The Meeker herald., 1914-11-21


hurried, anxious way.
He turned his horses head and fol-
lowed at u respectable distance. bul
not until he had given the carriage
ample time to disappear. As he fol-
lowed a turn in the road he saw 1t pass
his own property and turn into the es-
tate adjoining him. Then the light
broke over him. and he saw through I,
all. He made a quick dash for home
and to change his riding costume, hav'
Ing presentiment that he was going
to have call from Miss Blaney.
"A lady called and asked for YOU
Mr.. Bently. She would not come In. SO
gave her a seat In the summer house
while hunted you up" ,
Bently sprang to his feet and has.
tened to the summer house. Before
reaching the house be saw her ap.
preaching.
"Mr. Bently. have discovered my
mistake" she said before he could
speak, "and have come to apologize for
my inexcusable rudeness. am GER
tainly humiliated."
I4Gx CutCAk WCtO NAAA9Vhs anu SuV
expression on her face was one Of gen
uine distress.
"why, Miss Blaney." began Bently.
~ consider 1t beneath any notice"
But she interrupted him. mo; please
allow me to explain. About n year ago
my uncle purchased the next property
and made me present Of 1t. saw 1t
o,nn t,,,% IN, Sa,v r,,iu,,toc only {t,st
before we went east. Several days
ago l returned to take possession. On
Tuesday of last week I drove out to
see 1t. / was to have met Mr.. Hunt at
Barclay station. but missed him. !
never dreamed ! would make a mis-
take in the place, but they are quite
alike from the road. drove In. The
garden looked so inviting sanntered
in. You know the rest"
"Yes. You found cranky looking
fellow in rough clothes digging in the
garden, and you naturally supposed
him to be the gardener"
1.-THE idea! Think Of how behaved:
ordered-yes. ordered-you to cut me
those flowers. Ohw She covered her
face with her hands for moment.
wasn't that splendid?" The young
man laughed joyously.
"But you were somewhat to blame
yourself" she said, with an Indignant
flash of her splendid dark eyes. "You
must have realized my mistake at
once. You were very unkind not to
tell me-" Va
"My dear Miss Blaney, had not the
least Idea who you were. 1t took me
until this morning to realize the true
state Of affairs. On Wednesday was
at loss to tell whether 1t was queen
Of the royal blood or fairy princess
who 30 suddenly appeared before me-
I only know that I was elated at her
company and highly disappointed when
she left"
Bently accompanied her to her car
riags and handed her in.
II hope you WIN not worry over our
Our little comedy. VIII you r. -g-t.s 4
"Not bit. I felt bad for awhile
but I'm through with 1t. I am not
seeking trouble"
Earl Bently passed happy summer.
All his horseback rides, sails. golf. ten
mis- and little picnics were in company
with her. 1t seemed to Bently that he
had loved her from the first glance he
got Of her that morning in the garden.
Many Of their small parties also in
cluded MFR. Blaney. the father. and Siiss
Bently. Earis sister. They made an
ideal number. The former always
went to sleep. and the latter lost her.
self In her fancy work.
One beautiful October night when
the Bentlys were having a house party.
Earl Bently. with a designing mind. In
vited Miss Blaney out on the veranda
to take look at the moonlight. The
garden slept under the splendid light
moon. and the waters Of the stream
were covered with sheen Of silver.
"It was there saw you first. he
said. pointing to patch Of white
cleaning amid dark green. "On that
very spot we parted on that beautiful
morning in June. and there you made
me promise"
"Me-a promiser
by light. graceful movement she
utCW baCA uutit hCk faSC GdLhC
the shadow of an overhanging wood
hine.
"I can repeat your words. 4 believe
we will agree"
"Ah. yes!" came from the shadow Of
the vine. But that was to my garden
er. not to the real landed proprietor
who took his place"
"Your gardener has come back and
asks to be your servant. your slave.
anything you bid him. II you will let
him love you. But remember" he add
ed. remember. warned you l would
be satisfied with no paltry sum for my
wage. My price is the very highest
imaginable-it is yourself"
Gardener and slave but now
this sounds like master" she mur-
INJURED.
LET them all be merged into one