The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-05-26
In the Rose
Garden.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR
copyriss,ed. 1893. by Associated
literary Press.

his sermon IN the darkness OF niS
study. beheld from the window some
thing white moving In his garden.
( AS the Rev. Beverly's garden was n
/ vegetable garden, be thought fearfully
of something sinfully trampling on his
sueculent salads, and he rose hastily.
Standing just behind the window shut
ter. he decided, however. that horse
I would be shorter. dog taller. and he
did not believe in ghosts.
] BE went into the hall. took his hat
from the rack and stepped softly over
the threshold.
As his footsteps sounded on the
gravel OF TIE path the white object
moved froni the middle OF the garden
and fed. BE heard the click OF the
gate and then silence.
"Hum!' mused the Rev. Beverly
and bent over his lettuce bed. ~
thief" he A,id rs he striishtSned UP.
The next morning fuller lnvestiga-
ton showed that there had been Gepre-
dat'ons OF onions and radishes. Bet
the minister said nothing 10 his house
keeper. Common thieves did not come
CARRIED In white. nor We're they Of slcn-
der outline ard graceful.
The Rev. Eever!y had nc ususCcl
powers of penetration. but 1t had net
taken hin .nauy moments ~ decide
that TIE sroi!er OF his garden was u
woman.
"But why"-he debated the next
night as he finished bis sermon-"why
should woman steal-a lady. I am
sure. by the grace Of her carriage
why should she steal my little onions
ard my lettuce:"
But all the wisdom of the Scriptures
did not answer his question. And after
his sermon was finished he again
turned cut his light and sat in the
darkness Of bis study.
Ard again. as he mused. he saw a
patch OF white at the end Of the gar
Cen. Brcathless he watched. and closer
and closer came the Ghostly figure I'M
I'll 1t stood iTst beneath his window.
Then 4 voice said. 81 have come to
pay you for the vegetables"
oh" His usual readiness OF speech
had forsakcn the clergyman. "oh.
beg Your PARDON"
40. sou needn't beg IT." the voice
said again. a picked some lettuce
and things last night. and here is the
money. 1t wasn't very conventional!
way to 30 TO market, but we wanted
a salad. and
The Rev. beverly. peerins over, the
sill. caught the sparkle in her eyes US
she made her half apology.
You needed your salad late" he
said dryly.
"Ah"-her little laugh rippled out
think OF my predicament! Some poo
! pie came from the city hungry. and
there was nothing in the house but
eggs. You see. l am such new house
keeper-we came only yesterday-and
Susanna. ny maid. forGets to tell me
when things are out. and the shops
are so far away-so. while she made
an omelct / acw into your garden
and-and few back and no one was
the wiser"
Il saw you," the Rev. Beverly in-
formed her. and ! thought you were
thief"
oh" There was little gasp. at
did look Ike it. didn't 1t? But. you
see. have brought the money" and
the silver Slittercd on the sill as she
spread it out before him.
NO" the Rev. Beverly protested;
you are perfectly welcome to any
thing sou care to take"
oh. but you must@-there was
note Of alarm in her vo!ce-"bccause
I should feel as If had stolen If l am
not allowed 10 pay"
lie was smGir% down at her. "you
can pay lc by giving me rose from
your garden" he said.
WIZ don't you have roses Of YOU
own:" she demanded.
lie sighed. u hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. 1t is cheaper to
raise ones vegetables than 10 buy
them. ard Il clergyman in a small towa