Alma record., 1919-08-14
Over the
Hedge
IN
Copyright. 1919. BY western Nswspaper UniOn.l
BY MILDRED WHITE

Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union)
Rosemary stood on her toes and tried
10 peep over the hedge. But as Rose
mary was small and the hedge high,
She did not succeed.
Rosemary had grown up with a pro-
penSity 10 see the other side Of things.
and seeing" had sometimes led her
into difficulty 1t was because she
nad yearned TO know whether Rob Full
some could continue true To herself un-
der alluring circumstances, that she
had invited the fascinating Bess Wilder
10 visit at her home and be much In
ROb's company. And when later, Bess
had departed, il was evident that Rob's
affection had failed 10 withstand the
test, for he had followed To the home
of Bess as often and as soon as oppor-
tunity permitted. Rosemary promptly
returning his gifts had fancied for a
time that her own heart was broken,
while her unsympathetic family. dryly
suggested n visit TO the home Of Aunt
Ellen. And II was in the village where
Aunt Ellen resided that Rosemary
came during one of her walks, upon
the impossible hedge.
Aunt Ellen. in her various recitals
OF village life. had merely mentioned
the place as old Colonel Hunters.
Rosemary, In the excitement OF her
quest, forgot the sorrow which had
brought her hither, forgot. In fact, all
rules of convention. and climbing high
upon the garden gate, bent over low
TO push back its rusty iron bolt Unin-
vited, she intended 10 enter the closed
garden, and TO acquaint herself with
It's secret.
AS the bolt yielded, the gate swing
ing inward threatened TO make her
lose her balance; but nimbly Rose
mary alighted-and at the very feet OF
the PROSTATE figure Of man. For
moment she drew back fearfully, for
the man resting upon blanket and pill
low looked awesome In his white wrap
pings. His face. too, was CHASTITY
white beneath the bandage which
bound his head.
The mans eyes gave her no welcome
as she looked down upon him, and fret
fully he asked:
"How did you get in?'
Rosemary blushed guiltily.
"Over the gate" she answered.
"My orders were that people should
he barred out" said the young man.
~ prefer TO do my suffering-in ST.
lence."
Rosemary's assurance came back to
her.
But don't you think" she asked,
that one suffers mOre-that wayf |
mean" she FASTENED 70 add. that II
is much better TO have ones atten-
ton diverted from sorrow or suffering
If only for time
The man stared up at her. then wryly
smiled.
you are certainly diverting,' he
said. For five minutes ! watched
your burglarlike experiments with my
gate lock. and your easy descent over
my no trespassing sign, only 10 find
that you have come TO give me ad-
vice In the end. Well, when a fellow
can't move his leg and his head is
banged up generally just what mode
of diversion would you adviser
First" Rosemary calmly suggested,
at might help you 10 tell some one all
about IT,"
Nothing 10 tell" the man answered
crisply. "War-that's all. Made them
A. oly sN olA hara
10 recuperate Have the best of care.
but everything and everybody seems
10 get on my nerves. So ! sent EN-
all away, and lie here looking up at
the sky. It's just a mater Of time
before I'll be all right. the doctors say
AS if time isn't the hardest thing a
helpless man can bear
Rosemary nodded understandingly
II know" she said. "its wanting
10 get on the other side of the wall
that makes the time SO long And.
while you've been talking I've been
thinking that perhaps ! could help you
10 make the time pass. | know OF
many original ways to entertain an in
valid and"
"Orlginal. all right, I'll bet" chuclted
the soldier. That's the first time he
said suddenly. that I've come near 10
a laugh I'm months"
81 know. then" Rosemary said de-
lightedly, "why had To see the other
side of this hedge" And then, seated
upon the grass before him. she told
the amused man of her old curious
propensity and the sorrow 20 which il
had led.
But strangely enough, like Rose
mary's family, the invalid refused 10
view her sorrow seriously.
"In cheering me along" he said,
"you may help 20 divert your own sad
heart. think you had better come
again tomorrow"
II was an eager Rosemary who later
burst In upon Aunt Ellen.
"You never told me-" she accused,
that the towns war hero-who had
won that much-talked-of medal
lives in the mysterious Hunter place.
I should love to have met him."
Meeting him." Aunt Ellen replied,
"is out of the question. Young Rich
ard Hunter since his return refuses 10
see his nearest friends: Colonel Hunt
or Is quite distressed about IL. Even
the nurse whom they sent out from
town fails to arouse Richard from his
morbid state. But. my dear" Aunt
Ellen broke off abruptly. what has