The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The japanese Garden.
BY LEONARD 1. HESS.
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate,)

BY LEONARD L. HESS.
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
She had prayed as fervently as the
boys own family that he might recov.
er, and, perhaps, during the crisis her
voice had been raised in a fervor sur.
passing that Of all the rest. So when
the boys sister informed her that the
boy would pull through and that he
was, in fact, already out of danger,
smile Of triumph flickered on her
lips and she turned. her eyes heaven.
ward as II his recovery had been a
special dispensation of Providence for
her alone The boy was twenty-five;
she was thirty-eight.
Her slight figure pressed on its way
through the crowds. Her brow, usual.
ly clear and serene under the hair
streaked with gray, was now furrowed
and under her large hat her eyes tSone
brightly. What gift should she send
Larry Holden for his conyalescence?
He was fond of reading-but almost
every one would send books. She
pressed her way to shop window
flashing with novelties. A meer.
schaum pipe? No Larry must not
smoke after an attack of pneumonia.
She shivered at the idea OF tempting
him with 1t. She peeped from window
to window, perplexed by the search.
at last hsr eyes lit on Japanese gar
den and she gave gasp OF delight as
she came TO quick conclusion, which
left logic quite PROSTATE behind her.
She was very partial to Japanese gar.
dens: so Larry must be partial to
them, too!
A sleek little Jap bowed her into the
cool resesses of the shop, dimly green
with the leaves Of multitudinous small
plants. She looked about her and then
selected her garden. It was rather
bare, not particularly Oriental, and
she was not satisfied with It. Her
thin hands flickered as she pointed
from one object TO another with which
to embellish 1t and the little Jap, smil.
Ing placidly, added second dwarf
tree, another bridge, the shiny yellow
bulb OF sacred narcissus and a page.
da atop pebbled hill. He worked with
deft fingers, assuring her that the gar.
den looked now for all the world like
bit OF Japan. She smiled, proud OF
having hit upon THIS present. Larry
had always talked great deal about
the Orient. He had never been In the
East and once she had laughed at his
passion for 1t, telling him that he must
be the reincarnation of Hindu. And
very seriously he had answered: eyes
| shouldn't wonderi She recollected
this now. gazing at the garden. She
gave Larrys name and address, paid
the Jap in a futter Of excitement, and,
again congratulating herself on the fe.
licity Of the gift, hurried from the dim
shop into the street, gay with the sun.
shine OF spring.
She was the friend OF Larry's Oldest
sister, and Larry himself was yery
fond OF her. He was the only man
who was fond Of her. as she knew well
enough. Larry was In her thoughts
constantly. In beginning, she had felt
toward him as toward young brother,
but 1t was not long before there came
a subtle change. she forgetting that
she was thirty.eight and he only TWEEN.
ty.two. At least, she no longer felt
this difference between them.
1t was shock to find how thin hts
face looked on the white pillow. The
face was as white as the pillow itself,
and the eyes in 1t were large. But the
fever had gone out Of them, leaving
them tranquil, while the firmly press.
ed mouth told how the boy was fight.
Ing his way back to health. His thick,
golden hair, like child's, formed a
sort OF halo around his head. There
was but feeble strength In thefhand
with which he clasped Celia Darrow's
own.
Hello. Celia-awfully glad to see
you! He held her hand and gazed up
at her. Thanks awfully for that. He