The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-20
THE EVENING STORY
A Girl and a Garden.
(By FRANK II. WiIliams)

couio rove you, SAID the Pretty
Nelghbor, and then, as the man i'm
petuously reached for her. she added
quickly, for your garden!"
The mans face fell.
"Now I call that downright mean
declared the man vigorously. you're
a nice Pretty Neighbour! Here I've been
counting you and making love to you
for months, and now 1 find that it's
not me but my garden that's made an
impression. I'll sell the garden" he
added roughly.
The Pretty Neighbor clasped her
hands in real distress.
ooh, don't!'' she cried. you don't
really mean thati Think how long it's
been in your family! Think how much
care your mother and your grand
mother and your great-grandmother
spent on all these dear flowers!"
Time was selling it," growled the
man. 'sI'll get an old factory. bakery
or something of that sort here!''
"Oh, OH cried the Pretty Neighbor.
II mean it, cried the man. "I'n
start right away"
Wholly distressed, the Pretty Neigh
Dor, her hands tightly clenched,
of the paths toward a gay little sum-
mer house.
She was standing near a wall, be-
side little fountain, and all about
her the garden was a bower of beauty.
Vistas between the trees radiated
from the spot where she stood. Birds
sang in the trees. She could hardly
realize that the big, hurrytng city was
just on the other side of the wall
From the summer house. she saw
the man come out. In one hard he
carried big, white board; in the 9TH
er a bucket of paint and brush. When
he reached the Pretty Neighbor, he
placed the board against the wall and
without a word took up the brush.
What are you going to do?" the
girl asked, somewhat TREMENDOUSLY.
Paint" answered the man laconi-
cally.
With fascinated eyes the girl watch
ed him as the letters grew under his
brush. Across the top of the board
he painted in big, brutal letters, the
words, For Sale.''
The Pretty Ueighbor caught her
breath as the cruel sentence, flaring
Underneath these words the man
worked industriously for little time.
While he worked the girl gazed
back at the garden with tear-dimmed
eyes. When he had finished the man
gave little sigh of satisfaction. The
girl looked again at the sign and
gasped. For sale,'' it read. This gar
den, suitable for a factory. Apply
within to Martin Connor."
"You-you aren't going to nail that
sign up, are you$" questioned the girl,
perilously close to tears.
"Sure!' CALCULATED the man.
The man picked up the sign, hold
ing it awkwardly to save his clothes
from paint; and with the bucket and
brush in the other hand again went
toward the gay little summer house.
He whistled as he went, but the girl,
who followed, with difficulty stifled
her sobs.
At the summer house the man de-
posted his painting utensils and Sc
cured hammer and nails. Still
whistling, he led the way through a
secluded little iron gate to the street.
Once outside, the man carefully
work was finished he stepped back a
bit to admire it. The girl, who had
watched the proceedings, cried out at
this
you're perfectly horrid!" she cried.
ST hate you'll
Then the Pretty Nenghbor fran
tcally dabbing at her eyes with an
absurd little handkerchief, ran across
the street to her own home.
When the Pretty Neighbor awoke
the next morning she could not think
at first what sorrow was near her.
Then it came to her in a jump. The
garden was to be sold! She shuddered
as she thought of the heartless sign
and decided that she would never,
never look at it again.
A moment later she was at the win
dow, peering out at the garden wall
Her heart gave a little
bound as the blank face of the wall
met her gaze. The sign was gone!
1t was a very merry Pretty Neigh
Dor that hailed Martin shortly after.
''Ho,' cried the Pretty Neighbor,
boldly walking through the little iron
gate into the garden. ''Ho, 1 knew
you didn't mean to sell your garden!
You thought you'd scare me into low
ing you'll"
The man, who had been wedding,
looked up at her. He wore an old,
d-brimmed straw hat that, in
some undefinable way, made him
seem even more strikingly handsome
you're wrong" he declared slowly.
Its Soldi"
what" cried the Pretty Neighbor
in CONSERVATION.
eyes" replied the man.
"And some ones going to put up
4 horrid, grimy factory here?" walled
the Pretty Neighbor.
Perhaps" said the man listlessly.
I'm glad you came over" he went
On. Il was afraid I'd have to go with
put saying good-by to you"
"Good- by ?' asked the girl, her face
a picture of surprise and dismay.
YES the man went on, I'm go
ng away. My train leaves at noon.
You may never see me again."
''Why-why are you going?" stam- |
nered the Pretty Neighbor, very woe
FULLY.
The man looked up at her quickly.
There's nothing for me to stay |
lere for" he replied without anima-
ion, evidently not finding what he
hoped in the girls face.
I'm sorry" said the girl, finally.
She extended her hand. In silence !
he shook it. Slowly she went toward /
he gate. When she was almost there |
he man called to her.
I'm a brute" he declared, con-
rite1y, "for letting you think for a
minute that I'd ever really let a fac
DRY be erected here. Since you love
he garden so, you've a right to know
hat the man who has bought 1T is
rour father. He will not disturb 1T
or some time-not for the present at
east"
!, id he cir Itfnr- a emf