The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-09-08
GARDENS E99 TIE GIRL
BY N WELAER.
(Copyrtght, 1914, BY the Mcclure Newsrs-
nor Svndicafal

per Syndicate.)
The gardens IN the little suburbsa
village that nestled at ne. foot Of the
Ch.ltern hills were beginning to show
the lask 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 hsd no
time for gardening when there were
children to care for and homes u
keep tidy against the day when the
soldiers would once again be vel.
coined back.
However, there al M pair OF
masculine hands in the village that
might not fire shots at the enemy
because his. physical body had beeE
found far too weak to stand the siren
uous life Of the battlefield. George
Baasfnston 5Eeyed sorely that he was
unfit 20 90 ssiSh his fellow men &c
fight the great fight, but he realized
there must be some way in which he
could be Of service to those left be
hind.
J. 81 could take art of those gar
dens," he ponde:ed as he walked
through Laurel lane and witnessed the
condition Of growing things. Perhaps
It will help the struggling women Is
much as the outdoor work will bene-
fit my own body" .
At the end Of two weeks George
Bassington had done wonders with
six small gardens. Flowers again
raised joyful heads, vines clambered
over gate posts and vegetables con.
,inued 20 add table necessities to the
six tables. u.
There was one house on Laurel
lane that B~assington took infinite are
v and that n was the home Of
James Holiday. Bassington realized
that because of the innate he found
himself lured there in spite Of him.
self. He supposed the fair woman
within to be the wife of Holiday be-
cause she tended Holidays two tiny
children and seemed wei busy with
1louoCliO1o . Nv Duoy "oo DIG
that Bassington had never, during his
short stay in the garden, had more
than a word or two Of conversation
with her. =
81 can hardly ask her If she is Holi.
days wife," laughed the temporary
gardener to himself.
f. AS weeks slipped past Bassington
began, to regain the health that had
escaped him. The recruiting offices
would not turn him back again, he
felt, and with that thought Id view
he once again went into town in Or
der to offer himself for active service.
This time he was not sent away
from his medical examination with
dropping head. He had been accepted
for 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 the little cottages in Lau.
rel lane and told each Of his now ex-
cellent friends OF his success. It "a
going to be a trife difficult. to tell
Jim Holidays wife, and as he dropped
the shining brass knocker Of her door
he braced himself as II for the first
volley of shot from the enemy.
Once inside the trim little house
Bassington looked long and earnest.
ly at, the fair girl who seemed ever
to elude his. level glance.
"I am going to the 'front.'" he said
In his Straightforward manner, land
I wanted to tell you that I have ar
ranged for another man to care for
the gardens. I am off on Saturday.
"Oh!" gasped the girl, then you
are not a shirker! have been think
ing you were a coward not to enlist
when all our brave brothers and hus.
bands have gone to fight for US"
A deep flush spread ever up to his
temples at the girls words.
Il 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 I am not Mrs. Holiday" she
told him, 81 am Jim's sister. MRS.
Holiday has gone down to be neal Jim
as long as possible before he goes to
the front. He's in camp now"
mot anybody's wife," questioned
Washington, and realized that he would
change that situation when he re
turned from the war. II am sorry
you thought me a shirker," he said,
land that I thought you a wife and
mother. Otherwise we might have
spent many wonderful hours here in
the shadow Of the Chiltern bills
just you and l."
"The hills will always be here"
Jean said with dainty frankness be-
cause she had loved Bassington IN
spite of herself, 81, too, expect to be
here-when you return"
May that day be soon," Bassington
said. and took both OF her proffered