The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-08-01

entreated. 81 would like to have q
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 -four
ished under this unusual care AS the
student examined the first green
sprouts Bette fancied that troubled
expression fitted across his face.
"Do they-er- always look like thatT'
she asked nervously
This may be 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, 30 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, that
the handsOmest eyes In the world are
dark and brown and tender"
$50 the girls tell me-" her brother
answered complacently. Bette sighed
Il was speaking Of Roberts eyes"
she said
Tommie scrutiniZed his sisters glow
ing face. Robert" he repeated.
"Joye, do believe that Belts is hit at
lastI1
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 IKE
a FREELY In the adjoining garden. Bet
ties anxious gaze followed this spark
as 1t moved about Would he never 90
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 no
more. As the loud closing of door
yibrated through the stiffness Bette
arose and felt her way stealthily 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 cloud, distinct
~ revealed the cfouching figure OF a
man. Even as she watched him, fas-
cinated, he raised the priced fowerpot
high in his hand and cast it far from
him. At Bettie's startled cry he turn
ed quickly, and her frightened eyes
looked straight into those OF her lover.
''Youl" he exclaimed, aghast.
Robert" the girl asked wondering
", what are you doing here?"
The man spoke desperately:
Il may as well confess l 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 up
with me, Bette, frc n the moment you
looked into my eyes, and in my eager
ness to become acquainted with you
invented the first clu Asy excuse which
occurred to me. Truth Is / never was
strong on botany, so I searched the
labeled jars on my mothers seed shelf
that day, choosing for my purpose the
ones that looked good to me. Then
when / learned the real name of this
thing we have been lavishing so much
care upon-well, simply had to get 1t
out Of the way before you found out"
The girls lips We're twitching.
Robert, she demanded, tell me the
name Of this plant"
He laughed shortly. "The album "a.
cepa)- THAT is, onion seed, he said.
Bette laughed until the tears glis-
tened upon her lashes..
Robert" she said severely, lit is
very wrong to deceive even about so
small matter as garden seed, but you
have my FIJI forgiveness, for love
you and u der like circumstances
who can teIl?-I might have been
tempted to do the same"
And short time later mufaed voice
remarked:
"In our garden, Robert, dear, we
shall grow nothing but blooming
plants"