The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-09-26

that her scheme had worked admi-
rably. The little gate in the line fence
was wired shut, and Martha never sat
on the pleasant little south porch
which faced Delos Browns. Z
Martha Gilmore, with her broad hat
tied low over her face, worked every
day in the garden.
I've got to raise something for win
ter, or we will have to have help from
the town." she whispered over and
over, when her back achcd and her
head felt dizzy from her unaccus.
toned labor.
And her garden did grow surpris-
ingly. Early one morning Martha
went out to look at the plants which
meaut 80 much to her.
Heading his industrious flock among
her newly hoed rows was the strut
ting red rooster she had watched her
neighbor place in his chicken yard
a few days before. All about lay her
tender young plants. torn and uproot.
ed"
"oh, go away" cried Martha, help.
lessly. waving her apron.
"Why. Miss Gilmore!" Delos Brown
stood aghast at the havoc he had un.
Willingly wrought, Il supposed ] had
that park chicken.proof."
After much excitement they coaxed
and drove the flock back into their
own territory.
And now you must let me help you
repair the damages" he declared, for
getting In her apparent distress his
fear of prying eyes and busy tongues.
To his establishment, Delos found
the girl very quiet and attractive. She
knew d lot about gardening, too, and
seemed eager to learn more.
81 declare" he murmured on his
lonely porch OF an evening, 81 declare
/ can't see why she Is brazen thing,
as Aunt Marietta seems to think ]
guess that garden means a great dca.
to her-more than II ought TO II
things were comfortable over there
He began thinking anxiously about
the long winter. THE cottage needs
repairing to make It livable. ! could
do It as well as not without much
expense. And always hnve more
wood from the farm than can use.
/ hope she hasn't heard any Of Aunt
Varieties foolish talk" he thought
Through the dim twilight he could
see Martha moving about the little
lawn
Guess I'll 80 over. anyway" he
said aloud, since Aunt Marthas
sharp eyes could not penetrate the
darkness.
II came to inquire about the gar
den." he said, i'll ut ease in her pres
ence. There was something fine in
Marthas manner, even in that hum
BILE kitchen garden.
"Oh. II is better than II ever was
before thanks to you. Mr.. Brown. II
is really fortunate for me that my
neighbours chickens got into IT."
But l can never quite replace IL
Miss Gilmore, and that is why J
want to do something else for you to
even things up little, The cottage
needs repairing before cold weather
can do 1t as well as not-ln fact, ]
ought to have done It before : '"'
you have 1t at al"
ooh no." cried Martha. What
would Miss Brown say?"
$50 she has been talking to your
groaned Delos. II might have
known It. Oh. you poor little girl!'
Martha clasped her hands in the
darkness at the tenderness in his
voice.
did not mind" she whispered
with n sob.
Not mlnd?" He took her trem
bling hands in his own. To his Joy she
die not attempt to draw them away.
DO you know, Martha" he sale
very softly. how man feels about
the girl he loves? He wants to pro
tect her from everything that is un
pleasant or difficult That Ia why
cannot endure your living in this pool
little house and working yourself to
death in this garden. / mn glad the
red rooster destroyed IT. since he
opened the gate In the line fence. LEI
us be married tomorrow. Martha Il
is going to cause sensation. and
we may as well have It all over with
ut once. And want you co much,
dear"
ut is pity" she protested, heaitat'
Ing.
ut is not pity" he denied. tal;Irs
her in his arms. ut IS love, Mar.
tina"
The sewing circle met IN Miss
Browns parlors next afternoon.
"Delos Brown and Martha Gilmore
arc married." cried Lucia. rushing
in excitedly.
Well" said Aunt Marctte. compos
eddy. after one mental gasp, i've
said from the day she moved into the
Fleming cottage that this Is what
would come of IT,"
Copyright. 1872, by Associated Literary
Press)
Culture.
II has been said that the attainment
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