Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-09
SWEET PEAS.

S7 RE you quite sure? l did want
AA them so badly"
The speaker paused. The
listener on the other side of the thick
privet hedge could almost fancy there
were tears in her eyes.
For the voice belonged to a woman
of that fact Miles Cathcart was sure.
And, moreover, the owner thereof
must be young woman; not that the
point interested him much. He was
above and beyond number during the
past ten years.
And he was thlrty-four now; getting
quite an old man-quite q confirmed
hermit
He looked around his beautiful gar
den, where the bees ran riot in the
honeysuckles and the butterflies made
free with the roses and tall virgin
lilies. Quite hermit.
He was standing between two rows
OF magnificent sweet peas. From a
glorious deep purple to the faintest
shade Of pink they crept up, each in
its allotted space, between the shelter
ing, helpful sticks.
The voice arrested his wandering at
tention once more.
Are you sure you haven't any sweet
peas? l am sure l smell them some
where. And l did so want a bunch
for aunty on her birthday; they are
her favorite flowers"
There was no doubt about the cha
grin; the tones of the voice dropped
almost to a sob. Miles pictured a
peevish face to himself.
''Shure, now, but l amt got none
such things! Them as you smells be-
longs next door to Mr.. Cathcart-they
does; and he wouldn't spare 'em for
love or money" the old gardener who
rented the garden next to Cathcart ex-
planned
Love or money! What had he to
do with the formerT Miles asked him.
self bitterly. OF the latter he had
enough and to spare, as his beloved
flowers testified. Years ago-ten or
twelve at least-he had thought that
1--we and he had something in common:
ne had dreamed wild dreams and seen
glorious visions; but neither the dreams
nor Ine NlclOlS btNdAlt lNdAALiCS. sue
went away with some one else, and
ne was left behind without word,
without a look, left to grow into a
hitter. disappointed mana hermit,
who avoided all his fellow creatures,
and gave the hulk of what remained
OF himself to his garden in the sunny
southern fishing village to which he
had drifted.
.Wouldn't-don't you think you
could go IN and ask Mr.. Cathcart to
snare you Just a few? The fragrance
Is so-strong; he must have hundreds.
and he can't VIZ 1T to keep them all to
himself" the speaker went on, implor-
ingly.
The gardener shook his head.
'SakeS alive, missy. III not be tue
one to ask him" he answered hur-
rIedly. You can do it an you please.
II you wants sweet peas so much; but
l can't see why them roses amt good
enough for any one. IT'S all the same
wi visitors; they always wants what
we haven't got-and that's straight"
Cathcart smiled to himself. on the
other side of the hedge He hadn't
smiled for some months. SO the owner
Of the voice was a visitor, was she?
And she wanted what old Stephen
Walker hadn't got, but what he-AIiles
Cathcart-had.
He held his breath as he waited for
the answer
u think I will so and ask him.
then" she said. in clear, cool tones.
He can't eat me. I suppose. and a cat
may look at king. mayn't it? You've
Heard of that old rhyme in Devon
shire. haven't your
.'Go 10. missy. with your gamin' of
mer' he answered peevishly. If You
gifts them sweet peas from Mr. Cath
cart-veu. IN think differently of the
rest OF your sex for ever and ever at
forwards"
Miles heard the soft football on the
path next door. The young lady was
carving her threat into execution. BY
rights he ought 10 20 indoors and not
he seen. but he chose TO remain where
he was. standing between his tail rows
OF magnificent sweet peas and await
ting the coming Of
\ tall. slender girl in white. with
big, shady hat almost hiding her flow
ar-lIke face, Miles heard the Sofs