Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-08-31

tAS Su4I. .N#
She had barely arrived at the desig-
mated spot when a CHEEKY voice called:
"Good morning! And how does your
garden grow?"
MOSTLY in my Imagination at pres
ent," Bette responded, and her cheeks
famed unaccountably.
With a running leap Mr.. White vault
cd the dividing hedge. used to do
stunts like that at college," he ex-
planned with pardonable pride. "Just
came over to superintend the placing
Of the plant. Yes, that's a good cor
ner. But wait a minute. These deli
cate things need the greatest protec-
ton until they are fairly started. Aft
er that everything goes easy. Now,
we had better put this large jar over
as a cover for a time, and when the
first green sprouts appear I hope you
will let me do the transplanting."
ooh, yes, indeed; certainly" Bette
hastily agreed. "And have you left
college recently, Mr.. White?"
Gardening was forgotten as the stu
dent leaned back comfortably upon
a rustic bench, while the girl, swinging
to and fro in her hammock, listened to
many tales of those same college days.
Bettie's eyes met those Of her COM
panion u~nbelievingly as the noon whis-
ties blew.
"Surely it cannot be so later" she ex-
claimed.
And the young man did not return
home by the way Of the hedge. In
stead he walked slowly at Bettie's side
to the very door.
MAY I come again tomorrow" he
entreated. II would like to have a
look at-the plant"
The botanical student paid regular
visits each morning, coming via the
cedar hedge. The earth in one partic-
ular fowerpot was kept soft and
moist Its cover was raised to admit
the sunlight or fitted down as occa-
sion demanded. Bette became a hard
ened sinner and demurely helped at
these proceedings, while the oats flour
ished under this unusual care. AS the
student examined the first green
sprouts Bette fancied that a troubled
expression fitted across his face.
do they-er-always look like that?'
she asked n%ervously.
This may be a different species. No
doubt they will come up all right" he
slowly replied. And as the days pass
ed something more wonderful than
the rarest plant came to life in this
budding garden. The morning hours
slipped by all too quickly for these
two happy young people, so they
would drive together later in the day
or sit long upon the southern porch in
the moonlight. 1t was here that Tom
mic found his sister one evening after
their faithful neighbor had departed:
Il Think she said dreamily, chat
the handsomest eyes in the world are
dark and brown and tender"
$50 the girls tell me- her brother
answered complacently. Bette sighed.
81 "a speaking Of Roberts eyes,
she said.
Tommie scrutinized his sisters glow
ing face. "Robert!!' he repeated.
glove, l do believe hat Belts is hit at
last.'
She turned from him Indignantly
and entered the house. From an up
per window she could see the bright
ly lighted end of a cigar showing like
a FREELY in the adjoining garden. Bet.
ties anxious gaze followed this spark
as it moved about. Would he never go
in? She must do it tonight-must de.
stroy this rapidly %sprouting evidence
before her botanist lover should learn
Of her deceit.
One by one the lights in neighboring
houses disappeared. Silence and dark.
ness brooded everywhere. AT last that
tantalizing spark could be seen nc
more AS the loud closing of a doo1
yibrated through the stiffness Bette
arose and felt her way stea'thily down
the stair and out into the sleeping gar
den. She followed the narrow path
trembling at every sound. then drew
back in. sudden horror, for the moon
bursting from behind a cloud. distinct
ly revealed the crouching figure of a
man. Even as she watched him, fas
cinated. he raised the priced fowerpot
AS III LIS iuHN. LIZ NdSl ~ ldl 11OA
him. AT Bettie's startled cry he turn
ed quickly, and her frightened eyes
looked straight into those o. her lover
you" he exclaimed, aghast.
Robert" the girl asked wondering
ly, what are you doing here?'
The man spoke desperately:
81 may as well confess. I stole into
your garden tonight with the deliber
ate intention of destroying that rare
plant which we have both been attend
ing for weeks. You see, it was all uI
with me, Bette, from the moment you
looked into my eyes, and in my eager
ness to become acquainted with you ]
invented the first clumsy excuse which
occurred to me. Truth is I never was
strong or botany, so ] searched the
labeled jars on my mothers seed shelf
that day, choosing for my purpose the
mes that looked good to me. Then
when I learned the real name of this
thing we have been lavishing so much
Gaze u.crs -.rell. 7 simply lad to get il
ont of the wav before Won fnTpd ont -