Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-07

 ous. But I noticed at the same time that he was holding in the open palm of his huge hand the roots of violet with such infinite tenderness and deli cacy that would have engaged him as my gardener on the spot. But this could not be, as he was already the proud proprietor of market garden and nursery on the outskirts of the suburban California town where I liv ed He would, however, come for two days in tho week, stock and look after my garden and inpart to my urban in- teIIect such horticultural hints as were necessary. His name was Ruetli, which presumed to be German, but which my neighbors rendered as Root leigh, possibly from some vague con- nection with his occupation. Ills own knowledge of English was oral and phonetic have a delightful recollec tion of a bill of his in which I was charged for "foietZ," with the vague addition of maine cains." Subsequent explanation proved it to be "many { kinds
 Nevertheless my little garden bour Reoned and blossomed under his large,
 
 10 walk around his feet respectfully when they blocked the tiny paths and to expect the total eclipse by his enor- mous bulk of that garden bed on which he worked for the tinfest and most reluctant roo&let seemed to respond 10 his caressing paternal touch. It was pretty sight to see his huge Ringers tying up some slender stalk to fits stick with the smallest thread, and he had a reverent way of laying bulb < or a seed in the ground and then gently shaping and smoothing small mound over 1t, which made the little inscrip- lion on the stick above more like an af- fecting epitaph than ever Much of this gentleness may have been that apology for his great strength common with large men, but his face was dis Hnctly amiable, and his very light blue Ayes were at times wistful and doglike an their kindliness. But was soon to learn that placability was not entirely his nature.
 The garden was part of fifty vara lot of land on which was sinultane ously erecting house, but the garden was finished before the house was, through certain circumstances very characteristic of that epoch and civ ilization. had purchased the Spanish title the only sIegal'' one to the land, which, however, had been in posses sion" of "squatter." But he had been unable to hold that possession against "a jumper" another kind of suuatter who had entered upon it cov- ertly, fenced 1t in and marked it out in building sites. Neither having legal rights, neither could invoke the law. The last man held possession. There was no doubt that in due course of lit igation and time both these ingenious gentlemen would have been dispossess- ed in favor of the real owner (myself), but that course would be protracted one. Following the usual custom of the locality, I paid certain sum to the jumper speaceably to yield up his possession of the land and began to build upon 1t. It might be reasonably supposed that the question was set tied, but it was not. The house was nearly finished when one morning was called out of my editorial sane tum by a pallid painter, looking even finore white leaded than usual, who. i'm formed me that my house was in the ppssession of five armed men. The en- try had been made peaceably during the painters absence to dinner under al wayside tree. When they returned they had found their pots and brushes in the road and an intimatfon from the windows that their re-entrance would be forcibly resisted as trespass.
 I honestly believe that Ruetli was more concerned than myself over this dispossession While he Loyalty be- heved that would get back my prop erty, he was dreadfully grieved over the inevitable damage that would be sdcne,to the garden during this interval of neglect and carelessness. even thtnk he would have made truce with my enemies If only they had let him look after his beloved plants. As it was, he kept passing but melan- choly surveillance of them and was Indeed a better spy of the actions of the intruders than any could have employed.
 One day. to my astonfshment, he brought me moss rose bud from a bush which had been trained against D column of the veranda. It appeared hhat he had called from over the fence the attention of one of the men to the neglected condition of the plant and had obtained permission to "come fin and tie it up." The men, being mere hireIings of the chief squatter, had no personal feeling. and was not, there fore, surprised to hear that they pres entity allowed RuetIi occasionally to come in and look after his precious .'slips" If they had any suspicion of his great strength it was probably off set by his peaceful avocation and his bland, childish face. Meantime had begun the useless legal proceeding, but had also engaged few rascals of my own to be ready to take advantage of any want of vigilance on the part of my adversaFies- | never thought of Ruetli in that connection any more than they had.
 A few Sundays later was sitting in