Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-24

I
to attend the celebration.
/ uening Story
71E jzPzNEsE GARDEN.
BY Leonard L. Hess.
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
She had prayed as fervently as the
boys own family that he might re-
cover, and, perhaps, during the crisis
her voice had been raised In a fervor
SURPRISING 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 tlickered
on her lips and she turned her eyes
heavenward as II his recovery had
been a special, dispensation Of Provi-
dence 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
shone brightly. What gift should she
send Larry Holden for his conval-
escence? He was fond OF reading
but almost every one would send
books. She pressed her way to shop
window flashing with novelties. A
meerschaum pipe? No. Larry must
not smoke after an attack Of pneu-
monia. She shivered at the idea Of
tempting him with it.. She peeped
from window to window, perplexed
by the search. At last her eyes lit
on a Japanese garden and she gave
q gasp of delight as she came to q
quick conclusion, which left logic
quite PROSTATE behind her. She was
very partial to Japanese gardens; so
Larry must be partial to them, too!
A sleek little Jap bowed her into
tho cool recesses Of the shop, dimly
green with the leaves Of multitudinous
small plants. She looked about her
and then selected her garden. 1t was
rather bare, not particularly oriental,
and she was not satisfied with 1t. Her
thin hands fiickered as she pointed
from one object to another with
which to embellish 1t and the little
Jap. smiling placidly. added second
dwarf tree, another bridge the shiny
yellow bulb of sacred narcissus and
pagoda atop a pebbled hill. He
worked with deft fingers, assuring her
that the garden looked now for all the
world like a bit of old Japan. She
smiled, proud of having hit upon this
present Larry had always talked 9
great deal about the orient He had
never been in the east and once she
had laughed at his passion for 1t, tell
ing him that he must be the reincar-
nation of Hindu. And very seriously
he had answered: Eyes, I shouldn't
wonder!" She recollected this now,
gazing at the garden. She gave
Larry's name and address, paid the
Jap in futter Of excitement, and,
again congratulating herself on the
felicity of the gift. hurried from the
dim shop into the street. gay with the
sunshine of spring.
She was the friend of Larrys old
lest sister, and Larry himself was very
fond of her, as she knew we'll enough.
Larry was in her thoughts constantly.
In beginning, she had felt toward him
as toward a young brother, but 1t was
not long before there came subtle
change, she forgetting that she was
jthirty-eight and he only twenty-five.
At least, she no longer felt this diff
ference between them.
| It was q shock to find how thin his
face looked on the white pillow. The
face was as white as the pillow itself
and the eyes in it were large. But the
fever had gone out of them, leaving
them tranquil, while the firmly pressed
mouth told how the boy was fight
ing his way back to health. His thick
golden hair, like a childs, formed a
sort of halo around his head. There
was but feeble strength in the hand
with which he clasped Celia Darrow's
Town. -,'
Hello, Celia-awfully glad to see
you!" He held her hand and gazed
up at her. Thanks awfully for that"
He nodded toward table at his side.
On the table stood the Japanese
garden with it's dwarf trees and
bridges and pagodas. Clear water
sparkled among the pebbles and the
|sacred narcissus was putting forth a
tender yellow green shoot.
"You like it," Her voice thrilled.
Splendid! I've had it placed there
you see-close, where can always
look at it. I've been looking at it ever
since it came. How thoughtful you
are, Celia!"
4 She turned quickly away.
i A breeze, tinged with the odor OF
fresh blossoms from the park, stirred
Through the window. rustling the
Leaves of book open under Larry's
hand.
4 You've been reading? Shall read
Ito you now?"
] tits the Arabian Nights. He