The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-08

LAD peen tleQ ana the Dali came tum.
bling down to her. She knew no more
about the person above her than she
did before.
1t was man, however, and that man
was much amused at the request to
climb on and surreptitiously watched
the white hand below tying cross bars
Of cord to the two uprights he had
made for her. The hands looked all
too white and frail for girl who was
spending the hot weather in the city.
! Captain McGill, of the Gordon High.
Ianders, returned to his adopted home,
IN America, from the battlefield, felt
that the possessor of those hands
! should be at the seaside in a soft satin
trock with huge sunshade.
Had he seen more than the hands
lie would have been even more firmly
convinced But Susies frock was OF
most serviceabe Bingham, destined to
defy constant scrubbings at the steam
laundry. Captain McGill missed much
in seeing Susie's hands for she was de-
c!ded fair TO look upon and more than
a snare for the big Scotchman's heart.
His writings for the magazines and
newspapers would either have Jagged
hopelessly or spurted ahead with new
inspiration according to the way OF
battle.scarred heros brain Tiff he
had but seen Susie of the window.box
garden. He treasured the flowers on
his writing table and hoped one day
tc bump into the girl herself in the
...Cation time arrived Tor Susie. A
sadly needed two weeks in the noun
tains was planned with joyful an
ticipation. She worried about the care
OF her little garden and realized that
she would have to be at the mercy Of
Gods good rain just like all farmers
if her garden was to remain green
Without rain 1t would wilt and die
long before she would return. Even
so, she could not remain at home to
care for her garden. Her mirrow told
her frankly that her cheeks were more
than pale and her eyes listless. She
packed small wardrobe quickly and
made all arrangements for her trip.
Capt. McGill, the man in the studio
above, happened by lucky chance to
see Susie descend the steps with her
suit case and in a flash realized that
ne wanted very. very much. to know
her.
/ He didn't know Tor second whether
OF not to make most perfect idiot OF
himself and rush out, follow her, pur.
chase a ticket to the same place to
which she went and track her to the
very hotel in which she expected to
spend her vacation. But McGill de.
cided to keep his head on his shoulders
and just trust to fate. Consequently
lie remained at the window while
Susia disappeared toward the stage
that carried her to the railway station
McGill felt decidedly lonesome when
Susia had gone from the studio build.
ing, even though he had never spoken
with her. Her presence seemed to
nave entered into the Scotsman's
heart, there to remain. He looked
down each day at her small garden
and it was only few days after her
departure before he realized that IL
the products were to be saved for her
return he must find some way of
watering them. The thought that
Susie's wellcared-for war garden
might fade and die was appalling to
MCGill. Her loss would be his loss.
So after deliberate thought the hero
from the battlefield contrived by ex-
tended watring can by means of his
bath spray and long-nozzled can.
| The rubber was sufficient long all
but to reach the garden roots. Each
right after dark MCGill watered that
small garden as if it were the fodder
for an entire army of cattle or men.
He waited for dark lest any passer-
by see him ana laugh at his folly.
When Susie returned, Drowned and
feeling greatly benefited for her holt
day her first glance upon rounding
| gardens fate. She knew from reports
that scarcely a drop OF rain had fal
len in the neighborhood. When she
sew her precious beans, peas and
flowers green and blooming she was
curiously puzzled, but delighted in no
! small degree.
1t so happened that McGill again
stood at the window when Susie came
homeward and his Scotch heart re.
jciced. He knew that by fair means
or foul he was going to become more
than merely acquainted with that
small neighbor Of his.
1t was toward evening when he
heard soft knock at his door. He
opened 1t and there stood Susie her.
self with dainty and very tiny basket
OF fresh pulled peas and beans and
few colorful flowers on the top.
She blushed beautifully when she
saw that her upstairs neighbor was
man and she felt quick pity when
she saw that he had lost one leg.
The reason for the muffled footsteps
came wildly into her consciousness.
He had returned from the war with
clutches, and was only now beginning
to handle them easily.
"Oh," she said swiftly, 81 brought
you up these vegetables from my
tiny garden, but, being a man, l sup.
pose you can't cook them. some |