Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-12-19


fence lest Belle should chance to see
her through the little gate. She drew
the end Of her hoe handle along the
smoothed surface Of her yard square
onion plot and was carefully dropping
the seeds when voice OF triumph
sounded behind her:
"I've finished mine. Now what are
you going to plant next?" There was
a step beside her. and the voice Of tri-
umph became a voice Of dismay. "Je-
ru-sa.lem! Is that the way you fix
'em"
Ann turned and glanced into the
next garden. Eyes. What have you
doneT'
Stephen stuffed his hands deep in
his overalls pockets. "Me? Why. l
sowed 'em broadcast" He removed
one hand md motioned as though SOW
ing oats.
Again Ann was convulsed with
mirth. "How-how would you weed
them II they came up thick all overY'
Stephen wormed q toe into the soft
soil. "Weed! Why. never thought
uOout tuc WccuAA8. luAAns QuAtC
humbly, "that l better stick to the
store and give up gardening"
AIMS heart unaccountably sank. So
did her sunbonnet.
mo, l won't. either" with sudden
energy. "If you'll bolster me up with
advice. I'll stick to It,"
AIMS heart unaccountably arose. 80
did her sunbonnet.
Lets swap work this morning."
proposed Stephen a moment later. and
Ann agreed.
Next morning shortly after Ave
she found Stephen smoothing over
her carrot plot just south of the on
ions. II thought I'D begin." he ex-
planned little shamefacedly. "in your
garden SO you would help me. don't
know what to do with the pesky
seeds. Either I'd plant 'em in trench
so deep they'd never hear the last
trump or else I'd scatter 'em over tho
top to the four winds and the hreczes
betweenw
After the gardens were planted
there was no reasonable excuse for
arising at s o'clock until the weeds
appeared. Therefore. Stephen. releas-
ed from his early morning duties.
often came up on the Wright porch
warm evenings and entertained him
self gayly with Bellies chatter, while
Ann slipped away and wandered in
the garden hunting weeds.
At last, after heavy June rain,
they came accompanied by the tender
vegetable shoots - potatoes, beets, OH
iOns-and Ann arose again, ut and
repaired, sunbonneted, to the garden.
Her heart fluttered little as she un-
latched the gate. HE will get some
one else to do the hocing surely" she
told herself. But no.
He greeted her with a rueful face.
"Say, I'm glad you're here" he pro-
claimed frankly. do you pull these
weeds or hoe 'em out or put a charge
Of dynamite under 'em?"
Ann heard herself laughing happily.
The hoeing season had begun.
On the Fourth of July the families
Wright and Long enjoyed new potn-
toes and peas. Stephens row Of vines
abounded In peas, while his potatoes
We're deficient. In AIMS garden the
case was reversed.
We'll swap" said Stephen promptly.
Swapping had become habit with
him. Two weeks later both families
RECALLED themselves on beet green's.
They came from Stephens garden, but
l.. hn fIyn Il LAM
"My sweet corn will be ripe in two
weeks" suid Ann timidly as she took
the greens. "There will be enough for
us both"
Her predictions We're correct. but an
tedating the ripening Of the sweet corn
was the picnic in the bridgeport grove.
"Will you girls ride over with me?'
the corner to the porch the evening be-
fore, as Ann was watering the flowers
and Belle swinging in the hammock.
7 ,lle answered promptly in the af-
flrmative. Ann tardlly. After he had
gone Belle yawned and remarked care
lessly: '"Three In that narrow buggy!
How tiresome! If you'd not happened
to be arOund"- She did not finish the
remark. Belle never hurt Intentionally.
Ann made no reply, but swallowed
hard at big lump which would not
go down. All her invitations We're ac-
cidents and came because she hap
pened to be around" Belle. Nothing
would induce her to go to the picnic.
Therefore. the following morning nj.
though she donned the denim skirt, she
did not repair to the garden until 8
o'clock.
Belle. I've concluded not to 60 to the
picnic. There's hoeing that must be
done in the garden
Bother the garden, Ami" came back
Bellies voice good naturally. You're
welded to that garden