Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-05-17
THE LANGUAGE
OF VEGETABLES

M
"Radishes'
"And what's IN the bed over there"
peas"
PEAS. you gandcr, Don't you know
enough not to put in peas so early!
They'll be frozen"
A pert young girl was standing OH
the lower rail Of fence. hanging by
her hands to the tcp one. John Falk,
who raised vegetables for the market,
paused In his work and, raising him
self from his bent position. stood look
ing at the saucy face before him.
"My busy season is commencing" he
said Il wish you would come and
help me-"
''IIow could | do thatW
"You know very well how"
lie had left his sowing and was
standing by her Her saucy manner
had left her, and she looked a trifc
sorrowful
Its too soon, Johnny. You're not
making enough for two. Wait another
year. Meanwhile I'll be doing some
thing too. I'm going into the city into
millinery shop, You know how
handy I've always been at
She paused John was looking at
her as If she had killed his last hope.
You'll not come back to me-" he
said.
Not come back? And why not,
Johnny"
II know you well, Betty. You have
fancy for fine things. Some onell
come along and shake flowers in your
face, and then wherell be the radishes,
the peas, the beans and the fine waving
corn? You can't eat flowers, but
they're prettier, I'll admit, and that's
the reason you'll like 'em better"
'Johnny, you're acting downright
mean to talk this way, making 1t hard
for me when I'm going 20 try for some
thing to help us"
Betty went to the city, and Johnny
watched his garden. One day he re-
ceived through the post carrot. He
knew that it came from Betty and
meant that she was proof against the
setuctions Of things merely beautiful
and still loved him and his vegetable
garden But it did not give him much
comfort. In August he sent her an
ear of corn from which hung a fine
brown tassel He meant it for a sign
that the time was ripe for wedding.
But, alas, Johnny was too late with
his token. Betty had fulfilled his pre-
dctions for her, In an evil hour she
had been tempted to go to circus, and
the gaudy costume of bareback rider
had captiyated her. The fellow rs he
rode around the ring saw two admiring
eyes fixed upon him, and as she left
the tent he joined her. Their courtship
was short, Betty was taken clean off
her feet ana before she knew ii was
married She sent John n pansy. He
paled the moment he saw it, for he
knew 1t meant that after all Betty had
given way to the beautiful, ignoring
the practical He knew nothing OF
what became of his sweetheart, but
knew that he had lost her.
One by one his paintings ripened; he
plucked the fruits of his labors, carried
them to market, sold them and put the
proceeds in bank, but there was no
comfort in it for him. All the while
he was thinking of the girl he had
wished to be his helpmeet, In the
possession of another. 1t robbed the
pea vine of its bright green beauty;
the bush bean clambered over Its pole
without exciting any emotion IN his
heart; the corn waved sadly in the
autumn breeze.
Two years passed, during which
John Falk raised crops for the market
without taking any interest in his
work. With heavy heart he was get
ting ready for third when one morn
| ing on going to the postofiice he re-
| celved a parcel He OWNED at once
| that ii was from his lost love and,
fastening home. shut himself i'll and
| opened IT, II was an okra pod partly
! eaten away by worm.
John knew Mt once that BETTY was In
! trouble
On the wrapper was written 'B.
| Hospital" and from this he knew that
| she was sick and where she was sick.
He took the first train for the city and
| lost no time IN reaching the hospital,
| Ushered into q ward. he was led
| through rows of beds till he came to
| one from whicll Betty's two big eyes
looked out 9t him with mingled sor-
row ana pleasure
Betty told John the story of her in
fatua ton. how she had been neglected.
having 10 work for her living while
her husband spent all he made on him
self. But he had aSplred TO do a feat
| that had cost him his life. having bro
| ken his neck by fall while riding ut
the top OF a tower of four men. Betty
! had heard of his death while she was
| In the hospital and had sent the token
10 John.
a month later Betty was discharged
J rs ConvnleSccut Before leaving the
! ltU,g,t~i tiala N',ls y Wodita- ia tie
reception room, and John took her
| back 10 his little house and garden.
| Tho radishes were well up and the
! peas were just coming Rctty, who
| was not yet strong. sat nj u window
and watched the rows of green as they
| successfully appeared Before her trou-
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