The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-03

nseir Garda.


(By Laura A Kkkman-)
Phoebe Green stood looking down at
the small flower box ON her fire escape.
she looked - long and 20 wistfuily.
that at last tear stole DOWN her cheek
and watered one Of the purpie-and-yel-
low pansies-
The design Of the little flower bed
was most unusual It was . queer mass
Of tiny green patches. and narrow.
winding. spaces Of bare earth A
stranger. looking At 1t. would have az
claimed. why. It's Hike . big gafden.
But no stranger ever saw this Tower
bed 1t was too intimate . thing 70
show It vas an exact copy Of the gar
den that she and Aaron had dreamed o..
long. long ago. before the break came
That was when Phoebe had lived &C
home. In the quiet little vilIaee Of Hope
haven.
Wen have our garden bofdered with
nfgnonette." Aaron had said Ike II
more than any other flower. Ana IN
the middle. wen have garden seat
with high wall Of sweet peas around
Fft!"
And just SO was this miniature gar
den laid out; in its center. Phoebe
whimsically had put small oblon8
block Of wood. surrounded by thin me
| Of sweet peas.
IT guess I'm craxy," she had said to
herself. as size had arranged the thing.
But rye Just got to have our garden.
anyway. I've been thtIl.s about 1T 20
long!"
They had dreamed the dream long
time. For an entire year they had been
engaged Then suddenly Letitfa Swan
had moved into the village, and
rumor went round that Aaron had been
seen walking down the lane with her
In the evenings. before he dropped IN
on Phoebe. and that brought on the
quarrel. How quickly everything had
ended everything that had seemed SO
sure and God-sent!
But it's better to be stenographer
for life than to marry a man who has
grown tired Of you," Phyebe had re-
| minded herself all through the lonely
months Of city life that had followed
/ I'm better OF az / am. There is no
doubt that he was tired OF me. Didn't
Dahha Grey see him with Letitia
night after night?''
It was further proof that Aaron had
| scarcely protested at all when she told
him that she must break the engage
ment- He had merely said in a half
hearted way. I've never been walk
ing with Letitia. You're just trying to
get free, and that's why you accuse me
Of it,
/ L.
cared about her he would have denied
her accusation furiously. This very
calmness was proof.
II was strange that just as Phoebe
stood rehearsing the scene, a letter
should come from the very girl who
had taken so great a part in the little
drama-Dahlia Grey. Eagerly. Phoebe
took It from the pestman's hand.
II wonder IL It nentions-him." she
said softly. az she opened 1t above
the flower box.
Indeed it did mention him. After
ireadfng q line or two. Phoebe ran her
hand across her eyes. and started 1t
reading it wrong-that the words she
saw could not be there! r<< s<As
I Dear Phoebe" 1t ran. This is a
letter of confessions Oh. Phoebe! How
can I EYER tell. yfd? But-J must tell
you. 4 have been a sinner long enough.
Yes sinner is the right word for a
girl who wilfully set out to spoil an
other girls 1ife."
Phoebe sank down in a chair, She
knew what was coming-she had known
deep. deep down all along. 1t seemed
now: her heart had known that Aaron
loved her-that there had been some
foul play. And now this strange girl
was confessing-and It was too late to
bring happiness!
Yet she found the strength to go on.
| lou KNOW nave always Occn n
lawless thing" the girl went on. 81
was spoiled IN childhood. I have been
allowed to ride rough-shod over ev-
ferybody all my life. And SO when ]
saw something that you had and that
1 wanted-oh, Phoebe. I schemed to
write out in plain words just what il
was that I wanted: have changed so
so much since I have been confirmed
God has given me a new honor and q
new pride. But He never can give me
happiness: not as long as the girl whose
life I have spoiled is unhappy. I don't
TASK your forgiveness. Phoebe. I'm jus:
writing to tell you what should have
told you two years ago.
Here is the truth: I loved Aaron
too. To my Is year old mind. it seemed
that If could create a quarrel between
you and him. he would love me. told
you that I had seen him walking, eve
nings. with Letitia SWAMI lie. But
here is the worst sin: before I told you
that, 1 told him that you had conf1ded
In me that you were tired Of him and
were planning to pick q quarrel witt
him. I told him that you rather
thought of pretending that you had
heard some tale of his walking, secret.
ly. with Letitia. There you have it all
every bit. When he called on you tina,
night he expected you to accuse him.
Phoebe dropped the letter and put
her head on her arm and cried. Hel
arm rested on the edge Of the flower
box. and her fingers lay in the garden
that might have been a bigger garden
; that might just az well have beer
that bigger garden!
So Aaron had loved her really. HI
had not denied her accusation more
hotly, because he did not believe tina
: she wanted him to-he believed tina
she had woven the tale just to fre'
Convulsively her fingers clutchet
the little block Of wood with its sur
) rounding circle Ofsweet peas.
/ Then she sat up. She listened alert
, ly. A knock had come at her door,
) Flying to pitcher Of water sh
: dashed a handful on her red eyelide
} Come in!' she said.