The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-07-26
LOVE IN a
GARDEN
BY MARY PARMENTER

When a young man and girl take
t. gardening together Cupid smiles
merrily. knowing his task half accom-
plished. When Arthur Cord and May
Black began the experiment of the
yellow pink he must have laughed
aloud
Arthur adored May and May loved
him. and Arthur knew il, but the shy
little woman couldn't be brought To
admit the fact, even TO herself But
Arthur was the only one of all her
lovers whom she permitted to aid her
in the garden, from which fact he
drew little comfort One day when
she had expressed a wish for some
floral novelty with which TO win pos
sible renOwn at a club flower show
TO be due in a few months bright
idea struck him.
May, he plead softly, "if produce
for you something absolutely novel-a
yellow pink, say--will you say Yes to
the question I've asked you SO often?'
May regarded him steadily for
moment, then she dmpled and smiled
in most alluring manner.
'Yes-if you really produce a vel
low pink she said.
An anXious-nOt TO say strenuous
time followed for Arthur, who found
his task by no means easy. Again and
again he began TO hope that success
would crown his efforts; again and
again the desired tint failed TO ma
terialize. He had small good of the
summer, though May allowed him
more time with her in the garden.
Every time he thought of the coming
flower show he felt his heart sinking.
At last came August and the week
before the shows opening. And only
one of his numerous floral expert
ments offered him the slightest hope.
For the next seven days he watched
that one flower as a mother watches
sick child or a new bride her hus-
band. May watched it almost as much
and anXiously, though she didn't let
Arthur suspect it. The day before
the shows opening the flower opened
also. But. alas! ii was not a clear
yellow. 1t was only yellowish shade
of pink.
Had Arthur been a woman a fit of
tears would have marked this dis
covery, which he made alone and
in the early morning-never dreaming
that from her curtained window May
looked on and felt Almost as disap-
pointed as he when his gestures and
bearing told her the truth about the
flower. AS il was, he swOre a little
softly, sat down upon the garden seat
near and despairingly waited for May
to arise and come into the garden.
She always worked there for an hour
before breakfast, and part of Arthur's
unwOnted nervousness was due to his
devoted practice of working there
with her. He sat up late every even
ing-wth May when she would permit
him, making up lost work when she
would not. And for him was no cool
and comfortable afternoon nap to re-
pair the ravages of lost sleep
Il may as we'll wait and let her
know at once" he now decided, yield
ing TO utter depression Il did so
hope | could hold her to her prom
Use. Now, the little mischief, she's
safe to begin the waiting business all
over again.
But when May stole to his side he
was struck by an unwonted gentle
ness in her manner. She sympathized
with his disappointment so sweetly
that despair grew upon him, thinking
of all he had so narrowly missed. At
last, feeling that he could bear no
more or longer, he rose to go.
May accompanied him as far as the
secluded arbor in the corner. and
there she halted, looking up at him
sweetly, while he again fretted at fate.
IF only that blessed thing had been
Yellow" he mourned, his eager eyes
upon her
Il wouldn't worry about it-dear."
she whispered TIT looks quite
yellow to mel"