The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-24

It is easy to find the jealous woman" said the
Mermaid Her you, will know at the right time
But the garden is another matter However, will do
welli
With that word she slid down the rocks, and in
little splash of spray vanished into the sea-
Now the morrow was the day when the Lord Mayor
was to Judge the gardens of Kissington-by-the-Se
In all the towers the bells ringing merrly and
every side the flowers and the fair maidens were
blooming their brightest Through the town rode the
Lord Mayor in his golden coach drawn by six pranc-
ing white steeds their necks wreathed with flowers,
and behind followed great rout of townsolk eager to
see the gardens judged In the Lord Mayors coach
sat Cedric by his fathers side He dressed all in
white, as became bridegroom, and in his hands he
carried huge bouquet of white roses His cheeks
were white too, for he was anxious to know what
this day should bring and what maiden to receive
the bridal bouquet
Through the town the merry procession moved, and
stopped in turn before each garden at the gate of
which sweet maid waited her little heart going pit
a-pat beneath her prettiest gown The Lord Mayor
inspected each garden carefully, making notes in
little white and gold book And each fair maiden
gazed at the handsome Cedric and hoped that the Lord
Mayor was writing down her name to be his daugh-
ter-in-lawi
But all the gardens were so beautiful that It seemed
impossible to choose between them In each the Lord
Mayor looked and looked, smiled and nodded-"Ver
goodl Very good indeed Beautiful, beautiful, beau
tifull am truly proud OF the fair flowers and the
fair maids of Kissngton-by- the-Sea Surely never
such were seen beforel Then he would note his
little memorandum make low bow to the maiden
and would mount into the golden coach and whrl
away to the next garden
At last, when they had gone in circle around the
village, they to the villa of the wicked Countess
The crowd murmured admiringy. There was no
doubt about it, hers certainly the finest garden
OF all When the Lord Mayor saw the gay parterres
and fountains, the shady alleys and cool grotoes the
wonderful flowers and shrubs growing luxuriantly
everywhere, he clapped his hands with pleasure and
said:
'Ahl This is Paradise indeed Here surely we
must look for our bride. Countess, / congratulate
you"
= 80
OF white satin and dark velvet indeed as though she
were beforehand that hers was to be the prize
She arched her neck and smiled malicously at the
Lord Mayors son. in whose eyes was no love for her
coach" she said
Cedric had grown very white, and he looked at the
than Gerda, and her eyes so wicked. Must he marry
her after all? Yes, unless the Mermaid had wrought
miracle in Gerda's ruined garden. To that hope he
still chung.
Father" he said earnestly, before you Judge that
this lady has won the prize, remember that there is
one more garden to visit Have you forgotten the
stranger maiden who lives beside the sea, and how
you babe her make garden the other maids were
doingf Let us first go there, for she may be wait
Ho, hol" said the Lord Mayor, laughing. at had
in truth forgotten the pretty beggar It is absurd to
dream that she SHOULD have garden worth visiting
after that Of our Countess here. Yet we will 60 to
see, and do her justice
The Countess laughed shrilly, A beggars gar
denl" she cried. That must indeed be wondrous
Z Do you come with u.s. my lady" said the Lord
Mayor politely. Sit here by my sons side in the
be your rightfu place as his bride
Now it pleased the Countess to ride in the Lord
Mayors coach, and pleased her more that she was
Cedric when Gerda's pitifu little garden should be
judged So with great rustic Of satin and lace she
gave her hand to the Lord Mayor and mounted
proudly into the golden coach But Cedric sat beside
her pale and SILENT little like happy bridegroom.
With swapping Of whips and footing OF horns off
49,.
the downs toward the sea. Behind them fol-
lowed the townsfok in great crowd, wondering ex-
ceedngly whittier the Lord Mayor was leading them.
For they knew of no garden here. Presently with an
other flourish and cracking of whips, amid the bark
ing Of dogs and the shouts of little boys, the Lord
Mayors coach drew up in front of the tiny cottage by
For there garden anywhere to be seen
The Lord Mayor alighted, chucling as if it were all
grinning maliciously Last Of all Cedric descended
and stood waiting eagerly while the Lord Mayor with
his staff beat three times upon the door.
Presently the door opened, and there stood Gerda,
dressed all in gown of sea-green silk, with string
Of pearls about her neck and pink coral wreath in
her hair She was 80 beautiful that all the people in
the crowd cried Oh 4! with sound like the wind i'm
the top of pine-tree, and the Lord Mayor himself
fell back step, staring in surprise The Countess
turned saffron yellow and bit her lips with envy; but
still she smiled, for she knew what she had done to
Gerda's garden.
AS for Ceds-. he stood and gazed as though his
eyes were glued to fair Gerdas face until after bash
You have come to see my garden" she said. "It
is not like other gardens but think is very beau
tiful Will you come with me?
She led them around the cottage to the meadow be-
side the where had been the beautiful little
garden which the Countess had destroyed. But what
was thisf Where the lawns and hedges and beds
Of flowers? Where was the green grass? Comet Over
the spot lay sheet Of ripping water, rejecting the
blue summer sky
What does this mean? said the Lord Mayor. turn
ing to Gerda sernly. ask to see garden and you
Mayor"
Nevertheless, this is my garden, sir" said Gerda
gently, and fair garden think you will find it if
you deign to look closely"
Nonsensei" said the Lord Mayor Grossly and
. Nonsensei" shifted the Countess with her nose in
shining, for he wanted justice done
Father" he begged let us go nearer, as the
maiden asks, and look at this which she calls her gar
den. Mayhap shall find something new to Kissing
ton-by-the-Sca." For when Cedric saw how sweetIy
the maid was dressed in colors and tokens Of the