Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-07
The Daily Story
In the Garden Below

Delicla slipped joyousiy INTO the soft,
pink silks of her costume. The young
woman possessed a temperament and
could write in nothing save pink-pink
from her slippers to the large bow that
confined a mass of copper ringlets at
the nape of her neck. Her cheeks
riYaled the pink Of the ifrock, for inspira-
tion had come suddenly and she could
scarcely contain herself until she reached
her den.
She glanced out at the rambling old
house in the next garden; 1t had been
vacant so long that the windows were
almost hidden behind the unkept vines.
A desultory litigation had hung over its
stately premises so long that Delicia had
decided to make use OF the privacy 1t
afforded.
Consequently. Delicia carried her writ
ing paraphernalia to small den-like
room on the third floor. Fortunately for
the girls temperament, the walls bore
traces of pink flowers, and with the
touches which artistic hands can give,
Delicia soon had an attractive workship.
Arrived in her bower. the girl peeped
out through the portfolio OF her window
she had sacrificed the vines to that
extent-and sighed as she gazed visit
fully at the old garden so rich in pos
sibilities, but so much in need of loving
hands to guide its straying vines and
tangles of old-world flowers.
Delicia had not time herself. Her
stories demanded every moment.
'Besides," she murmured to the gar
den, "some one might see me and then
1 might be put out OF my lovely room" q"
She grew fearsome at the very thought
and went desperately TO work on the
story In her mind.
For an hour or more her typewriter
clicked. When the best OF her thoughts
We're safely down she became more con-
scious of outward sounds.
Gradually IL came TO her senses that a
peculiar grating noise had been going on
for some time. At the same moment a
voice was humming MY Love Is Like a
Red. Red Rose"
DeIicia jumped up cautiously and peered
through the opening in the vines. She
started back then quickly resumed her
position as she realized her safety.
A man was digging in the garden below.
Surprise. indignation. Joy were mingled
in the expression that any one dared to
enter what she had grown TO consider
was at last coming into It's own. for the
man below was working like a happy
slave over paths and vines and rose
trees.
Delicia made her cup OF tea slowly and
thoughtfully while she cast occasional
glances into the garden or, rather, at the
man in the garden. That he was big
his head was crowned with gold was
equally apparent, but his features were
not discernible.
She gave up the attempt and sat down
to her tea. Gloom brooded in her eyes.
"Has some horrible person bought the
placer" was the question uppermost In
Delicia's mind. She cast another glance
through the vines. "He isn't so horrible
at that" she conhded to herself with q
sparkle in her eyes. Anyway, I shal
just wait and see. He can't any nors
than put me out."
But Martin Duane did not disposses!
Delicia. And as the weeks wore on h'
apparently did not once become conscious
OF the pair OF gray eyes that followed
him IN his work about the garden.
The magazines suffered the loss O
Delicia's work. Up IN the pink den De
! iicia grew peeyish because her we'll
| trained brain refused 10 compose beauu
/ ful stories; Il preferred to take vtyi'
interest IN every movement OF the man II
the garden.
| The garden thrived and blossomed int
a vsritable fairyland or color The maj
/ seemed 10 take particular care OF III
roses: to Delicia's longing eyes Il lookes
as II the pink ones grew deiantiy large
| and more desirable than the Others.
As June wore toward its close the gir
| found herself consciously Jealous OF thl
| pink roses; especially was she 1ealou
of the tender care which was given q
one bush. The man spent hours tending
the glorious bud that was slowly opening
its heart to the garden. He pruned an'
Dettad ana watched it with the eyes o
q lover
Dencia's desire Tor cluster of thos,