you, sir, about a certain
Quick as a flash the colonel was
Up, with an apoplectic look on his
"You will do nothing of the kind,
irl" he shouted. 81 know exactly
vhat you would sayl Well, sir, you
Ieedn't. say III My mind is fully
nade upl Not a word, sirl You may
'ol ] wish to be alonei"
And thus abruptly ended Toms
onfession.
Early the next morning the but
er-bean vines received two new ex-
one very fearful and
he other full of very determined
Iughter.
"She sent for him to-day" sobbed