The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-12-02
THE PEANWL
BY KEITH KENYON.

nat Respectfully, II tnere Is Vacancy
of any sort on the estate. am anx-
ious to get position In the country
for few months"
The girl within the gates cut him
short with naughty stare.
I'VE are not in the habit of employ
ing tramps. Only people well recon-
mended need apply for work" She
turned away, as II the interview was
over.
But I do not happen to be tramp.
I am q stranger looking for light en-
ployment, having lost my energy in
the city, and desiring to find 1t again.
I am sorry to have troubled you"
There is q lot of work on the place
extra work-on account Of spring
planting from the con-
ervatories--roses and shrubbery. Are
you familiar with such work."
Il have done nothing beyond anna
teur flower cultivation, but, being a
lover of such work. have had great
success at It,"
Miss Cullen's eyes were appraising
him from head to foot, disparagement
IN her glance.
Conrad added quickly; "But I sup
pose, have sufficient intelligence to
look after your roses, and II you hap
pen to have an orchid house"
"Orchids!" she exclaimed and new
fight came into her eyes. Il have
some rare ones that the head gardener
knows nothing whatever about. It's
breaking my heart-to see them fad
ing day by day"
mot doing we'll, eh?" he asked. Il
spent a year down in South America,
where they abound"
It turned out that Conrad's familiar
ity with orchids gained him a po-
sition on the estate. He was delight
ed when he found that he might &C.
cupy a small cottage adjoining the
plant houses.
From day to day Barbara kept her
eye on him. In fact, daily contact with
Conrad was teaching the mistress of
Frogmore to forget that her new gar
dener was but a hireling. His opti-
mism and deep knowledge on many
subjects amazed her.
Thus he compelled her to listen to
a chord In her own heart which she
had striven for years to stifle. She
had been trying to live according to
convention and false ideals OF happi-
ness.
One day she woke to the knowledge
that through what she regarded as
some strange perversity of her nature
she had fallen in love with her gar
| deher.
~The horror of it," she gasped.
There followed q speedy return OF
her old-time self-esteem. and she re-
solved to put an end to the disquiet-
ing thing without delay.
So, with the intention Of burning
| her bridges 80 that she might never
be tempted to cross them again, she
went swiftly down through the long
gardens toward Conrad's cottage. AS
she drew near, she heard the click
OF q typewriter. The easement was
open and through It she saw her new
gardener seated at the machine and
so intent upon his work that he did
not even raise his eyes as she stood
before him at the window.
Conrad" she spoke firmly.
Hello! Who is it," He rose quick
ly and in q moment was by her side
"You want me for something. Miss
Cullen?" he asked deferentially.
"Only to say that since the spring
work Is about over I shan't need yot
any more" she said constrainedly.
There was silence for moment.
I'm glad" Conrad said then, with
evident relief in his tone. Il had
planned to tell you that I must re
turn to the city in the morning"
Greatly to her discontinue, his
prompt acquiescence irritated Barbara
That anyone should be 30 resigned tC
leave her service hurt her self-esteem
The holiness of manner that had beer
absent for several weeks returned i'm
mediately. Indeed! May / ask Il
you have bettered your position?" she
said, with perfectly audible sniff.
EYES," admitted Conrad briskly. &c
have gained my end at last. See!' HI
pointed to q mass of half sheets tina
were scattered over the scant furni
ture of the cottage and some Of then
on the floor. THAT is the script Of {
novel which was accepted by pub
Usher q year ago. l couldn't get 4
flnished-for the pot had to boil, 20,
know-but there 1t isl" He threw GU
his chest and 5-cathed sigh Of salts
fed achievement. His eyes were fairl!
a-glitter.
$50" Barbara flashed angrily. "tha
ID I'll You simply have been using mi
as a medium to further your own sell
ism ends!"
Miss Cullen!" he calculated
amazed at her attitude. when hav,
failed to give full value for favor
received?"
"How should know you were othe
than you seemed?"
| Il don't see that It matters"
| well, I have been treating you as
common servant. and no doubt yo'
have been criticising me for my-m.