Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-09

A flower pot rolled on the top Oh
the wall at a 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 lombard
ment come? And then he saw the ter
ra Gotta flower pot at his feet. II
didn't put you there, darn you" he
said giving it kick.
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, not an emotion
of it's own but palpably that of the
wearer. "Oh, did my flower pot hit
you? I'm dreadfully sorry but I
didn't know you were there"
"It's all right said David reassur'
ingly, land I beg your pardon for
saying what did. But didn't dream
there was any one around. The house
over there" nodding in her direction,
has been quiet so 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-
bered that she had on blue morning
dress, big garden apron and sunbon-
net, decided that it was perfectly ma
tural for the Pearsons gardener to
mistake her for an underling. And
after all it suited her purpose admir-
ably. She was tired of the social mill
of a long winter and had retired to
this suburban retreat for rest. She
looked forward eagerly to the long
days Of spring and early summer IN
this place she had loved so we'll as
a child. She felt almost stranger
to the community now, however, for 1t
had been go many years since the
family had 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 family, too,
with boys Of all ages. There was only
one boy she could remember with any
distinctness. He had a collie dog that
used to shake hands with her upon
request and often tried to kiss her
without permission.
The role the gardener gave her in
stantly suggested plan. II she was
to have a summer Of Quietude and
peace without having to entertain call
ers or accept invitations to teas and
things, wouldn't it be perfectly good
plan not 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 f1irtations. And instinct told her
that although the man across the wall
might be Of the working class he was
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 twaddle of handles, and
so she decided that maid she would
remain.
mo, Miss Wayland has-has gone
away" -... .. ....
Pm 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 bon
net, seemed to have a meaning that
his lips dare not utter. tits a pity
you are not to stay" said the eyes,
"even if you do hit stray gardeners
with flower pots" And somehow or
other Marjorie had feeling that they
added: And gardening is lonely bust
ness no matter how we'll you like
: flowers. At least it's much nicer with
some one else around" So she said
kinly: rg
"Oh! the house won't be empty
I'm going to stay. You see, Miss Way
land is-she and THAT Is, she is
very kind to me and she thought
needed change. So here am doing
just what I've longed to do for years
planting flowers" She laughed. and
the joke of it is 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 & nice and
IT'D like it very much" smiled Mar.
jorie. 'Do the Pearsons still live-1