The Detroit times., 1916-06-19
TheEpening Story
Gardeners Cottage.
copyrighi. 1915. By ". Werner 1,

bed. She had been STOPPING over
the rows OF vegetables since early
morning, and II seemed as II her
stirened bach never could be
Strengthened. The hot sun was hurt.
ing her eyes. too. nut still there was
another hours work ahead OF her
before she cared stop. She pushed
back the checkered sunbonnet from
her damp forehead. She half turned
and stared, AT her little gray house
at the end OF the garden path.
Tiny as n was. II still had an air
OF rest and quiet, although Miss
Lidy knew well that even that look
OF quietness did not mean rest for
her. As she looked up her eyes
fell on the chimneys OF a house
which could be seen at some dis.
lance through cluster OF great
trees. the sun glowing holly on the
red roof.
oh. dear" sighed Miss Lidy, III
resolutely over her eyes and bent
to her work again. How those old
days came back 10 her IA she toiled
on She was not Miss Iidy" then,
she was Miss Aida Wainwright. the
only child OF the wealthiest man In
the little town, and man OF i'm
portance In the county. Her father
and mother had brought her up
most carefully-too carefully. Miss
Lidy realized now, for In their de-
sire to have their daughter gain
position In the eyes OF the towns.
people. they had forced her to be-
come a proud and naughty girl. en-.
tirely lacking In sympathy for those
about her. Indeed. during the years
OF her girlhood she had not been al.
lowed 10 associate with any one on
her own age in the village
Miss Lidy's face flushed as she
thought OF the snobbish way in
which she used to think and speak
OF some OF those same girls. Then
the thoughts came thick and fast
the death OF her father and mother
In the railroad accident, with her
own narrow escape; the settlement
OF the property; the sad news which
came 20 the bereft girl that there
was no property left for her, all the
long. firing process OF the sale OF
the house and furniture, leaving a
pitiful little sum--all this Miss I.idy
had kept buried In her heart for
the last Is years. The little cottage
In which the gardeneg had lived was
all that she could save out OF the
wrcckage. and here she had lived
alone ever since. doing a little sew
ing and raising vegetables for mar
ket She had held herself 40 alooi
from her neighbors during the first
% years OF her life that she never
had felt like drawing near them in
her trouble. although with kindly
hearts they had tried to be friendly
during all the past years OF her
poverty.
Again Miss Lidy Strengthened up
and turned TO bend over an fr
bed. when the garden gate suddenly
clicked. As the STOPPING Hgur"
looked up she saw girl standing
by the fence.
How do you do. Marcia" she
said quietly.
"Oh. Miss Lidy, The greatest
news" Marcia Whites rosy face
was pale with excitement and she
danced up and down as she spoke.
what do you think. Miss Lidy?
James Durkee Is back-awtnl rich
and he's staying with us, He is
fathers age. know. but he's mighty
good looking and so nice to me.
I'm going to take him driving this
afternoon. You know, he was an
old beau OF mothers and they do
say I look like her. ! just guess |
won't have 10 bother with boys like
Bob or Joe any more. Mother said
you used TO know him. too. so I
stopped TO tell you haven't heard
him mention your name. but he's
asked about every one else In town.
My. hut he Is handsome! I've got
to hurry. though, Miss Lidy. and
I'm thankful you finished my new
pink net dress last week. II won't
be too dressy for afternoon, guess.
od-bye"
The trowel slipped from nerve.
less hands. Miss Lidy grasped the
paling OF the low fence. "Jim-Jim
Durkee." she gasped. This was the
door OF her secret hearts chamber
that she never had allowed herself
TO open since those far OF days In
the great house. Again the thoughts
OF the past hour came rushing in a
great food
Jim had been the son OF their
gardener strong, virile boy. who
had little more education than
some OF the village lads and who
had presumed and dared" the
words were Miss Lidy's fathers. 10
lit his eyes toward the heights on
which Miss Aida reigned. Miss
Lidy dropped down on a convent.
ent wheelbarrow under the shade OF