The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-08-06
HELPING A BASHFUL LOVER.
BY Juris Prudence.

jamie Gray was a lad. or young
man should say. Of very retiring
disposition, which had in various ways
and many time hindered his adj
yancement in life, and led to his seri-
GUS financial and other loss.
That which would have been the
greatest loss Of his whole life he eyad-
ed, not by any display of forcetulnes5
or ingenuity OF his own, but simply ny
the courage, skill and common-sepse OF
Mary Deans. She was the daughter OF
old Waiter Deans whose back garden
adioined that Of Mrs. Gray, with only
a very poor fence between, and num-
erous gaps caused by the withdrawal
Of stohs to afford easy access rom
one patch to the other.
SO often inded we're the youn man
and the old together in one or other
OF the plots that 1t would have been
impossible without private informa-
tion to settle the ownership OF either
And Mary was very often with them'
for her love of flowers was as Keen
as that Of the mems, though hers was
usually displayed in gathering them
Jamie made her welcome to all the
fiowefs IN his garden, even his choicest
blooms. A higher sign of regard he
could not bestow, for she knew from
his mother how much 1t went 70 MS
heart 10 see his flowers pulled Ihere-
fore she used the liberty sparingly' anu
bereby think became more dear 70
James. If that we're possible.
For he loved her, loved her more
than his flowers even. and that was
not a little. and much Of his time ne
spent IN apparent work within MS
garden was spent on the chance Q,
seeing Mary. she knew that ne ioyeu
her though no word had been spoken
Other lovers she had who we're not SO
silent and the greatest pain whien
Jamie Gray experienced was when ne
saw her In the garden with one VI
them. He knew the purpose OF thelr
visits. and gladly would have deleate1
n but that intervening backwardness
IN hls hIndered the attempt. he dia
not know that she loved him, ana
Mary casting about for womaniy
way 10 ola his perception, DECIDED az
a frst step to discourage the visits VI
all other suitors. -
Jamie was glad. He ventureu -
remark upon her unwonted solicituue,
ma bv the very prettiest blush Mary
would have had him understand ina.
heir absence was her simple way o.
...,str,, his onportunity He show
"a his gratitude by inviting her y
m,n his most cherished blossoms gain
cred them for her himself inaeeo' any
Ia every way save words told heI hU NO,
asar she was to him, how much ne
loved her. and how happy he Wouo
he n abe were his. But other tnan o.
sisns he could not push his wooing'
e. summer wore into Autumn, ane
An,nmn into Winter There were NJ
more flowers. and the time OF Ohris'
mas was drawing near.
n was evening, a clear, frosty moou
scbt night. jamie was in his garden
wbitber he had gone to see II any o
ME Christmas roses we're IN Dloom
~ was fortunate IN finding one. ans
glanced across the fence TO see II mar,
vgere in aleht. She was not. and VIII
sudden acquisition Of courage q
made to carry the flower TO her mouse
men suddenly the door opened am
me ladv of his unspeakable love ap
nesred in sight. Her head, shoulder
ana bodv down to the waist was wrap
rod m thick, warm, woollen snawl
snd ~ though she had observed JAM
from her bedroom window ana 'olu l
ont Of purpose TO speak 70 ann, ~
s,,,h feminine wilfulness she anec'e'
~ N see him. and turned her gaze ~
10 the moon and stars Ia
.SSarv called James from MS $40
Of the fence. . ,-,gn
aoh! it's you, jamie. what q i'isn
ss I'm IN aorryp said be. "Are ony {
vour Christmas roses ootf ~, -
81 dinna ken. never heard NJ
,.,,sr saving. VIII ye no come ofe
an, look II its no over darks We
~. sna or twa nne. for there's no
eoo'er IN the hose n,
win pleasure James accepted =.
,,vitahon. and they walked uo"n
~, s,nv dark patch under the t.e'
,,e the snmmer-house at me io'
~ Garden. where the Cnristin'
roees grew. He bent down % /, go ~,
~ little white flowers ana s Z, 3,
,snt down to help him. he pa,'ee ~ !,
1c.v.s and carefully Inspected e'e'
plant ,sorys he sal
II doot there's name M-'', ss,,s