Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-12-20


parlor, was trying desperately to
keep her tears back. With quick
tap, Miss Brown entered.
$50, you've moved down town." she
observed. ~No, ! can't sit down." she
observed. No, can't sit down.
thank you. Just came 10 to see how
you like it here. must say it is sort
OF a difficult place for lone young
woman" Her eyes rested reiectivelyi
upon her unconscious nephew where
he worked tn his garden.
Marthas cheeks famed suddenly.
My aunt b always with uaa. Miss
Brown ahs eaA coadfy.
III there b anything I can do for
you ] hope you viii feel at liberty to
ask" said Miss Maztette. Everybody
has to have one such neighbosl"
Mise Mariettes eyes soon told her
that her scheme bad worked admi-
rabiy. The little gate tn The hne fence
was wired shut. and Martha never sat
on the pleasant little south porch
which faced Delos Browns.
Martha Gilmore, With her broad hat
tied low over her face, worked every
day in the garden
I've got to raise something for win
ter, or we will have to have help from
the town" she whispered over and
over, when her back ached and her
head felt dizzy from her unaccus-
toned labor.
And her garden did grow surpris-
ingly Early one morning Martha
went out to look at the plants which
meaut so much to her.
Heading his Industrious flock among
her newly hoed rows was the strut
ting red rooster she had watched her
neighbor place In his chicken yard
a few days before. All about lay her
tender young plants, torn and uproot-
ed"
"Oh, go away" cried Martha, help
lessly. waving her apron.
why. Miss Gilmore" Delos Brown
stood aghast at the havoc he had IN
Willingly wrought. IT supposed l had
that park chicken-proof."
After much excitement they coaxed
and drove the flock back into their
own territory.
"And now you must let me help you
repair the damages" he declared, for
getting in her apparent distress his
fear Of prying eyes and busy tongues.
To his establishment, Delos found
the girl very quiet and attractive. She
knew a lot about gardening, too and
seemed eager to learn more.
81 declare" he murmured on his
lonely porch of an evening, II declare
can't see why she Is a brazen thing,
as Aunt Marietta seems to think
guess that garden means a great deal
to her-more than It ought to il
| things were comfortable over there
He began thinking anxiously about
the long winter. '"The cottage needs
repairing to make It flvable. l could
do 1t as well as not without much
expense. And l always have more
wood from the farm than I can use
I hope she hasn't heard any OF Aunt
Varieties foolish talk" he thought.
Through the dim twilight he could
see Martha moving about the little
lawn.
Guess I'll 60 over. anyway" he
said aloud, since Aunt Martha's
sharp eyes could not penetrate the
darkness.
II came to inquire about the gar
den," he said. Ill at ease in her pres
ence. There was something fine IN
Martha's manner, even in that hum
BILE kitchen garden.
HOh, It is better than II ever was
before, thanks to you, Mr. Brown. I,
Is really fortunate for me that my
neighbours chickens got into it,"
But / can never quite replace II
Miss Gilmore, and that ia why J
want to do something else for you te
even things up . little. The cottage
needs repairing before cold weather
can do II as we'll as not-in fact.
ought to have done X before lei
you have 1t at all"
"Oh mol" cried Martha "Whas
would Miss Brown sayr
so she has been talking to you =
groaned Delos. Il might have
known It. Oh. you poor little girl
Martha clasped her hands In the
darkness at the tenderness In his
| voice.
Ibid not mind" she whispered
| with q sob.
mot mind?" He took her trem
bling hands In his own To his Joy she
| did not attempt to draw them away
DO you know, Martha" he SAID
very softly. how man feels about
the girl. he loves? He wants to pro
tect her from everything that is un
| pleasant or difficult. That is why ]
cannot endure your living in this poor
little house and working yourself tc
death In this garden. ! am glad the
rsd rooster destroyed 1t, since he
| opened the gate In the line fence. Let
US be married tomorrow, Martha. II
is going to cause sensation, and
we may as well have II all over with
at once. And want you 30 much
dear"
1T is pity she protested, hesitat.
ing.
1T Is not pity" he denied, taking
her in his arms. 1T is love. Mar
tha."
The sewing circle met in Miss
BsoVo's parlors next afternoon.
"nAtna Known md 1nytha 0ilmnra