Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1910-12-15

| those horrid beans or he will never
can just imagine the remarks that
would be made in this town il | al
lowed him to make my gardenl"
And Miss Brejetta, having eaten
hasty supper, pinned up her spotless
linen skirt. put on her stoutest gar
den gloves and, inwardly consumed
with wrath, sought her diminutive
| bean patch.
Il had better get 1t done WITH" she
whispered to herself after the fashion
of lonely people, because 1t will be
too wet In the morning and too warm
during the day. But 1t just makes me
furious to be breaking my back out
here when | haven't even cut the
leaves Of that new magazine yet"
The sunbaked earth seemed loath
to part with the vines 1t had so care.
fully nurtured through long months,
and Miss Brejetta's strength was not
great Her own coy piazza beck
oned enticingly, but the CLEAN Of a
cigar end on the neighboring porch
held her to her task.
In the welcome dusk she stole into
the house, barring doors and win.
dows carefully.
You are tired" she cried defiantly
at her reflection in the hall mirror.
/ and you just hate gardening. You
are lonely, too, and you know you
/ MANLY Ita ~ frtuhN tfUht nj
your life. Why don't you own up to
it and let people help you when they
want tor"
The nearest neighbor had watched
Miss Brejetta at her bean-pulling
with almost angry impotence.
Il wonder why she does it-Acertain-
iy not because she enjoys It, And
she splits her kindlings in the shed so
cannot see her-as il | could not
hear! And she locks the doors and
windows and nearly smothers herself
these sultry nights!
II honestly believe" he unused.
that she would be fond of me If she
allowed herself to be. She has al
ways managed pretty well by herself
so far, but there will come time
when she will not be so self-sufflcient
And by jove, | almost wish some
thing would happen to take down her
pride little, poor girl"
For n long time he sat quietly
thinking. Then Richard Dayton, one
of the most respected and highly
honored man of his town. did a
strange thing.
Up in the close, clustered attic he
4 stole with tiny pickering candle for
I light, and when he came down noise
lessly, he carried some dark. shape
less garments over his arm.
Long After Miss Brejetta had re-
tired she lay awake thinking miser-
ably. Scarcely discernible footsteps
seemed haunting the darkness, but
she comforted herself thinking II was
boys on their midnight Halloween
pranks. Unaccountable night-sounds
caused her to shrink nervously, but at
last she slept in fitful snatches.
Suddenly she sat up, every sense
alert. The vibration of the old brass
knocker still echoed through the hall.
For moment she covered among
the pillows, then the thought OF some
one in trouble nerved her to action.
Tremblingly she lighted a lamp,
sipped on some clothing and hurried
to the door. Without waiting for her
courage to fail, she slipped the bolt,
swung back the door, and let the light
shine across--a vacant porchl But
down by the gate stood a slouching
figure with hat pulled low.
"Mr. Dayton-Richard! called Miss
Brejetta family, almost dumb with
terror.
"Here," called a familiar voice re-
assuringly, and the nearest neighpor
sprang over the end of the porch ran
and took the lamp from her trembling
hand. Drawing her out to the shad-
owed piazza and into his arms he
held her breathlessly
81 heard the bell" he explained
land feared you would be frightened!
See. dear, 1t is that strawman-
inst Halloween joke! But you do
need me, don't you, Brejetta"
oh" she sobbed, her face against
his coat. Then with intoxicating
sweetness she surrendered com
pletely.
"Dick. | want you to hoe the gar
den, and split the kindling, and do
the whole miserable business! And
perfectly hate living alone, and l
have been lonely and afraid, and I'm
glad I've been scared into my
senses!"
And do you love me a little, Bre-
ietta?" anxiously.
do you suppose" she cried In ex-
asperated tenderness, that should
have used you so shamefully If l
hadn't loved you? oh, you dear, stu
pid mani"