The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-26
The Eueni,,e Story
Joan's Garden.
(By Dorothy Douglas.)


1t was down to- of the fine old
time house on West Twenty-third street
that Joan happened to have taken a
room.
She had come IN from the country
to write a column in a city daily call
ed ''Chats With the Working Girl"
and her advent to the city was fraught
with both joy and hon1esickness.
In the first place. it was spring
and spring to Joan had always meant
gardening. She loved to put in little
rows Of seeds and watch them break
ing through the earth and growing
up into wonderful blooms.
None of that in the city" she sighed
and looked out at the paved street with
its endless string Of cars. Her glance
roved about and, at last rested upon
the long, naked-loQlxing strip OF garden
that each of the many old houses in
her district possessed. Not one Of them
seemed to be in process of planting.
And SO much could be made OF Them"
thought Joan. and her arms ached to
dig with a spade and put growing
things into the ground.
Ten minutes later she was down talk
Ing to the landlady.
Il would love to put in garden
in 'front.' she suggested with one Of
her appealing smiles, land I am pin
ing for exercise"
You would have a hard time-in
that place. said the landlady; 1.-The
ground hasn't been worked for a good
ten years. But you are welcome to
try"
Joan went joyfully about her task
Tie spade she purchased and the slips
and seeds she came home with would
have made six gardens riot with multi
cOlored blossoms.
The ground. as Mrs Tate had sug-
gested. certainly was hard. The late
cold snap seemed to have left it fro
her arms tired with her effort to soft
en- a trench for her sweet peas
! Looking up for a moments rest she
caught sight of a man working in the
second garden but one one from her
own. He had made a splendid trench
and was even then putting in row OF
seeds.
Joan went swiftly out of her own
gate and approached the man.
Are you day gardener or a pri-
vate one?' she asked.
| The man looked UP ano the smile
under his light mustache was an
amused one.
Day he said promptly; "can
help you out?" He had taken his pine
from his mouth and his cap from his
head. A small white dog leaped joy.
fully about his feet.
Yes" said JOAN Il want a trench
such as the one you have finished
made in my garden. Could you do il
soon?''
It did not occur to Joan that thu
man was other than a gardener Man,
gardeners were of most gentlemanly
appearance. She waited eagerly for hi,
answer.
Immediately said the man, ant
followed her to the other garden. Tn,
dog, too. entered into the affair. Joal
almost forgot her purpose while fond
ling the dog She had one Of her owl
In the home village.
II would like a. deep trench-jus
along that fence. for sweet peas" sh
!. told the man; the ground is fright
!. fully hard
She sat on the stone step watchin,
the man and playing with his dog H
was Scotch. Not only his accen
but his well-knit, muscular frame sug
gested that. joan found herself ad
: miring him. She busted herself wit
small flower boxes. into which she pu
her slips.
q Would there be anything further?
It was the man who had asked hel
He was standing close to her. an
Joan saw the twinkle in his eyes tina
| she mad failed to see before
e present she said. How much do
: owe you -
III I'VE will let that 90 for the tim
beiug-you may want me asain- VIII
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