The Monticellonian., 1917-02-22

- A n~~-a~s@-s it became obvious that Mary was not there, that some lying or evil intel ligences controlled the tilts. At last by taeit consent these sittings were abandoned
 There never were such flowers as grew in the Lassales garden that first summer after Mary's death. And their peach orchard, which had never done well. now blossomed out into a marvel of beauty. Deep, wine-red blossoms covered the young shoots, the strength of the flowers was all concentrated in these peach trees. People came from far and near to look at them And the next year 1t was the same Andrew Garretson, now one of the faculty, obtained the reputation of one who could make anything grow for him"
 It's quite common" I interposed. I've often heard people say that flowers will not grow for them, while others can charm them and have wonderful gardens.
 Doctor Immanuel shot quick glance at me Yes" he answered. Flowers are quite conscious of the personality of those who tend them. But perhaps the most astonishing thing. and one which puzzled ex- perts from various botanical stations, was that, in his presence, the plants actually lost the hehotropic faculty"
 What on earth's that. doctor?' asked Tarrant
 The faculty of turning toward the sun. Plants in window boxes. you may have noticed. invariably turn their backs disdainfully upon their possessors, and point outward toward the light Yet it was affirmed that Garretson's window plants pointed in ward. However, whether this were the case or not, l spoke of the peach orchard, in which all the power that he evoked seemed to be centered.
 So the years rolled on. Garretson was now thirty-fve. His fancee. had she lived, would have been over thir- ty. Mrs. Lassalle had died two years previously, and the old professor. who mourned her less desperately and could not be comforted. suddenly en- deavored to find happiness in life by marrying again Until this time Gar retson had lived with the Lassales- that is to say till the ladys death. and of Tow I FTrI- advent of the new mistress changed all that. Naturally woman does not want her husbands friend, and a prosy fellow at that, as a perpetual boarder. Added to which, the new Mrs. Lassalle conceived a distinct aversion to Garretson So he moved out of the house, and about this time Lassalle, being superannuated. re tired with his wife to little country home some twenty miles away So the long friendship was broken up. Garretson boarded a few blocks dis tant from the old house and lived al most recluse, his only memories those of Mary Lassalle, his only hopes of meeting her again. The new own CT of the Lassalle home, pitying the forlorn man, suggested that he should continue to take care of the garden gladly assented
 Then. very suddenly strange event occurred. In the June of 1892 just when the wonderful peach trees were putting forth little green balls of fruit. they died. Not in a month. or a week; they died in three days Every leaf fell from the shrivelline twigs, the young fruit fell the dead trees stood out desolate against the landscape in early summer And the flowers, that had been so brilliant, be came very ordinary flowers. indeed and never afterward did Garretson possess that power which had been the subject of so much comment.
 Four days after this strange oc currence a telegram was handed to Garretson while he sat in his lonely room in the boarding house. It was from Professor Lassalle and read: Come at once. Ruth is dying and calls for you
 "Garretson arrived ten minutes be fore she died She had given birth to a little girl three days before about the time when the peach trees died When she saw Andrew enter her room she turned to him with all her remaining strength.
 Take her-care for her., she whispered And forgive That was all she could say. Afterward Lassalle told Garretson that with the birth oi the child she had seemed to expert ence sudden revulsion in her feel ings toward Andrew. She could never