Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-17
GLORIA'SGARDENER
he Cultivated the Flower of Love
in His Mistress Heart.
BY JOHN DARLING.

were his tagged nerves in need of the
restful tonic that working In that
garden would provide.
He had taken the day In the coun-
try that he might select a quiet
boarding house In which to spend a
month or two, but alasl The quiet
boarding houses were SO totally lack
ing In attractiveness that Randall had
decided that OF two evils the lesser
was the city boarding house. Even
the appalling set of people in the city
house was no doubt preferable to
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 OF
girl at that psychological moment
happened to come out of the vine
covered porch. Her hair was braided
In a long sunny plat and her smile
traversed the distance between Ran
dal and the porch.
He retraced his footsteps and went
up the path toward the girl. His walk
was impulsiye as were his inten-
lions.
The girl gazed questioningly at him
though with CLEAN of interest in
her eyes: eyes that were far seeing,
as IL they expressed the beauty of q
great minds
'Ts there a chance In the world
that you require a gardener" RAN
dal asked as he reached the girls
side.
II certainly require one" Gloria
Woodvine returned quickly, then with
slight hesitation, "but l am not sure
that | want one"
"Oh," was Randal's ejaculation.
"then do you perhaps know anyone
who does both require and want my
services?"
yours? Are you the gardener"
She looked him up and down with
dawning wonder in her eyes.
Eyes. And I would have this bit Of
property looking like a show place IN
two weeks If you would let me.
There are wonderful possibilities
here" Randall said, and the peculiar
look in his eyes brought slight flush
TO Gloria's cheeks.
Il. couldn't pay very much" she
said quickly. because I keep this lit
tie place up myself. My family con-
siders me mad for coming down here
In the country to live. 1t is my own
retreat for writing and have not been
able to get someone to make it beau
tiful, much as wanted to-"
'Tf 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 lot. Is 1t a
go? l really need the work"
Gloria looked rather startled but a
tiny smile played about her lips. AS
suredly here was type around whom
she might write story. She would
chance the trial anyway. IL he did
not please her she could easily dis
miss him.
81 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.
My old black nanny viii always be
about"
Randall looked searchingly at
Gloria Woodvine. Suddenly he knew
who it was she reminded him of. 1t
was Freddy Woodyine, but Randall
had not associated the name of the
cottage with that of the girl. Now he
knew who she was and his task be-
came one of trebled interest. She
was Gloria Woodyine, Freddys sister
and an authoress of no small fame.
Sis is a bit daffy," Freddy had
said on one occasion when Randall
had wanted to meet her. "She goes
OFF into silences and retreats and
never shows up until she brings a
fullfedged novel back with her."
Il will pitch my tent tomorrow, If
it is agreeable to you" he said and
realized that he could scarcely wait
to shake the dust of newspaper Of
fees 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 long
braids of golden hair that hung down
Gloria's back.
Absurd" he warned himself, "and
remember" he added to his mental
conversation, you are to consult her
black nanny and not herself for
anything you may require"
And Randall found after a few days
in Gloria's garden, that his nerves
were beginning to respond to proper
treatment but that they were apt to
play tricks when the girl with the
sunny hair was anywhere In sight.
He did not seek to talk with her.
All that he wanted he obtained from
Martha, and many hint on cooking
did he get from that source. He
prepared his own meals On his camp
fire and altogether enjoved his &C.
centric actions more than anything
he had tried for a long time. His
holiday was going to be a great sue