The Detroit times., 1916-06-19
TheEDening Story
Gardeners Cottage.
Copyright. 1919 By ". Werner o

Miss l.idy Was wedding the onion
bed. She had been STOPPING over
the rows OF vegetables since early
morning. and Il seemed as IL her
Strengthened. The hot sun was hurt.
ing her eyes. too. put 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 II was. II still had an air
OF rest and quiet. although Miss
OF quietness did not mean rest for
her As she looked up her eyes
fell on the chimneys OF house
which could be seen at some dis.
tance through a cluster OF great
trees. the sun glowing hotly on the
red roof.
"Oh. dear" sighed Miss Lidy. III
only" She pulled the sunbonnet
resolutely over her eyes and bent
10 her work again. How those old
days came back 10 her az she toiled
on. She was not Miss Lidy" then,
she was Miss Aida Wainwright, the
only child OF the wealthiest man in
the little town, and a man OF i'm.
nnrfaura In county IIar tnth a,.
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 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 TO associate with any one OF
her own age in the village.
Miss Lidy's face flushed as she
thought OF the snobbish way In
which she used 20 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 10 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 Lidy
had kept buried In her heart for
the last 25 years. The little cottage
all that she could save out OF the
wreckage. and here she had lived
alone ever since. doing a little sew.
ing and raising vegetables for mar
ket She had held herself 30 aloof
from her neighbors during the frst
rs years OF her life that she never
had felt like drawing near them in
her trouble. although with kindly
hearts they had tried ts he friendly
during all the past years OF her
poverty.
Again Miss LIdy straightened up
and turned to bend over aner
bed. when the garden gate suddenly
clicked. As the STOPPING ngurs
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-awful rich
and he's staying with u.s. He is
fathers age know. but he's mighty
good looking and so nice 10 me.
I'm going TO take him driving this
afternoon. You know, he was an
old beau OF mothers and they do
say | 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 |
stopped TO tell you ! haven't heard
him mention your name. but he's
asked about every one else In town.
My. but 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.
Goodbye
The trowel slipped from nerve
less hands. Miss Lidy grasped the
raling OF the low fence. "Jim-Jim
Durkee." she gasped. This was the
door OF her secret hearts chamber
that she never had allowed herself
10 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--a strong. virile boy. who
had a little more education than
SOME OF the village lads and who
had presumed and dared" the
words were Miss Lidy's fathers. TO
lift his eyes toward the heights on
which Miss Aida reigned. Miss
Lidy dropped down on a convent.
ent wheelbarrow under the shade of