The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-02
GARDENS AND The GIRL
BY HARMONY WELLER.
Copyright. 1914. by the Mcclure Newspa.

Copyright. 1914. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
The gardens in the little suburban
village that nestled at the foot Of the
Chiltern hills were beginning to show
the lack 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 had no
time for gardening when there were
children to care for and homes to
keep tidy against the day when the
soldiers would once again be well
coined back
However, there was one pair of
masculine hands in the village that
might not fire shots at the enemy
because his physical body had been
found far too weak to stand the siren
uous life of The battlefield. George
WASHINGTON grieved sorely that he was
unfit TO 20 with his fellow men to
fight the great fight, but he realized
there must be some way iii which he
could be of service to those left be-
hind
could take care of those gar
dens, he pondcrcd as he walked
through Laurel lane and witnessed the
condition of growing things. Perhaps
it will help the struggling women as
much rs the outdoor work will bene-
tit my own body"
At the end of two weeks George
Rassington had done wonders with
six small gardens. Flowers again
raised joyful heads, vines clambered
over gate posts and vegetables con
tinucd TO add table necessities to the
six tables.
There was one house on Laurel
lane that Washington took infinite care
over and that one was the home of
James Holiday. Bassington realized
that because of the inmate he found
himself lurcd 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 ever busy with
household cares. So busy was she
that Washington had never, during his
short stay in the garden. had more
than word or two of conversation
with her
Il can hardly ask her if she is Holt
days wife, laughed the temporary
gardener to himself.
AS weeks slipped past Washington
began to regain the health that had
escaped him. The recruiting Offices
would not turn him back again, he
felt, and with that thought in 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 was
going to be a trihe difficult to tell
Jim Holidays wife, and as he dropped
the shining brass knocker of her door
he braced himself as if 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.
Il am going to the 'front.'" he said
in his straightforward manner, and
l wanted to tell you that | have ar
ranged for another man to care for
the gardens. ! am off on Saturday"
Oh" gasped the girl, then you
are not shirker! ! have been think
ing you wore a coward not to enlist
when all our brave brothers and hus-
bands have gone to fight for u.s."
deep flush spread even 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 | am not Mrs. Holiday" she
told him, Il am Jim's sister. Mrs.
Holiday has gone down to be near jim
as long as possible before he goes to
the front. He's in camp now"
Not anybody's wife," questioned
Washington, and realized that he would
change that situation when he re-
turned from the war. Il am sorry
you thought me a shirker," he said,
and that | thought You a wife and
mother. Otherwise We might have
spent many wonderful hours here in
the shadow of the Chiltern hills
Just you and /.
The hills will always be here"
Jean said with dainty frankness. be-
cause she had loved Bassington in
spite of herself, II, too. expect to be
here-when you return"
May that day be soon," Bassington
said, and took both of her proffered
hands in a warm clasp and raised
them in turn to his lips. Until that
day" he added softly.