The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-19
THE EVENING STORY
In the Rose Garden.
(By Virginia BIair.


moon that Beverly Alden. musing on
MS sermon in the darkness of his
study, beheld from the window some
thing white moving in his garden.
AS the Rev. BeverIy's garden was
vegetable garden, he thought tear
fully of something sinfully trampling
on his succulent salads, and he rose
hastily. Standing just behind the
window shutter he decided. however.
that horse would be shorter, a dog
taller, and he did not believe lin
ghosts.
He went into the hall, took his hat
from the rack and stepped softly over
the threshold.
gravel of the path the white object
moved from the middle of the garden
and fled. He heard the click of the
gate and then silence.
Hunt" unused the Rev. Beverly.
and bent over his lettuce bed "a
thief" he said as he Strengthened up.
The next morning fuller investiga-
tion showed that there hadbeen dep
relations of onions and radishes. But
the minister said nothing to his house
keeper. Common thieves did not come
garbed in white, nor were they of slen-
der outline and graceful.
The Rev. Beverly had no unusual
powers of penetration, but it had not
taken him many moments to decide
that the spoiler of his garden was a
woman.
But why" he debated the next
night as he finished his sermon, why
should woman steal-a lady, I am
sure. by the grace of her carriage
why should she steal my little onions
and my lettuce?''
But all the wisdom of the Scriptures
did not answer his question. And af-
ter his sermon was finished he again
turned out his light and sat in the
darkness of his study.
L
patch of white at the end of the gar
den. Breathless he watched, and clos
er and closer came the ghostly figure,
until it stood just beneath his window.
Then voice said: "I have come
to pay you for the vegetables"
"Oh!" His usual readiness of speech
had forsaken the clergyman. ooh,
beg your pardon"
mo. you needn't beg it, the voice
said again. 81 picked some lettuce
and things last night, and here is the
money 1t wasn't a very conventional
way to go to market, but we wanted a
salad, and
The Rev. Beverly. peering over the
sill, caught the sparkle in her eyes
as she made her half apology.
You needed your salad late,'' he
said, dryly.
"Ah." her little laugh rippled out,
Think of my predicament. Some
people came from the city-hungry,
and there was nothing in the house
but eggs. You see 1 am such a new
housekeeper-we came only yesterday
and Susanna. my maid. forgets to
tell me when things are out. and the
shops are so far away-so while she
made an omelet I few into your gar
den-and-flew back and no one was
the WISER"
"I saw you." the Rev. Beverly in
formed her, land 1 thought you were
a thief
"Oh! There was a little gasp. .It
did look like it, didn't it? But you
see have brought the money" and
the silver glittered on the sill as she
spread 1t out before him.
NO" the Rev. Beverly protested.
you are perfectly welcome to any,
thing you care to take"
'Oh, but you must" there was a
note of alarm in her voice, because
I should feel as if I had stolen if 1 am
not allowed to pay"
He was smiling down at her. "You
can pay me by giving me a rose from
your garden" he said.
Why don't you have roses of your
own?" she demanded.
He sighed. II hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. 1t is cheaper to
raise ones vegetables than to buy
them-and a clergyman in a small
town has to think of expenses"
'I suppose" doubtfully, "that your
salary is not larger"
mo, but there are donations his
eyes twinkled.
"Such as roses 2" she was laughing
up at him. The moonlight touched
her hair with gold. The pulses of the
Rev. Beverly began to beat
May / come over sometime and
walk with you in your rose garden?"
he asked.
"Come now was the quick re-
Spouse.
He went And it was the beginning
of friendship.
He is lovely" Constance confided |
to her aunt, who had come UP to her |
niece's colonial mansion for the pur-
poses of chaperonage. And he's here !
in this little town because he feels
that he is needed more than in city |
charge where he could get much more |
money"
Constance" her aunt warned, |
don't get romantic over country |
parson."
He has the dearest little cottage"
Constance unused, with a vegetable
garden. He sends over tomatoes and /
parsley and 1 put roses in his button
hole. It's'very interesting" she sigh
ed.
ut may be tragic for him."
WHY"
eff you make him love you-what I
them" /
"we1l?" Constance's tone was de-
fiant.
You can't marry any one but War
rem Olmstead."
Constance's eyes flashed 81 can.
too, If don't marry Warren, mere
ly lose my inheritance. / don't deny
that I love this old house. Aunt Anne.
But did it ever occur to you, that l
might prefer a man to fortune"
you would miss the fortune" was
the quiet answer. you were not made
for love in a cottage, Constance"
But Constance was down the path.
She bent over pink rose bush and
picked bud just as the Rev. Beverly
Alden came in.
quoted. "Can you tell me the rest of
It %
at you love me as love YOU" he
hesitated. "you mustn't make me say