The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-14

This particular evening was
night before Easter Sunday ana
Agatha had been telling Don Stories
Of our Lords suffering ana OF NJ.
resurrection from death: the story o.
the sorrowful princess had followed
afterward.
LET us go tomorrow and look for
A beautiful garden mother. Don
pleaded as she tucked him in bed.
Yes. sonny. We will" promised
Agatha. ard she sat up late that night
TO get clothes ready for them to wear
the next day Little smiles rippled
around her lips as she made plans for
a rare days outing.
II was a beautiful day. mild and
sunsh!ny. with a clear blue sky over
head
Happy Don and his young mother
set forth shortly after breakfast. They
rode on the Third avenue elevated I'M
til they reached the end Of the route
and then they boarded q trolley car
and rode while and then they got on
and wandered through a beautiful
budding country side. Don skipped
along, blissfully full Of spirits. Agatha
felt almost as young az he did a. she
followed him carrying a mysterious
package Of lunch. Agatha might have
been happy II she had MOI had 30
many poignant memories to battle
with.
"Mother-let us follow this little
green lane and see II It will not lead
US to a magic garden!" suggested Dom.
dancing along q winding path that cut
across q feld.
every we'll. dear-who knows
what we shall nnd:" she called back
gayly.
Her loving eyes were fixed on the
dancing feet ahead and 90 she did not
notice whittier the path was leading
until all at once It became merged IN
q wilderness Of eager little pansy
faces upturned to hers.
"Oh, mother. mother" Don's voice
became sQueal Of joyousness. This
Is the magic garden-l know It 10!
See all the pretty towering shrubs
look at all the pansies and mountain
daisies-and everything!"
Agatha looked amazed and some
what disconnected to find herself In
the midst Of q beautiful private gar.
den. Narrow walks hedged With
green led away from the wide ex.
panse Of pansy beds toward IN i'm.
posing house half.hidden among the
distant trees.
Don. dear. I'm afraid we're tres.
passing" she was saying when the
child paused at the entrance to q path
and looked back at her with complete
happiness upon his chubby face.
Mother. dear! It 10 the garden Of
magic flowers and here comes the
prince! And I guess-it's the king
with him." he ended rather timidly 40
two men stepped from tho path and
looked from the handsome lad to the
beautiful. sad.eyed little widow in her
black garments.
The elder man was tall and stately
Of carriage and had stern, sorrowful,
dark eyes that flashed wonderfully
when they fell upon the intruders.
His hair was white AZ snow and he
wore mustache that added to his
digniaed appearance.
The young mantle one whom Don
had called the prince" was also tall,
and he was handsome. too. in a rudy
Scotch way. with honest blue eyes
that looked stern at first and then be.
came as tender as a woman's.
Agatha looked surprised, then proud
and scornful, and would have turned
away had not the two men stepped
hastily forward each with outstretch.
ed hands
"Danghter!" cried the elder man.
"Agatha!" pleaded Sandy Mcintosh.
Don. watching with curious eyes.
saw his mothers face soften as It did
when she looked at him. He saw
tears come into her proud dark eyes
and wash out the pain and sorrow
from them. He saw the king and the
prince and his mother all holding
hands and kissing and he felt himself
Rugged and kissed and tossed upon
the kings shoulders.
Mother. has the magic garden
cured you. too" he called down.
Yes. darling" cried happy Agatha.
because her father was holding one Of
her hands and Sandy was holding the
other.