Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-01-18
ELA|NE'S GARDEN
BY cLARissA MAcklE.

denl Rather, Il was q neglected back
yard criss-crossed with ciotheslines,
bounded by two aeat brick walls on
either side and a shabby brick laun-
dry shed at the back which gave upon
an alley The rear of mrs. tricks
boarding house formed the fourth
boundary, and from her window on
the fourth floor ElQine Rogers could
ook down on the bleak sqda4idness
| Of the neglected reciaHgle ana com.
pare 1t, most unfavoraDiy, With the
why don't have a garden?' Mrs.
Frick replied when Elaine questioned
her She laughed harsnly. And who
would be getting three meals a day,
eh2 Suppose you all came in to din
ner and found no dinner at all and
me mincing around in a garden!
Come into my garden and eat by
smelling of my flowers" I'd say
Humph!" she ended contemptuously
Elaine said no more about gardens,
but she continued to look wistluliy
| down at the neglected space and
dream of what might be done Nth il
| if
IF had money enough" she g. lied.
but there never was money enough
to spare from her salary 20 kinder
garten teacher. Elaine was quite alcro
in the world and this was her rrst
year at self-support She had not
known that boating houses could be
so drear, food SO anaDDetizing. la-i.
aides so hardened to anything that
approached beauty.
How absurd I ami" she exclaimed.
Sitting here and wishing win no,
bring things to me. must go oGt
after them. now. Shall ( attack hrs.
| Tricks back yard. so, But / can
nave q window garden CT my very o rn
and this southern e.po.aro viii DO
lust the thing"
The next Saturday found Elaine,
singing like a lark, arranging pots Of
| geraniums and ferns and ivy or the
wide sill of her solitary window. She
had placed the last plant and WIS
| leaning out to arrange some falling
- ~
pened- something that brought a
/ frightened exclamation from her lips
| and caused the young man walking
IN the garden next door to glance up
! with startled expression Of his pale
| face.
The tiniest potted geranium of
sweet-smelling variety went hurting
, down toward him.
Look out!" warned Elaine, but he
did not move and the little flower
pot sped to its mark between his
eyes.
Elaine covered her own eyes for
a moment. When she withdrew her
! hands the man was lying PROSTATE
and a man-servant was bending over
him.
Elaine flew down the stairs to the
'front.' sidewalk and FASTENED into the
area of the house next door. Here all
was specklessly neat and bearing evil
dence Of well-to-do occupants. She
rang the basement bell and a Hurried
/ 'ooking maid admitted her
! "A flower pot fell from. my window
and l an afraid it has injured the
young man who was in the garden"
hurriedly explained Elaine.
The maid nodded. Mr. Arthur is
in the dining room, miss. James is
dressing the wound while he waits for
he doctor"
"Oh, is he so badly hurt?" breathed
elaine.
1t bleeds frightfully, miss. It
truck him fairly between the eyes"
explained the girl.
1t seems so strange that he did
not move out Of the way. He seemed
TO be looking straight at it,"
"AIr. Arthur is blind, miss" said the
maid gravely.
Blind" cried Elaine pityingly. "Oh,
no-how dreadful"
There was a murmur of voices in
the next room and a man appeared |
with a roll Of bandages in his hand.
MIR. Arthur wishes to know who is |
here. Mary?" he said.
THE young lady next door. She |
came to see if he was badly hurt. 1t |
was her flower pot that fell"
please ask her to come in here, !
Mary" said a mans impatient voice.
and in response the three Of them |
fastened to enter the open door of |
the dining room.
Elaines victim was lying on broad !
leGthercoyered couch and James !
skillful hands had neatly bandaged his /
eyes. Elaine could only see a fine
forehead, with dark hair brushed
smoothly back. the end OF handsome
nose and firm, well-cut lips.
81 am so sorry" she breathed i'm /
petuously.
80. hats the voice!" ne cried excited.
ly. you were singing" he went on
eagerly.
Yes" she replied.
you sounded so happy was wish.