Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-07
The Argus Daily Short Story
A GIRL AND A GARDEN-BY FRANK H. WILLIAMS
Copyrighted. 1908 by Associated Literary Press

Il could love YOU" said the pretty
neighbor, and then as the man impet-
uously reached for her she added quick
ly, 'for your garden"'
The mans face fell.
"Now, 1 call that downright mean"
declared the man vigorously. YOU'RE
a nice, pretty neighsor. Here I've been
counting you and making love to You
for months, and now find that it's not
me. but my garden, that's made an in
preston. I'll ~ell the garden" he add
ed roughly.
The pretty ne .,hbor clasped her hands
in real distress.
"Oh. DON'T she cried "You don't
really mean that! Think how long it's
been in your family! Think. how much
care your mother and your grandmoth-
er and your great grandmother spent
on all these dear flowers"'
thine was selling itr' growled the
man. I'll get an old factory. Il bakery
or something of that sort here"'
"Oh, OH" cried the pretty neighbor.
81 mean it!' cried the man. I'll
start right away"
Wholly distressed, the pretty neigh
Dor. her hands tightly clinched. watch
| ed the man as he went down one OF
the paths toward gay little summer
house.
| She was standing near wall, beside
little fountain, and all about her the
garden was Il bower of beauty. Vistas
between the trees radiated from the
spot where she stood. Birds sang II
the trees She could hardly realize tina
the big, hurrying city was just on the
other side of the wall.
From the summer house she saw The
man come out. In one hand he car
ried big white board, in the other ;
bucket of paint and brush. When b
reached the pretty neighbor he placed
the board against the wall and with
out word took up the brush.
What are you going to do!" the cir
asked somewhat TREMENDOUSLY.
Paint" answered the man laconic
ally.
With fascinated eyes the girl watch
ed him as the letters grew under hi
|
painted in big brutal letters the word:
For Sale"
l. The pretty neighbor caught he
breath as the cruel sentence, farm
red, stared at her from the board. Ur
> derneath these words the man worke
industriously for little time.
While he worked the girl Gazed bac
l ~ lN rJo xI-Sf fno fi,,r
When he had finished the man gave
little sigh of satisfaction. The gi
looked at the sign again and gaspet
For Sale" it read. This Gardel
Suitable For Factory. Apply With
to Martin Connor."
"You-you aren't going to nail thu
sign up, are you?" questioned the gil
perilously close to tears.
"Surer' CALCULATED the man.
The man picked up the sign, holdin
lit awkwardly to save his clothes frol
Ipaint, and, with the bucket and brus
in the other hand, again went towar
the gay little summer house. He viii
tiled as he went, but the girl, who fo
llowed, with difficulty stifled her sObs.
At the summer house the man d
posted his painting utensils and s
cured hammer and nails. Still viii
Ting, he led the way through a S
cluded little iron gate to the street.
Once outside, the man carefully ma
ed the sign to the wall When t
work was finished he stepped back
bit to admire 1t. The girl, who b.
q watched the proceedings, cried out
this.
~ you're perfectly horridw she erie
IT hate you.'
10 Then the pretty neighbor, frantical
dabbing at her eyes with an absurd
tie handkerchief, ran across the sire
to her own home.
!, When the pretty neighbor awoke I
= next morning she could not think
first what sorrow was near her. I'll