The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-25
THE EVENING STORY
Miss FidelIa,s Garden.
(By jerome Sprague.) }


When 1 was young" she said tc
her most intimate friend. Mrs. Per
kins, when was young, Phoebe, you
know how things were with me. Faith
er and mother didn't believe that senti-
ment was necessary, and they made US
wear practical, plain things, and en-
| tertain our company when the whole
family was present, and the result was
| that Mary and Margaret ran away to
get married, and l, not having their
courage, have remained single. And
now Mary and Margaret are doing just
as father and mother did, driving their
five pretty daughters to elanoestine en-
gagements, and making all sorts of
trouble if they look at a young man.
WELL" Mrs. Perkins said, you
know how used to pity you, Fidelia-
It was only when you came over to
10y house that you ever saw Andrew
Stokes, and at last your conscience
worried you about that, and you
like him any more and went out
West"
There was pretty blush on Miss
Fidelia's cheeks. ooh, Andrew
Stokes" she unused. che was a nice
boy, Phoebe, and if 1 had it to do over
again I'd act differently
Her calm manner deceived Phoebe.
''She's forgotten that she thought her
heart was broken. I remember she
cried for whole night in my arms
when he went away" But she did not
voice her thought, she merely asked,
placidly, What are you going to do
about your nieces ?"
I'm going to provide everything
that will help them along the road to
matrimony," said Miss F'idelia, firmly.
i've been happy enough, Phoebe, but
I've missed a lot-and I'm not going
to have them following in my foot
steps. And since Uncle Jude died and
left me the old place I have planned
to fix it so that when those girls come
to see me there will be everything
ready to entertain their young men.
I'm going to have hammocks and coy
corners. and a big fireplace where they
can pop corn and make candy, and I'm
going to have the floor in the dining
room polished so that they can dance
And if they don't have a good time it
won't be because don't know how to
plan 1t for them
Miss Fidelia's sisters argued that the
little Iady's ideas were ridiculous. Her
garden, for example, she called 'the
garden of love-" and there was a foun-
tain in it, with a cupid in marble hold
ing the waterspout. She had two heart
shaped beds of crimson tulips on the
lawn, bleeding hearts along the bor-
ders and forget-me-nots in the win
dow boxes. A summer house and a
sundial with a stone bench near it took
up two secluded corners.
Everybody will think you are a
sentimental old maid" was the un-
vanished statement of sister Mary,
when she came over one night to find
her own three pretty daughters and
two a citing as hostesses to
I crowd Of laughing young folk.
Il am,'' said Miss Fidelia, serenely. |
Il wasn't allowed to have any sweet
ness and romance in my own youth, |
and I'm going to see that other peo-
pie get it."
Il wouldn't let my girls go there"
Mary confided afterward to Margaret; |
but Uncle Jude left Fidelia all his |
money, and it won't pay to make her
mad He was always furious over that |
Andrew Stokes affair; he thought IA
her and mother should have let FL |
leila marry him.
THAT reminds me-" Margaret said, |
Andrew Stokes is in town. Rufus
'aw him at the postoffice."
Mary stared. well, of all things" |
ihe said. Then she leaned forward, |
confidently, WED better keep him
Lway from Fidelia," she said "Fidelia /
lint fifty, and you don't know what
lotions she might have about him.
IF they had only guessed, the mem
Try of Andrew Stokes burned in Miss
Tidelia's heart. She had never for
sotten him, never ceased to mourn her
ack of courage in refusing to marry
lin.
It was Phoebe Perkins who told her
Ic was in town. Andrew Stokes came
Ip to see US last night, Fidelia,'' she
aid. HE asked after you.''
Tt seemed to Miss F'idelia, as if the
ecret which she had kept so long
must be read now in her face. Her
leart beat to suffocation- But she
managed to say, calmly, rs he mar
led, Phoebe?'
no, and he hasn't lost his looks,
Tidelia. His hair is gray, but he's as
traight and as handsome as ever
nd he seems prosperous. They say
lie has made a lot of money"
what did he say about me?" Miss
Fidelia held her breath for the an
wer and Phoebe hesitated to give it.
He asked if that pretty little girl who
ilted him had ever married. And
e said it very bitterly"
'tBut I didn't jilt him. Miss Eide
Ia cried. why. II just didn't give
i'm any answer at air.
well. when we told him you were
ing1e, he waited a while and then
sked: Is she as pretty as ever?' -
'sOh, PhoebeI"
And 1 said yes" Mrs. Perkins as
erted stoutly "Of course you aren't
re silver instead of gold. can't see
1uch difference"
That night Miss Fidelia walked
lone in her garden of love. The +
er big automobile and would return
or refreshments later. In the white !
toonIfght Cupid sneered at her. You I
re too old for romance" he seemed to I
"; you with your silver cur1s.'' {
Miss FideIia sat down beside the d
)untain. ssI guess I am too DID," she y
Il put on this white dress i
might and tied a blue ribbon around
y hair. but I don't look the same h
I'D anyhow, 1 can't expect Andrew to t
ome to my garden of love- He would /
t understand that Tn brave enough I