The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-06
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Over the Garden Wall.
BYsALicEs puRYEE.
copyright 1915. BY the Mcclure

~. .sl-tH' I.s.n-. ftt
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
"A flower pot rolled of the top OF
the wall atfa point precisely above
that where David, In blue oyeralls,
was planting seeds. and as David was
In the act OF STOPPING the pot hit him
on the head. s n, tg3i l!i
The dickens he said, rubbing the
sore spot and looking aorund for the
enemy. Whence had the lombard.
ment, come? And then he saw. the ter.
racotta flower pot at his feet! II
didn't put you there, darn you," he
said, giving 1T a kick. = : 81
Just then a head appeared over the
top Of the wall, or rather a pink sun.
bonnet did, and the latter was vibrat.
Ing with excitement, mot an emotion OF
its own. but palpably that of the
wearer. "0h. did my flower pot hit
you? I'm dreadfully sorry, but I
didn't know you were there
I. Its all right" said David reassur.
ingly, "and l beg your pardon for
saying what / did. But l didn't dream
there was any ono around. The house
over there" nodding In her direction,
has been quiet SO long that you are
really more Of surprise than was
your method Of announcing yourself.
Is Miss Wayland here, too.
[ Marjorie started, and then remem.
boring that she had on a blue morning
dress, big garden apron and sunbon.
net, decided that It was perfectly nat.
ural for the Pearson's gardener to mis-.
take he's for an underling. And after
all II suited her purpose admirably.
She was tried OF the social mill OF a
long winter and had retired to this
suburban retreat for a rest. She look.
ed forward eagerly to the long days
OF spring and early summer in this
place she had loved so well as a child.
She felt almost stranger to the COM
munity now. however, for It had been
so many, years since the family haa
moved to the city. The Pearsons had
lived next door then. Old Grandfather
Pearson used to scare her with the
way he tapped his cane. on the porch
when he argued with her father. And
there was a family, too. with boys Of
all ages. There was only one boy she
could rememherwith any distinctness.
He had collie dog that used to shake
handslw with her upon request and often
tried to kiss her without permission.
The role the gardener gave her I'm
SANITY suggested a plan. II she was
TO have a summer OF quietule and
peace without having to entertain call.
ers or accept invitations to teas and
things. wouldn't 1t be a perfectly good
plan nat to declare her identity and
let things take care Of themselves ?
And then there was another thing,
She looked furtively at the gardener,
and away again! How the city men
had bored her with their small talk
and flirtations.s And instinct told her
that although the man across the wall
might BIO of the working class he was
a gentleman. and she! longed to talk
to some one "who was Of the earth,
earthly" She wanted to know about
flowers and the way things grew. She
craved conversation different from the
maddening stwaddle Of handles, and
SO she decided that maid she would
remain. h. ~ IL !. 81
mo, Miss wayland has-has gone
away"
I'm sorry! We hate to feel over
here that the big house Is empty. It
used to be such a beautiful place"
His eyes, intent upon the attractive
face in the depths OF the rosy bonnet,
seemed to- have a meaning that his
lips dare not utter. cts pity you
are not to stay" said the eyes, "eyen
u you do hit stray gardeners with
flower. pots" And somehow or other
Marjorie had feeling that they ad.
ded: And gardening is lonely bust.
ness no matter how well you like flow.
ers. At least it's much nicer with
some one else around" So she said
kindly: - z, - Z, - mi
ooh! the house won't be empty. I'm
going to stay. You see, Miss Wayland
is-she and I-that is, she is very
kind to me, and she thought needed
q change. So here am doing lust
what I've longed to do for years,
planting flowers" She laughed. "And
the Joke of II is I don't know anything
ct all about. them" ~,
"If you'll let me. I'll be very glad to
teach you,o answered the gardener