The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-10
ELA|NE'S GARDEN
Ey CLARISSA MACkIE.

bounded by TWO neat DrlCK walls on
either side and shabby brick laun-
dry shed at the back which gave upon
an alley The rear of Mrs. Prick s
boarding house formed the fourth
the fourth floor Elaine Rogers could
look down on the bleak squalidness
of the neglected rectangle and COM
pare it, most unfavorably, with the
green loneliness of the one next door.
Why don't | have a garden?" Mrs.
Frick replied when Elaine questioned
her. She laughed harshly. And who
would be getting three meals day,
Ell? Suppose you all came in to din
ner and found no dinner at all and
me mincing around in 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 wistfully
down at the neglected space and
dream of what might be done with it
if
'If had money enough" she sighed,
but there never was money enough
to spare from her salary as kinder
garten teacher. Elaine was quite alone
in the world and this was her first
year at self-support. She had not
known that boarding houses could be
so drear. food so unappetizing, land
ladies SO hardened to anything that
approached beauty.
How absurd l ami" she exclaimed.
Sitting here and wishing will not
bring things to me. l must go out
after them. Now, shall l attack Mrs.
Tricks back yard. No! But / can
have window garden of my very own
and this southern exposure will be
just the thing"
The next Saturday found Elaine,
singing like lark, arranging pots of
geraniums and ferns and ivy on the
wide sill of her solitary window. She
had placed the last plant and was
leaning out to arrange some falling
sprays of ivy when something hap
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 a startled expression of his pale
face.
The tiniest potted geranium of a
sweet-smelling variety went hurting
down toward him.
"Look out" warned Elaine, but he
did not move and the little flower
pot sped to it's 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-todo occupants. She
rang the basement bell and flurried-
looking maid admitted her.
"a flower pot fell from my window
young man who was in the garden"
hprriedly explained Elaine.
The maid nodded. Mr. Arthur is
in the dining room, miss James is
dressing the wound while he waits for
the DOCTOR"
ooh, is he so badly hurt?" breathed
Elaine.
1T bleeds frightfully. miss 1t
struck 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,
''Mr. 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 roll of bandages in his hand.
Mr., 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 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
leather-covered 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.
II am so sorry" she breathed i'm
petuously.
That's the voice." he cried excited
ly. You were singing" he went on
eagerly.
Yes she replied.
you sounded so happy was wish
ing | could see you-my confounded
eyes" he ended abruptly
And | have made them worse"
lod o nc