The Washington herald., 1915-03-01
DAILY SHORT STORY.
IN THE TRENCHES.
BY DOROTHY BLACK MORE.
(Ouuriyht lqlj)

The enemy is in your trenches again.
Sis cried Teddy Herbert to his sister,
who had not yet come down to break
fast.
Dear. dear" he heard her excIaim.
and then he heard hurried footsteps and
saw Matte run down stairs. pick up a
coat that was lying on a chair in the
hall. and slam the front door after her.
Mats some hustler when she wants
TO- he remarked TO his mother. who sat
behind the coffee pot at the table
Indeed she is. and feel sorry she has
this trouble to contend with just nov
when she was showing such enthusia SIN
on SO practical a subject" sighed Mrs
Herbert
Look at her chase those chickens
laughed Teddy, pulling aside the dining
room curtain and looking out into the
garden spot at the side of the Herbert
home.
Four siN-foot trenches lay open and
Matte was running back and forth chas-
ing away the neighbors' chickens. The
fresh fertilizer which had been placed SO
carefully in each OF the trenches was
scattered everywhere. and dsmay was
written all over the girls face when she
turned to come into the house.
It's a shame she said, as she took
her place at the table. breathing hard.
but looking as fresh as a rose after her
exercise in the invigOrating March air.
And this one year when l had planned
so much on my sweet peas and have fol-
lowed directions SO carefully. What shall
| do. mother"
Shoot the chickens" suggested Teddy.
This isn't the war. Teddy" his sister
said squelchingly. These are sweet pea
trenches"
But il it wasn't for the war, my
dears." sighed Mrs. Herbert again. I'VE
would not feel the necessity for having
these trenches so carefully planned. !
believe Matte can make success OF her
flowers f.
IF I can gather up my nerves and
go next door to Interview the neighbors
about their chickens" Matte said II
could do il this minute, / believe"
Mrs. Herbert raised a protesting hand.
NO. dear. not in this frame of mind.
You might say something-not neigh
borly''
Matte bit a large piece OF toast off the
slice she had taken and chewed II vehe-
mently as if to express her sentiments.
It's the only time / can go-when I'm
in this frame of mind-when I've just re-
turned from looking at that wasted time
and energy. and money out there, It's
the third time those chickens have come
over here and scratched up my trenches.
and ii Is absolutely necessary that l
leave them open for a few days to warm
up before plant the seeds. Now-whst
am to do?"
II pass said Teddy. getting UP from
the table. Its not my funeral. Mat. So
long, And with that he was gone.
Teddy was not old enough to let the
family worries lie on his shoulders.
Matte and her mother were finishing
breakfast in silence when they heard the
knocker on the front door I'll Co."
said Matte, as her mother started to
rise.
lin George Davis-next door. you
know. / just saw you chasing my
out of your garden. /"
Come in. please said Matte, opening
wide the door TO the young man who
was introducing himself.
You see. I've come to stay with my
brother next door for a while since my
firm saw fit TO cut down expenses by
letting me out of a job and-wcll, to tell
the truth. 1 thought my brother didn't
know how to get the most out Of his
chickens and I've taken them in hand for
a few days. He's never home and my sis
ter is busy with De baby SONY chickens
have been in your trenches owing to my
folly. 1 apologize and will see that Ii
does not happen again"
''Oh. don't worry Matte FASTENED
to say. ''Of course. I-well. have /
worked so hard with that fertilizer this
spring. hoping to realize something
from my sweet peas. and 1t has been
rather disconcerting-''
"Disconcerting." interrupted Davis. |
That is polite. II I'd been in your |
place 1 think I would have blessed
the whole houseful Of neighbors. Did |
YOU" he laughed.
Matte Joined him. Perhaps you
would call it blessing. / hadn't |
thought of 1t in that light. But now
you won't worry. will you? I'll get
put this morning and try to plant the
seeds. and then
Then II my chickens dig them up
[ needn't show my face again in this
Matte nodded. Laughing. That's It."
she said.
With a few more words Of apology
George Davis left and Matte Herbert
Knew that she liked him and was glad l
that he was to be q neighbor.
That morning when she was busy /
put of doors trying to repair the dam
,ge done to her trenches. George Davis
ooked over the hedge which separated
he gardens. 1T Is who should be
ioing that" he ventured.
you may help" Matte said" quickly.
The young man Joined her with alac-
lily. He had expected her to say. ''oh,
no. wouldn't hear Of such thing"
which would have been the conventional
answer.
A few hours work with her assured |