The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-07-28
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Virginia's Vegetable Garden
BY Temple Bailey
BY Temple Bailey

him or talked with him on the wide
front porch there came to her no such
moments of ecstasy as she felt in
these brief meetings with Mark at the
division line of the two gardens.
Somehow In her mind Mark seemed
associated with the woods. the blue
sky and the sunshine. She knew II
she married the doctor she would
have to live in town, shut up in the
big house that had come to him from
his grandfather. On the other hand,
however, If she married the doctor he
would give her the pretty things her
soul craved, for even as Virginia loved
the pink and white Of the orchard and
| the blue of the sky, so she loved the
daintiness Of silken gowns and the
sparkle of jewels.
Therefore that night when the doc
tor asked her to marry him, Virginia
put him off with timid half-promise.
II must think about It," she said,
and went to bed to lie awake and
wonder If she could live the rest Of
her life in the dim old house in town,
with man she did not love.
In the morning she went out early
to work in the garden. She could hear
Marks whistle, but even when lie
| called Good morning" she did not go
to the fence. Her broad hat hid her
burning cheeks and her hands trem
bled as she dug around her radishes.
Presently Mark came closer and
called, Come here, Virginia."
There was masterful note in the
voice which she had never heard be-
fore. She rose and went to him.
virginia." he said, abruptly, "they
say in the village that you are going
to marry the DOCTOR"
Virginia's face famed. But l am
not" she cried, and in moment she
was transformed. Like flash it had
come to her what it would mean to
put Mark out of her life; what it
would mean to have the spring go and
summer come without these moments
of happy meeting.
II am not, Mark" she said again.
'Why, you-" Then her voice died
away. She could not tell him what
she thought of him. That was the
mans part. Mark looked down at her.
II know what you want to say, Vir-
ginia," he told her, gently, "and
wish~you would say it. It seems as
If had no right to ask you to love
me and to marry me. But you won't
be happy with the doctor-you won't
be happy with anybody but me, Vir-
ginia."
1t was the serene assertion of the
man who knew that he had met his
mate. Virginia knew, too, that there
was nothing of conceit, nothing to Of
fend, in his sense of security. She
was his, as he was hers, and no one
should separate them.
Miss Cornelia, unconscious of the
awakening of the young people, came
down the path and across the garden
to play the part of cruel fate. She
had ruled Virginia in everything for
years and she meant to rule her still.
Virginia, go back to the house. I
won't have you idling in the vegetable
garden" she said.
Aunt Cornelia, am going to marry
Mark" Virginia returned, calmly.
1t was useless after that for Miss
Cornelia to protest, to buster, to
plead; Virginia had made up her mind
She loved the out of doors and she
loved Mark. She said it over and
over again. "And am to have flow
err garden, Aunt Cornelia," was all the
answer she would make to the old
ladys arguments when they had left
Mark and were in the house once
more.
But you will never be happy"
Aunt Cornelia's tone was tragic.
Virginia pondered for moment,
then she said, "Are you happy, Aunt
Cornelia?"
Aunt Cornelia stared. She had not
thought of it that way.
when l am with Mark" Virginia
said, II see beauty in everything, It
was he who first made me sec the
wonderful things in my vegetable
garden. When you wouldn't let me
grow flowers he found me crying in
the orchard under the apple tree, and
he showed me the beauty of useful
things. Out of the little things of life
he gets so much that Is interesting
and wonderful, and you never showed
me any beauty, Aunt Cornelia.
The old woman knew that it was
true. Things had been commonplace
to her always. To Virginia life would
never be commonplace If she married
Mark. She rose and went to the win.
dow.
well. suppose you will do as you
like, Virginia." she said. drearily.
Virginia came and stood beside her,
Cant 1t be as you like, tooq" Sud.
denly her arms went around the old
lady's neck. her fair head lay on the
spare old bosom, the young eyes
looked into hers with love in them.
And at that look Miss Cornelia
melted. But she was not one to show
her feelings. and although her arm
frightened about the slender form she