Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-23
Evening Story
GARDENING FOR GLORIA.
BY John Darling.
s(Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndicateD

"A James Randall Strolled slowly past
the Woodvine cottage. Certainly the
lovely grounds were sadly in need OF
a gardeners care and just as surely
were his tagged nerves in need OF the
K restful tonic that working in that gar
y den would provide,
He had taken the day in the cOun-
try that he might select quiet
7 boarding house in which to spend
4 month or two. but alas. The quiet
boarding houses were SO totally lack
\ Ing in attractiveness that Randall had
n decided that Of two evils the lesser
was the city boarding house. Even
+ the appalling set of people in the city
I house was no doubt preferable TO
u the deadly monotony in the country.
But I would love to garden that
bit of property he sighed and would
have passed the Woodvine cottage
\ for the last time save that slip or
girl at that psychological moment
L happened to come out of the vine,
covered porch. Her hair was braided
in long sunny plat and her smile
N traversed the distance between Kan
{ dial and the porch.
He retraced his footsteps and went
a up the path toward the girl. His walk
was impusive as were his intentions
The girl gazed questioningly at him
though with CLEAN of interest in
her eyes; eyes that were far seeing
as if they expressed the beauty or
great mind.
as there a chance in the world
/ that you require a gardener Ran
/ dial asked as he reached the girls
side
4 certainly require one" Gloria
Woodvine returned quickly, then with
slight hesitation but I am not sure
4 that want one"
oh, was Randals ejaculation, then
do you perhaps know any one who
does both require and want my ser
vices?"
yours! Are you the gardener"
She looked him up and down with
dawning wonder in her eyes.
Eyes. And would have this bit Of
property looking like show place in
two weeks if you would let me. There
are wonderful possibilities here" Ran
dial said and the peculiar look in his
eyes brought slight flush to Gloria's
cheeks.
s Il couldn't pay very much she said
quickly, because keep this little
place up myself. My family considers
me mad for coming down here in the
country to live. 1t is my own retreat
&for writing and I have not been able
to get some one to make it beautiful,
much as wanted to-
4 ''If you permit me to pitch tent
down by that clump of fir trees and
camp there | will care for the garden.
plant some vegetables, get few lay
! Ing hens and help you out a lot. Is
ut a go? I really need the work"
Gloria looked rather startled but a
a tiny smile played about her lips. AS
Rsuredly here was a type around whom
she might write story. She would
echance the trial anyway. If he did
not please her she could easily dis
miss him.
n Fl am down here for absolute quiet
and concentration" she told him. Il
would have to ask you to go about
your work without consulting me
more than is absolutely necessary.
Ny old black nanny will always be
about"
Randall looked searchingly at Gloria
Woodvine. Suddenly he knew who it
was she reminded him Of. 1t was
Freddy Woodvine, but Randall has not
associated the name of the cottage
with that of the girl Now he knew
who she was and his task became one
OF trebled interest. She was Gloria
Woodvine, Freddy's sister, and an
authoress of no small fame.
isis is bit daffy" Freddy had said
on one occasion when Randall had
wanted to meet her She goes off in
to silences and retreats and never
shows up until she brings full-hedg-
ed novel back with her"
Il will pitch my tent tomorrow. II
1T is agreeable to you,' he said and
realized he could scarcely wait to
shake the dust of newspaper Offices
from his feet and take up his abode
in the garden Of Gloria.
AS he travelled on the Long Island
railway back to town all he saw as
he went past villages was two braids
Of golden hair that hung down Gloria's
back.
absurd he warned himself land !
remember he added in his mental
conversation, you are to consult her
black nanny and not herself for any
thing you may require.
And Randall found, after few days
in Glorias garden, that his nerves
were beginning to respond 10 proper
treatment, but that they were apt to
play tricks when the girl with the sun
ny hair was anywhere in sight. He !
did not seek to talk with her. All
that he wanted he obtained from Mar
tina. and many a hint on cooking did /
he get from that source. He prepared
his own meals on his camp fire and
altogether enjoyed his eccentric &C
lions more than anything he had tried
for a long time His holiday was 60
ing to be great success.
The garden, too. responded to prop
er care and looked much like dainty
flower basket set against back
ground Of tall chestnut trees Vege-
tables which found their way to black |
AMartha's kitchen and hence to the ,
table of Gloria, were a great success
The chickens too produced Gloria
breakfast and Randall repoced each |
Gay in the chance that had sent him