The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-20
Over THE WALL
BY ALICE pURYEE.

A flowerpot rolled OF the top Of
the wall at q point precisely above
that where David, in blue overalls,
was planting seeds. and as David was
, in the act of stopping the pot hit him
on the head.
THE dickens!" he said, rubbing the
sore spot and looking around for the
enemy. Whence had the bombardment
come?
Just then q head appeared over the
top of the wall, or rather q pink sun.
bonnet did, and the latter was vibrat.
ing with excitement, not an emotion
of its own. but palpably that Of the
wearer. "Oh, did my fowerpot hit
you? I'm dreadfully sorry, but
didn't know you were there"
TITS all right" said David reassur
ingly. "and l beg your pardon for
saying what did. But I didn't dream
there was anyone around. The house
over there" nodding in her direction,
has been quiet 80 long that you are
really more of q surprise than was
your method of announcing yourself.
Is Miss Wayland here, too?"
Marjorie started, and then remem.
bering that she had on a blue morn
ing dress. big garden apron and sun
bonnet, decided that it was perfectly
natural for the Pearson's gardener to
mistake her for an underling. And
after all It suited her purpose ad-
mirably. She was tired of the social
mill of long winter and had retired
to this suburban retreat for q rest.
It had been many years since the
family had moved to the city. The
Pearsons had lived next door then.
The role the gardener gave her in.
stantly suggested plan.
mo, Miss Wayland has-has gone
away"
I'm sorry! We hate to feel over
here that the big house is empty. 1t
used to be such beautiful place."
His eyes. intent upon the attractive
face in the depths Of the rosy bonnet,
seemed to have . meaning that his
lips dare not utter.
"Oh, the house won't be empty. I'm
going to stay. You see, Miss Wayland
ts-she and THAT is, she is very
kind to me, and she thought needed
. change. So here I am doing Just
what I've longed to do for years. plant.
Ing flowers" She laughed. "And the
Joke Of It 10 I don't know anything at
all about them"
If you'll let me, I'll be very glad
to teach you" answered the gardener
eagerly.
Thank you. That will be nice and
I'd like it very much" smiled Mar
jorie. DO the Pearsons still live
mean--Miss Wayland spoke Of fam.
lily next door, think Pearson wae
the name"
Yes, but the family ts scattered.
Only two sons are at home now and
one Of them is away most Of the time
The other" he hesitated, the other
was away, too, for awhile. in the wal
in Europe-the family is Canadian
you know-but he was wounded and
sent home. He's all right now though
Improving in great shape"
THAT is interesting" Marjorie
cried. She was about to say, I'D love
to meet him." when she remembered
Wait! I'll come round by the gate
and help you," which rather aston.
ished Marjorie. for the wall wasn't
more than breasthigh and she felt
that she could have climbed it her
self.
He improves on acquaintance" she
thought. IT'S hard to tell these days
with colleges running courses on for.
estry, farming and gardening, just
who people are. A gentleman. that's
patti"
So the man came through the gar.
den gate and lifted the pansies and
set them where they would grow and
mapped out beds for flowers whose
names she didn't even know.
Days passed and weeks! The gar.
den flourished and grew.
Every day she had seen David and
they had worked together. HE looks
different somehow" thought Marjorie,
watching him one day. HE seems
healthier and stronger than he did.
He never comes by the gate now"
AS she spoke she broke the seal of
q letter that had come and glanced
rapidly over the contents. so Aunt
Mary has to come and spoil it all!"
she exclaimed. He'll find out who
! am now! Oh, we'll! don't suppose
1t matters much now! I've had q no.
ton half dozen times to tell him
everything anyway"
That night she dressed as Miss
Wayland. There was a moon and she
wandered through her garden to an
old stone bench near the wall A man
vaulted lightly over Just then and
stopped when he saw her.
"Marjorie!"
David! Won't you come and sit
down."
Il was on my way to your house.
But this is better. l want to have q
talk and I'm not so much afraid Of
you here"
Afraid"
wait until you hear what l have
IN aav am David pooroon ord hovo