Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-23
Evening Star S
Daily Story
GARDENS AND THE GIRL
By HARMONY WELLER.
Copyright, 1911, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

The gardens in the little suburban
village that nestled at the foot of the
Chiltern Hills were beginning to show
the lack of care. the war had rob-
bed those tiny cottages and left them
stripped of masculine hands. Wives
and mothers and sisters who were
left behind to grieve and toll had no
time for gardening when there were
children to care for and homes to
Keep tidy against the day when the
soldiers would once again be well
coined back
Silent and pitiful evidence of the
wars greedy clutch lay in the fast
dropping gardens of the tiny homes.
FLOWERS at the front gate made brave
attempts TO rear their heads above the
tangle of weeds; a vine struggled and
fell for lack Of support, and behind
the house, vegetables, often a needed
asset to the meager allowance, died
FOR lack of care. Such tiny, tiny gar
aens they were. 1t seemed as If an
hour could have been squeezed from
the crowded day in order that they
might live. But the wives of those
brave soldiers were already burdened
and that hour could not be found.
However, there was one pair of
masculine hands in the village that
might not fire shots at the enemy be-
found far too weak to stand the
strenuous life of the battlefield
George Washington grieved sorely that
ne was unit to go with his fellow
men to fight the great fight, but he
realized there must be some way in
which he could be OF service to those
left behind.
Il could take care of those gar
dens, ne pondered as he walked
through I,9nrpl la .,ff Il
the condition of growing things.
Perhaps 1t will help the struggling
women as much as the outdoor work
VIII benefit my own body"
lie smiled wrathfully at his own
weakness, but went brayely from one
door to the other asking If he might
attend the gardens of the soldier hus-
bands who had gone to war.
Il am absolutely idle" had been
his stock phrase when overcoming
the seruples of householders. 1T
VIII be favor to me if you let me
care for your flowers and vegetables"
AT the end of two weeks George
Washington had done wonders with
six small gardens. Flowers again
raised joyful heads. vines clambered
over gate posts and vegetables con-
tlnued to add table necessities to the
SIX tables. Bassington felt proud of
his work and became a great favorite
with the wives and mothers whom
his work was helping. He had his
tea first with one and then with the
next until they began to feel a trihe
Jealous if he was seen longer in one
garden than in the other 1t was
with difficulty that he kept one bit
OF property from overstepping an
other in beauty.
There was one house on Laurel
lane that Bassington took infinite
care over and that one was the home
OF James Holiday. Bassington
realized that because of the inmate
he found himself lured there in spite
of himself. He supposed the fair
woman within to be the wife of Holt
day because she tended Holidays two
tiny children and seemed very busy
with household cares. So busy was
she that Bassington had never dur
ing his short stay in the garden, had
more than word or two conversa-
ton with her.
II can hardly ask her if she is Holi-
days wife, laughed the temporary
gardner to himself, much as my
curiosity may hamper me. Nor do I
feel justified in questioning my neigh
Dors. However much he disiked the
thought of her being the Wife of any
man, he was forced to the conclu-
sion that she was the wife of Holt
day and the mother of his children.
In consequence Bassington made his
conversation as short as possible with
the little lady, and she in turn did not
offer a more lengthy chat than was
absolutely necessary. 1t really seemed
as If she made point of being strict
ly civil and no more to him. ~
AS weeks slipped past Bassington
began 20 regain the health that had
i H.. NJ
would not turn him back al>ain, he
felt, and with that thought in view
he once again went into town in or
der to offer himself for active ser
vice.
This time he was not sent away
from his medical examination with
dropping head. Instead Bassipgton
stood erect and there was sparkle
of triumph in his eyes as if he were
even then marching to meet the en-
envy. He had been accepted for ac-
tive service and he was to join his
old regiment and leave for the front
with them
1t was with joyful heart that he
approached the little cottages in Lau-
rel lane and told each of his now ex-
cellent friends of his success. 1t was
going to be a trifie difficult to tell
Jim Holidays wife. and Bassington
left her until the last. He did not
know why it was difficult to tell her,
but it was, and as he dropped the
shining brass knocker OF her door he
hraced himself as if for the first vol
ley of snot from the enemy
Once inside the trim little house
Bassington looked long and earnestly
at the fair girl who seemed ever to
elude his level glance.
81 am going to the front" he said
in his straightforward manner, "and |
I wanted to tell you that l have ar
ranged for another man to care for |
the gardens. / am off on Saturday" |
Obi" gssped the girl; "then you |
are not a shirkeri / have been think |
ing you were coward not to enlist |
when all our brave brothers and hus- |
bands have gone to fight fer u.s." Her |
eyes sparkled even as Bassington's |
bad when he left the physicians |
Office with the stamp of health mark |
ing him.
A deep flush spread even up to his |
temples at the girls words
~ am sorry you thought me a |
shirker, Mrs. Holiday was all he |
said. 1t was not an Englishman's |
way to gain sympathy on the plea OF |
i'll health.
The quick apology in Jean Holt |
days eyes was mingled with amused |
surprise.
But 1 am not Mrs. Holiday" she
told Kim, Il am Jim's sister" She |
blushed hotly at the sudden joy In
Bassingtons face. Jean continued !
swiftly to cover her confusion, Mrs. |
Holiday mas gone down to be near +