Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-08
In the Rose
Garden.
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
Copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.

his sermon In the darkness of his
study, beheld from the window some
thing white moving In his garden.
AS the Rev. Beverly's garden was a
vegetable garden, he thought fearfully
Of something sinfully trampling on his
succulent salads. and he rose hastily.
Standing just behind the window shut
ter, he decided, however. that n horse
would be shorter. dog taller, and he
did not believe In ghosts.
He went into the hall, took his hat
from the rack and stepped softly over
the threshold.
AS his footsteps sounded on the
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.
Hum unused the Rev. Beverly
and bent over his lettuce bed. "A
thief" he said as he Strengthened up.
The next morning fuller investiga-
| ton showed that there had been depre-
dations OF onions and radishes. But
| the minister said nothing to his house
CARRIED In white, nor were they of slen-
der outline and graceful.
The Rev. Beverly had no unusual
powers of penetration, but 1t had not
taken him many moments to decide
that the spoiler of his garden was n
woman.
"But why"-he debated the next
night as he finished his sermon-"why
should woman steal-a lady. / 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 after
turned out his light and sat in the
darkness of his study.
And again. as he unused, he saw a
patch OF white at the end Of the gar
den Breathless he watched. and closer
and closer came the ghostly figure un-
til II stood just beneath his window.
Then a voice said, II have come to
pay you for the vegetables"
"Ohw His usual readiness Of speech
had forsaken the clergyman. "Oh,
beg your pardon"
mo, you needn't beg It," the voice
said again. Il picked some lettuce
and things last night. and here is the
money. II wasn't very conventional
way to go to market, but we wanted
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
stink Of my predicament! Some peo-
pie came from the city hungry, and
there was nothing In the house but
eggs. You see, am such new house
k.eper--w- came only yesterday end
Susanna, my maid forgets to tell me
when things are out, and the shops
are 50 far away-so, while she made
an omelet / flew into your garden
and-and few back and no one was
the wiser"
II saw YOU" the Rev. Beverly in
formed her. land thought you We're
thief"
"Ohw There was little gasp. cit
did look like It, didn't 1t? But, you
see / have brought the money" And
the silver gllttered on the sill as she
spread It 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 yoice-"because
I should feel as II had stolen II am
not allowed 10 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 clergyman In a small town
has to think Of expenses"
81 suppose" doubtfully. that your
salary Is not large?"
mo, but there are donations" His
Il
eyes twinkled.
"Such as roses?" She was laughing
up at him. The moonlight touched her
hair with gold. The pulses Of the Rev.
Beverly began to beat.
MAY I come over some time and
walk with you in your rose garden"
he asked.
"Come now" was the quick re-
Spouse.
He went. and 1t 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, dom
get romantic over country parson."
HE has the dearest little cottage,
| Constance unused, with n vegetable