The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-17
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Observation-Disclosures
BACK TO THE GARDEN
BY LESLIE DAVIS.


desk restlessly. Professor Harrow
was young and energetic enough to be
impatient.
If they are ever going to send me
that assistant" he muttered, Il wish
they would hurry him along"
He turned back to the work Of max
Ing notes. Primrose. Variety No. Z.
Rare. Pink and white. Fragrant
Sometimes found in unexpected places
when 1t has escaped from gardens.
Does not flourish"
light tap at the door interrupted,
Come In" called Professor Har-
row.
A girl stood in the doorway. She
had light brown hair and big eyes
and her face was a dainty combination
Of white brow and pink cheeks. She
wore a pink linen dress with wide
white collar and cuffs, for though 1t
was October, the city was suffering
from the last burst Of heat.
II believe am to be your assistant
she introduced herself. MY name Is
Chloe Curtis"
The professor continued to stare.
The very description" he noted, as
though thinking aloud, Rare. pink
and white | wonder where she es-
capped from"
Miss Curtis returned his gaze with
indignant surprise.
Escaped" she echoed. Weren't
you expecting secretary? Why
should you think me lunatic?'
Il didn't: thought you were a
primrose" answered Professor Har.
row, confusedly Then he remem'
bered his manners and sprang up to
give her chair.
Excuse me, Miss Curtis, please,
he apoogized. 81 was puzzled for a
moment. You see, | expected man
to be sent. Can you see we'll there!
Is the chair comfortable?"
Chloe affirmed that all was to her
liking. She sat down, produced her
pencil in a most businesslike manner
and awaited orders, but the professor
could see that she was regarding him
curiously from the corner of her eye
as though she thought him a very
queer creature indeed.
III you are ready, we will begin,
he declared with dignity. II will read
and you may make notes. Primrose.
Variety No. 7. Rare. Pink and white.
Fragrant. Sometimes found in unex-
pected places when It has escaped
from gardens.
"Oh-h," broke from the lips Of the
new assistant, her cheeks growing
pinker as his meaning came to her.
"Oh, Sect
You do, do you?' retorted the pro-
fessor; then they looked at each 9TH
er and laughed.
1T was perfectly plain" explained
Professor Harrow that you had es-
capped from some garden or other.
The city varieties are likely to be
white"
I've escaped from East Wilton,
announced the girl, blithely.
I've come to the city to make my
fortune I'm the luckiest girl In the
world" ,,
Lucky to leave the glorious coun-
try?" The natural world was pas
sion with Professor Harrow. Lucky
to exchange birds and flowers and free
air spaces for pavements and dust and
noise?"
'I am the Oldest of seven children.
returned Miss Curtis, gravely. i
mean to take care of myself and East
Wilton is not a good place to make
a fortune. Shall we 60 on with the
work."
does not flourish with transplant
ation.'" resumed the professor. "Ah
Miss Chloe. there's your warming!
Perhaps the plants that have tried
being transplanted have not been SUI
ficiently narrowed" remarked Miss
Curtis, calmly do you suppose that
could be it?"
The startled professor gazed at her
suspiciously. Her face was very bland,
very demure. but the twinkle in her
eye could not be suppressed.
Variety No. 81" cried the profes.
sor. and the writing went on.
Miss Curtis proved to be valuable
assistant. She loved the work and
her enthusiasm and faithfulness sent
Professor Harrow's lectures speeding
on their way. She seemed to be pros
pering too.
I've sent ten dollars home to moth
or as a present" she conf1ded In him
gleefully at Thanksgiving time And
| have twenty-five dollars saved be.
sides. Who says transplanting isn't
the road to fortune?'
Good" the professor rejoiced with
her He knew she was working hard
for the hours with him in the morning
were only part Of what she had under.
taken. AS for himself, he tried to think
that his extreme content with life
came from the fact that his work was
marching along so satisfactorily, but
when, during the Christmas holidays
he had spent one restless lonely morn
ing working alone in his study, the
truth came suddenly upon him.
1T isn't the work at ALL" he crred
"Its Chloe! | love her and ! want
her, want her, want her."
He rose and paced the study, filled
with a hunger for her sweet face, a