The Lamar register., 1914-12-30
GARDENS AND THE GIRL
BY HARMONY WELLER.

| the lack of care. The war had robbed
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 Tor gardening when there were
children to care for and homes to
keep tidy against the day when the
! soldiers would once again be wei
coined back.
However. there was one pair OF
masculine hands in the village that
might not fire shots at the enemy
| because his physical body had been
| found far too weak to stand the siren
uous life of the battlefield George
| Washington grieved sorely that he was
unfit to go with his fellow men to
fight the great fight. but he realized
there must be some way Ia which he
could be OF service 10 those left be.
hind
Il could take care OF those gar
| dens." he pondered as he walked
through Laurel lane and witnessed the
| condition Of growing things. Perhaps
it will help the struggling women MS
much as the outdoor work will bene-
At my own body"
At the end of two weeks George
Bassington had done wonders with
| six small gardens. Flowers again
| -aised joyful heads vines clambered
over gate posts and vegetables con
| inued 20 add tabl" necessities to TIE
| six tables.
There was one house on Laurel
tame that Iassingtun took infinite care
/ over and that on was the home Of
| lanes Holiday Bassugton realized
| hat because OF tie inmate he found
| himself lured there In spite Of him.
| self lie suppusrd the fair woman
within to be the wife OF Holiday be-
'ause sle tended holidays two tiny
children yrd seemed ever busy with
household cares. So busy was she
hat Bassiugton had never. during his
short stay IN tie garden, had more
than word or two OF conversation
with her
4 can hardly ask her II she is Holt
lays Wife laughed the temporary
gardener 10 himself
As weeks slipped past Basslngton
began to REGAIN The health that had
escaped hin The recruiting Offices
would not turn him back again. he
felt. and with that thought in view
he once again went into town in or
| der to offer himself for active service
This time be was not sent away
rom his medical examination with
lrooping head lie had been accepted
or active service and he was to Join
his old regiment and leave for the
front with them.
1t was with joyful heart that he
approached ihr little cottages in Lau-
rel lane and told each Of his now ex-
,ellent friends of his success 1t was
going to be a trihe difficult to tell
lin Holidays wife. and as he dropped
he shining brass knoeker of her door
lie braced himself as il for the first
volley OF shot from the enemy.
Once inside the trim little house
Bassington looked long and earnest
at the fair girl who seemed ever
% elude his level glance.
Il am going to the front" he said
his straightforward manner. and
{ wanted to tell you that | have ar
'anged for another man to care for
I he gardens / am OF on Saturday"
OH" gasped the girl. then you
are not a shirkeri have been think
ng you were coward not to enlist
when all our brave brothers and hus-
bands have gone to fight for us"
deep flush spread even up to his
,emples at the girls words.
I am sorry you thought me a
shirker. Mrs Holiday" was all he
said
The quick apology In Jean Holidays
eyes was mingled with amused sur.
prise.
But ] am not Mrs Holiday" she
told him. 4 am Jim's sister Mrs.
Holiday has gone down to be near Jim
as long as possible before he goes to
the front. He's in camp now"
Not anybody's wife," questioned
Bassington. and realized that he would
change that situation when he re-
turned from the war: Il am sorry
Jou thought me shirker," he said.
and that / thought you wife and
mother Otherwise We might have
spent many wonderful hours here in
he shadow OF the Chiltern hills
lust you and l."
The hills will always be here"
lean said with dainty frankness, be-
cause she had loved Bassington In
l.