Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-06-11
Mackintyre's
Garden
A STUDY IN SERssTuDE.
BY x. e. vernede.

he would hardly have said TO me "a
. least. | suppose he wouldn't. though
am not sure about III: "Ye daft am;
teur, what are ye doing in my ga
= den ?"
In vino veritas, as the Romans ha
II. Celia aud | had known dimly TO
long time that the garden was d
: longer ours. The freehold belonged {
me. because had bought it. We live
In the house attached. Before Mack
intyre came we had often walked II
the garden. and Celia had picked thu
flowers. She had also planted most o
them. But those were in the days o
freedom. For months past Celia haC
been forbidden to pick anything, ant
In some parts of the garden we were
not even allowed to stroll. The wild
garden. for example Celia hac
planted that, too, before Mackintyre
came. She had been very proud Of
1t. But Mackintyre was SO much
prcuder that trespassing was now for
hidden there. At one point of it we
were allowed to look through, if Mack
intyre stood by. For a minute or two.
We felt at such moments like Adam
and Eve when the fiery angel was in
genial mood and let them have a
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 saw
that 1t behooyed me to be careful how
answered him. He had spud in his
hand and regarded me as one might
regard some peculiarly malignant
weed previous to destroying it. To
humor him seemed best.
In what sense, Mackintyre," I said,
do you mean that | am in your gar
den? | was under the impression that
ii was my garden"
"Your-r gardeni" He withered me
with rolling RS. What ha' We done
that it should be your-r garden?'
Il bought II" / said, modestly.
Bought it," Mackintyre laughed
loudly. And did ye put a mulch of
gold round this delphinium? Were
yon hybrid teas pruned by you with
silver secateur? Is this spud wi the
which | ha' weeded night and day
shod with your ill-gotten "copper"" He
swung it round so violently as he
spoke that | instinctiyely recoiled. and
nearly fell into bed of carnations |
The movement | made to recover my
self gave him wrong Impression.
Move STEP" he said, TO Gull one
o they picotees. and I'll brain ye on
the spot"
Il don't want to pick one" | said,
hurriedly.
do We not?"
Certainly not" l repeated. at the
same time, Mackintyre.v | continued,
with an assumption of authority, Il
must tell you that"
THE woman wants to?" he Inter
rupted. Was that what We meant?"
No" l replied. l knew. he meant
Celia by the woman
lis well for herl And We may
tell her from me that if l find her
prowling in my garden-whether with
scissors in her hand or mol will
will" He broke of, but his eyes
looked death and destruction. This
menace to Celia moved me to burst
Of firmness that nothing else would
have occasioned. Look here, Mack
ntyre. | said, speaking quickly, your
behavior is. to put it mildly, out
-ageous, and / do not intend to put up
With Il. l have stood a good deal I;
rom you already since you came to us
! year ago from Col. Macpherson's
lace. / do not blame Col. Macpher-
on. Nor do l deny that you are in
lustrious. and have some knowledge :
4 vines and herbaceous plants. But
hat is not enough-it is very far from
eing enough-to compensate for the
cry offensive way in which you treat
our employers
Think We so?" said Mackintyre.
omberly.
Yes. | replied. For garden. in
~ eyes. is place where can wan
er at my ease" d
"Never." he interpolated.
Anu NdCtr, COHtluue0 nrmlY.
my wife, my friends. and myself can :
lease ourselves in tho matter of pick
lg flowers and fruits" q
All. ye're wanting the asparagus" =
e cried, jeeringly. N
Il am wanting freedom" | said e:
pity. Liberty. Mackintyre, which fr
en- die for. And l mean to have n. r.
give you months notice, Mackin. r,
re"
And I give ye FIVE seconds he
lied After the which will plant
Siberian crab on yoar measiy re- IN
aims. With a judeecious addition of II
tifcial, ha. ma doot 1t wiz eYentu-
Iy grow -
What do you mean."
Die, mon,7 he screamed.
BY a yuperhuman effort ] lodged
m. as he rushed at me with the Il
1.~ 49, ~