The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-11


made garden Never before IN his
sophisticated city existence had. he
ever known or cared about when gar
dens were dug.
saturday afternoon he saw the girl
again. This time he saw her through
! the hedge and she was standing in the
! nlodie OF her garden spot evidently
decldlng what to plant and where to
plant 1t. She was even more lovely in
the sunlight than she had seemed in
the pale moonlight and Gordon Ken
nedy glued his face to a hole in the
hedge as II he had been a small boy
; stealing a look at a circus through a
,: But I'm as. badly off as ever" he
declared to himself "A little worse,
!; II you ask me-" he added For I'm
more badly smitten1'
going to church, thing he very sell
dom did He felt as If something
good might transpire for him il he
did the right thing AT times. Gordon
felt sparks of his mothers inheritance
OF religion. His mother had been a
oevout Scotch Presbyterian and Cor
don. as lad, had had much religious
training. If I were a praying man."
ne Illuminated, I'D pray thai 1 might
meet her. But-well. I'm sort OF out
Of the habit of all the good things my
Qear mother taught me-"
he was sitting on the porch pre-
tending to be reading the Sunday
newspaper. A messenger boy on a
watched him take off his hat and
extract an envelope from its crown.
Then the boy shuffled up the path.
"Psiaki live here-staying here ?"
the boy asked civilians is the
name. guess" he muttered.
-Williams-yes." Gordon lied
glibiy. I'LL take the message. Here"
Ihe boy handed him the envelope.
Milton Psiaki-yes-it was the same.
He must be visiting next door.
Sign here" said the boy, handing
out grubby book.
Gordon Kennedy signed Mr.. Psiaki's
name and his own initials. Then he
promptly found his way next door.
Marjorie. herself. came to the door.
She looked at Gordol's face and then
at the envelope he was extending.
Gordon stammered something inane
about telegram that had been left
by mistake at the house next door
where he lived. The girl looked curl
ously at him and took the extended
envelope. So.
Its my sisters husband, Mr.
Psiaki. Thank you. so much" she
said.
bluff voice called in the family ac-
cented tongue he knew, Message for
me. Marjie?" And then Mr.. Psiaki
appeared. ''Oh-Kennedy: How do
you COUle 10 ne mere ne asked.
Il live next door," Gordon replied.
Marjorie was stepping away.
Marie. this is peculiar coincidence
let me present my friend, Mr.. Ken
nedy." he began. bowling low after the
foreign custom. 1T was he who
who wore a sprig Of your mignon-
cite last fall. You remember, 1 told
you? Gordon. my sister. Miss VIII
hams. Pardon me if I read my mes
sage"
Gordon and the girl looked at each
Other for moment and then Mar
jorfe extended her hand. Are you so
fond, then, of flowers? Milton told me
of having given you a bit of my little
bouquet
Gordon did not know which way to
turn. He could not say what was in
his mind, and nothing that he dared
to say seemed to come to his lips.
.'Ah-yes. Oh. yes. I'm very fond of
fragrant yet" he said. And then he
realized what he had told her. He
had told this girl to whom he had
this minute been formally introduced
that he still treasured the sprig of her
last autumn's mignonette.
An awful silence was beginning
when Mr.. Psiaki excused himself abb
rtsptiy and said he must telephone at
once. s'Sit down, Kennedy, and get
acquainted with Marie"
u Get acquainted, your brother says.
Now let me contest know you WE'LL !
I watched you pick those flowers in
the moonlight. I've watched you al
ways in your garden. My window is
Just up there And-and-well let's
not begin at the beginning. May
pretend that 1 know you?"
= "Oh. if that pleases you,' laughed
Marjorie.
1T does please me-" he fastened to
add.
Then maybe it will please you-I