The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-12-10
"A BUNCH OF
SWEET PEAS
Copyright, by Ford Pub. Coz
By NELLIE PETIT

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 asyoung woman; not that the
point interested him much. He was
above and beyond and outside the pale
of womanfolk.
At least, so he had told himself
times without number during the past
ten years.
And he was "a now; getting quite
an old man-quite a confirmed her
NIT.
He looked round his beautiful gar
den, where the bees ran riot in the
honeysuckle, and the butterflies made
free with the roses and tall virgin
lilies. Quite a 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
their allotted space, between the shell
tering, helpful sticks.
The voice arrested his wandering
attention once more.
Are you sure you haven't any
sweet peas? / am sure l smell them
somewhere. And l did so want a
bunch for aunty on her birthday; they
are her favorite fiowers!"
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 a got none
such thing! Them as you smells be-
longs next door to Mr.. Cathcart-they
does; and he wouldn't spare EN- for
love or money" the old job gardener
who rented the gardens next to Cath
carts explained.
Love or money! What had he to
do with the former" 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
love and he had something in com
mon; he had dreamed wild dreams,
and seen glorious visions; but neither
the dreams nor the visions became re-
alties. She" went away with some
one else, and he was left behind with
cut a word, without a look, left to
grow into a bitter, disappointed man
a 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
spare you just a few? The fragrance
is so-strong, he must have hundreds,
and he can't wan to keep them all
to himself" the speaker went on i'm
ploringly.
The gardener shook his head.
"Sakes alive. missy, I'd not be the
one to ask him!" he answered hurried
ly. You can do it an you please, if
you wants sweet peas so much; but l
can't see why them roses amt good
enough for any one. TTis all the same
wi visitors; they always wants what
us haven't got-and that's straight"
u III W hlluoSl vi JllC
other side of the hedge. He hadn't
smiled for some months! So the own
er of the voice vas a visitor, was she?
And she wanted what old Stephen
Walker hadn't got, but what he-Miles
Cathcart-had!
He held his breath as he waited for
the answer
II think I'll go and ask him, then"
she said in clear, cool tones. "He can't
cat me, | suppose, and a cat may look
at a king, mayn't it? You've heard of
that old rhyme in Devonshire, haven't
your"
He could almost hear a chuckle from
that old fiend of a Stephen.
go to, missy, with your gaming of
mel" he answered peevishly. IF you
gifts them sweet peas from Mr.. Cath
cart-well, I'll think differently O. the
rest Of your sex for ever and ever aft
erwArds,"
Miles heard a soft football on the
path next door. The young lady was
carrying her threat into execution. BY
rights he ought to go indoors and not
be seen, but he chose to remain where
he was, standing between his tall rows
of magnificent sweet peas, and await.
ing the coming Of
A tall, slender girl in white, with
a big, shady hat almost hiding her
f1ower-like face! Miles heard the soft
frou-frou Of her skirts; his ears had
not heard the sound for ages.
When he raised his dark, grave eye
she was in front of him. He had been
so hidden by his coveted flowers that
she only caught sight of him then. A
little sound-it might have been OF
fright, or surprise, or relief-broke
from her lips.
please" she said ever so gently
would you let me have a few of you
sweet peas for aunty's birthday? They
are lovely, aren't ?"-burying hel
small nose in the blossoms. "Bul
Walker hasn't any, and aunty il 81
fond of them!"
"Who is aunty?" The question es
capped his lips almost involuntarily
he had not the least desire to be rude
or inquisitive, M the girl seemed t.
understand.
"J mean Aunt Helen" soe an