The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-11
Mackintyre's
Garden
A STUDY IN sERVITUpE.
BY r. z. Nernede.

uNh
In vino veritas, as the Romans had
1t. Celia and l had known dimly for
a long time that the garden was no
longer ours. The freehold belonged to
me, because had bought II. We lived
IN the house attached. Before Mack
intyre came we had often walked In
the garden, and Celia had picked the
flowers. She had also planted most OF
them. But those were in the days OF
freedom. For months past Celia had
been forbidden to pick anything, and
in some parts of the garden we were
not even allowed to stroll. The wild
garden, for example. Celia had
planted that, too, before Mackintyre
came She had been very proud OF
It. But Mackintyre was SO much
prouder that trespassing was now for
hidden there. At one point of 1t we
we're allowed to look through, II Mack
intyre stood by. For minute or two,
We felt at such moments like Adam
and Eve when the fiery angel was in
a genial mood and let them have
look through the gate. Not that Mack
intyre was ever genial. Still, we
thought at times that he must be try
ing to be.
To get back to my point. Mackin-
tyre was exceedingly drunk, and I saw
that 1t behooved me to be careful how
I answered him. He had a spud In his
hand and regarded me as one might
regard some peculiarly malignant
weed previous to destroying 1t. To
humor him seemed best.
"In what sense. Mackintyre," said
do you mean that am in your gar.
den? was under the impression that
1t was my garden"
YOUR garden!" He withered me
with rolling RS. What ha' we done
that 1t should be your-r garden?"
Il bought it, said. modestly,
Bought IT." Mackintyre laughed
loudly. And did ye put mulch Of
gold round this delphinium? Were
yon hybrid teas pruned by you with 6
silver secateur? Is this spud wi the
which l ha' weeded night and day
shod with your ill-gotten copper% HI
swung it round 30 violently as h
spoke that instinctively recoiled, anC
nearly fell into bed Of carnations
The movement made to recover my
self gave him wrong impression.
Move a STEP" he said, ito Gull on
O. they picotees. and I'll brain ye oil
the spot"
Il don't want to pick one" l said
hurriedly.
DO we not?"
Certainly not" repeated AT tn
same time, Mackintyre," continued
with an assumption of authority,
must tell you that"
"The woman wants to-" he inter
rupted WAS that what we meant?"
NO" l replied. l knew he mean
Celia by the woman.
"'Tis we'll for her! And ye ma
tell her from me that. II | find he
prowling in my garden-whether wit
scissors In her hand or mol will
l will" He broke off, but his eye
looked death and destruction. Thi
menace to Celia moved me to a burs
of firmness that nothing else woul
have occasioned. Look here, Mach
intyre,' said. speaking quickly, you
behavior is, to put II mildly, ou
rageous, and do not intend to put u
with It. I have stood good des
from you already since you came to u
a year ago from Col Macpherson
place. | do not blame Col. Macphe
son. Nor do l deny that you are II
dustrious, and have some knowledg
OF vines and hel 1aceous plants. BIZ
that Is not enough-it is very far frol
being enough-to compensate for III
very offensive way In which you tres
your employers"
Think ye so?" said Mackintyr'
somberly.
YES" replied. For a garden,
my eyes. is place where can wal
der at my ease"
"Never!" he interpolated.
"And where" continued frml
my wife, my friends, and myself ca
please ourselves in the matter OF pic
ing flowers and fruits"
"Ah. ye're wanting the asparagus
he cried, jeeringly.
81 am wanting freedom" sal
holly, Liberty, Mackintyre. Will,
men die for. And mean to have
give you months notice. Mack
tyre"
And give ye five seconds"
yelled. After the which will pla
Siberian crab on your measly
mains. With judeecious addition
artificial, ha ma doot It will event
ally grow"
What do you mean?"
die, mon!" ne screamed
BY a superhuman effort l dodg
him, as he rushed at me with [
spud, only to stumble-and wake.
Whatever is the matter. John
said Celia, beside me. Are you hi
ing a nightmare"
groaned aloud In my wretchsdne
81 thought had Just sacked Ma
intyre," / said, "and that II escap
with my life, we should have the &
den to ourselves again. IL suppC
haven't, though"
mo. and you won't" said Gel
"You know you won't"
Celia was right, except In calling
nightmare. II was only beauti
dream. Awake | have no such co
age.
That Is why | have called L Ma