Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-24
ADAMS GARDEN.
a NOVEL
P II (Contintued.y.
NJ WILCOX PUTNAM

II believe you are right" said
Adam. Eat any rate Y shall not tor
ment myself for the moment. and the
mignonette must go to market today
II at ALI" (
And glad Of the excuse. for action,
he went about the lovely task of GATH
erlng in and packing his fragrant
harvest before the dew should be off
Il. AS he worked there came to him,
perhaps for the first time, the full
realization Of how dearly he had come
to love this place hat was his own
creation. Nodding now with flower
and vine on every wall; full to over
flowing with riotous blossoms in the
wide beds that lay stretched before
him like a gorgeous patchwork quilt,
midst Of the city's growth OF steel and
granite, it was a unique achievement
and-his own! All hat was best in
him had there come into being; stir
ring deep and quietly and at first al
most unrecognizable IN the secret
recesses Of his soul; and from that,
coming slowly into the light. pushing
up from the dark with the bulbs Of his
own planting struggling to a new un-
Outstanding Of the world. and BIOS
soming now in the warmth of a love
that vas like the sun for clean
strength and grandeur. And what
was to become Of the garden now?
For it was no place. to bring Eve; the
rough shack was no dwelling for
her! That she would come to it for a
home if he said so, he never doubted.
But he could 8 let her make such
a sacrifice. He might get a real farm
in the country-somehow-a place
with a real house, and acres that
could be made to bloom. He must do
something better for her sake. But
what?
This question followed him to the
fower-market, and echoed in his
brain as he bargained and traded.
lifting his wares for inspection amid
the fragrant, bustling mart; while he
talked with the bediamonded mer-
chants from the Avenues" and chat
fed with the truckmen who bore in
the great bales of ferns upon their
straining shoulders. what Shall I
do with the garden? What shall 1 do
for Eve?" The question sang itself
ceaselessly. He noted the incongru-
Gus throng, particularly 9ne group of
young fellows who lounged in a door
wearing a checked suit, jostled him.
as though by intent, but failed to
arouse his anger. Nothing could have
angered him today!
He talked with the liquid-eyed
Italian boys who came to buy stale
flowers to sell upon the streets, and
heard their jokes, and naive merri-
ment; but all the while the question
was in his heart, in his head. The
drayrnen came from Long Island, the
wheels of their wagons heavy with
loan, their burden Of flowers fragile
and sweet. Adam admired, compared,
decried. boasted and inquired, going
carefully over what they had bought,
but still the question sang itself on.
He, could not do this thing forever.
a house with white ceilings and gay
chintzes, and it would be his joy to
find them for her; but where?
He was paid of-a handsome price
for what he had brought He
looked at it and wished that it might
buy a ring, but>it would only purchase
food for a week. He shook his head
over it, slipped it into his pocket, and,
with the empty baskets upon his
arm, took the Elevated Railway
honeward. And now the question be-
came u~nbearably persistent. He must
have a solution! He must consult
with someone who could help him in
this all-important matter. No use to
talk to Kipp, who would only reply
with cats. None of the others up in
was only one person who could-if
he would. And that was Monroe.
The thought of his guardian, which
had erstwhile roused'only his sense oil
pride, and stiffened his back against
any bending to plead for assistance,
, row suddenly seemed like a. haven OF
refuge. Monroe would help. Monroe
would understand that he, Adam, had
made himself another person through
Eve and the good, sweet earth. And
Monroe help them to go on to-
gether. He would call up the old
gentleman at once. Now he did no,
appear to Adams memory as the
~severe-faced Judge who had sen him
out penniless to make his own fight
but rather as the benevolent being
who had mercifully caused him so tc
do. and who wore the kindly face OF
n who had been the giver Of silver
coins to the adoring, h~alf-fearful boy
OF years ago. Y
Fired by this idea, and by the urg.
ent need to deal with his new. prob.
lem. Adam descended at his station
and sought the nearest drug store
which bore the blue and white insignia
he was in search of. And when he
had found It, and wendell his way
past the maze of irrelevant article.
with which the druggist had encum.
bered his shop in the apparent vair
hope Of entictng the neighborhoot
into %vicarious purchasings, he called
the familiar number, and waited Aitf
quickly beating heart for the an
swering Click which would com
mence the renlodelling Of his fate
Soon came a familiar voice.
lis that you, Miss Krause? h,
said, knowing well it was. She was
blonde Of no mean attraction, and h.
had laughed at her. leaning above be
on top Of the switchboard, many .
time in the days.past. He heard Y
gasp of incredibly as she-recognizes
his tones. Y y
Don't say anything aloud" sal,
he. But it is Adam Van Week
Hush! Yes, I know I'm thought to b,
dead. but I'm not-takeIi 1t from me
Now. l don't want anyone but Mr.
Monroe to know I'm calling. Abso
Iutely mo one! Understands Jus
say yes or no.. please. That's it
Now, is Mr.. Monroe there? Out o
town for a few days? on, dammit!
beg your, pardon! I'm very anxiou
to see him. I'll call him again. Yes
tell him I called UP, and tell hin
where I am" Tile gave the address.
Say I nm apxious to see him as 500,
as possible. It's important. But a
you value you life. don't tell anyon,
else. Three days. you think? Not
word to anyone else! That'sla goo
girl. Goodby!" g
He scowled as he hung up. the re
ceiver. Well. that must be post
poned. It was a pity, for he woul,
II have liked to tell Eve that afternoo]