Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-27

as a cover for a time. and when the
first green sprouts appear 1 hope you
will let me do the transplanting.
oh 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
q rustic bench. while the girl. swinging
/ to and fro in her hammock, listened TO
I many tales of those same college days
/ Bettie's eyes met those OF her COM
panion unbelievingly as the noon whis-
ties blew.
Surely It cannot be so late" she ex-
claimed.
! And the young man did not return
home by the way of the hedge. In
stead be walked slowly at Bettie's side
to the very door.
MAY come again tomorrow he
entreated. IT would like 70 have
look at-the plaut."
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-
zion 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 a troubled
expression fitted across his face.
DO they-er-always look like thst7"
she asked nervously.
This may be different species. No
doubt they will come up all right" be
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, that
the handsomest eyes in the world are
dark and brown and tender"
80 the girls tell me-" her brother
answered complacently. Bette sighed.
"I was speaking of Roberts eyes,"
she said.
Tommie scrutiniZed his sisters glow
ing face. 'Robert!'' he repeated.
';Jove, do believe that Belts is hit at
lastr'
She turned from him Indignantly
and entered the house From an up
per window she could see the bright
IL 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 1t tonight-must de-
stroy this rapidly sprouting evidence
before her botanist lover should learn
of her deceit
One by one the lights in neiPhboring
houses disappeared. Silence and dark
ness brooded everywhere. At last that
tantalizing spark could be seen no
more. AS the loud closing of a door
vibrated through the stiffness Bette
arose and felt her way stealthiIy 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-
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. |
Your he exclaimed, aghast.
Robert" the girl asked wondering |
ly. what are you doing here?"
The man spoke desperately:
"I may as well confess. 1 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, 1t was all up
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 / never was
strong on botany, so / searched the
labeled jars on my mothers seed shelf
that day, choosing for my purpose the
ones that looked good to me. Then
when l learned the real name of this
thinA we have been lavishing so much
care npon-welI, / simply had to get IT
out Of the way before you found out"
The girls lips were twitching.
Robert" she dema nded, 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 Iashes.
Robert" she said severely, ct IL
very wrong to deceive even about 30
small a matter as garden seed, but yoS
have my full forgiveness, for love
you and under Ike circumstances
who can telI?-I might have been
tempted to do the same"
And a short time later mufied voice
remarked.
"In our garden, Robert dear, we
shall grow nothing but blooming
plants"