The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-12-03
A BUNCH OF
SWEET PEAS
By NELLIE PETIT
Copyright. by Ford Pub. Cos

TOT tue VOICE belonged to woman
OF that fact Miles Cathcart was sure
And, moreover, the owner thereof
must be young woman; not that the
point interested him much. He was
above and beyond and outside the pale
Of womanfolk.
i 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 beautifuI 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? I am sure smell them
somewhere. And l did SO want a
bunch for aunty on her birthday; they
are her favorite fowers!"
There was no doubt about the cha.
grin; the tones of the voice dropped
almost to sob. Miles pictured a
peevish face to himself.
"Shure, now, but I amt got none
such thing! Them as you smells be.
longs next door to Mr.. Cathcart-they
does; and he wouldn't spare 'em 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
out q word, without look, left to
grow into a bitter, disappointed man
q 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 want 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 hint" he answered hurried
ly. you can do it an you please, If
you wants sweet peas SO much: but I
can't see why them roses amt good
enough for any one. It's all the same
VII visitors; they always wants what
US haven't got-and that's straight"
Cathcart smiled to himself on the
other side Of the hedge. He hadn't
smiled for some months! So the own
er Of the voice was 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 60 and ask him, then, "
she said in clear, cool tones. "He can't
eat me. suppose. and a cat may look
at king, mayn't it? You've heard of
that old rhyme in Devonshire, haven't
you?"
He could almost hear a chuckle from
that old fiend Of Stephen.
go to. missy, with your gaming of
met" 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 60 indoors and not
be seen. but he chose to remain where
he was, standing between his tall rows
of magnificent sweet peas. and await.
Eng the coming Of
A tall. slender girl in white, with
q big, shady hat almost hiding her
dower-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 eyes
che 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 few of you,
sweet peas for aunty's birthday? The,
are lovely, aren't they ?"-burying he,
small nose in the blossoms. "Bu
Walker hasn't any, and aunty is s.
fond Of them!"
"Who is aunty?" The question ca
capped his lips almost involuntarily
he had not the least desire to be rud,
or inquisitive. and the girl seemed t,
understand