The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-12-05
STRATAGEM
BY MILDRED WHITE.

Jack Trowbrldge looked over the
hedge and frowned. 1t was old Mrs,
Brodie's fault he knew-this aloofness
upon the part Of his new and charming
nelghbor. She had been gracious when
he had gone over soon after her ar
rival to return a kitten which had
strayed into his garden. And so exactly
did this young neighbor visualize the
"lady of his Dreams" that Jack had
/ fallen in love at first sight. If he had
been at all skeptical concerning TINS
fact, time had proven him TO be right
The girls piquant face constantly
haunted him. His first morning glance
was cast toward the easement window
| and his last waking thought at night
was of her winsome self. The return
of the kitten was followed by gen
erous bouquet from his garden.
"A bachelors garden" he told her,
informingly.
The girl was pleased.
Perhaps, she suggested, Mr..
Trowbridge would be kind enough to
instruct her in planting of like gar
den; she wanted to live among a riot
of flowers. "There was only herself
and Martha-a sort of companion
housekeeper," she added, and Jack
went home full of bissful antlcipa-
| ton.
1t would be JOY to teach this
| lovely one the mysteries of gardening,
a delightful excuse also to linger at
her side and learn more of the char
acter which attracted him. All the
| happiness of "dreams come true" was
| promised,
Beautiful girls he had known, and
worthy, but not one. who was not
swiftly forgotten. The new neighbor
with her wistful eyes alone refused to
| be erased from memory-While each
and every thought of her brought
hopeful thrill.
The two had become friendly com
panions, laughing and chatting across
the hedge which divided the old house
from Jacks new bungalow, when Mrs.
Brodle called upon the girl and drop
ped her condemning remark.
"Of course" she said, "Jack Trow-
| bridge can't help but have big head,
when every girl who comes TO this
town makes direct set for him"
The new neighbor flushed indig-
nantly at the implication, She, at least
determined TO be beyond that suspi-
cion. Hence the later GOODNESS, which
caused Jacks discontinue.
No studied advance, no courteous at
tention upon his part altered the
! aloofness of the girls manner. His
calls at her house were promptly dis
coura ged--poitely it is true, but dis
couraged, Enthusiastically. The happy
friendliness was gone. The beautiful
dreams of lifetime threatened to be
but dreams, after all
Jack savagely trampled the flowers
in his garden as he strobe to and fro
As final excuse for a visit, he art
fully captured the kitten as it came
through the hedge, and carried it back
to It's owner.
The owner thanked him briefly, With
out even the hope of a smile. She was
not looking over-joyful herself, Jack
reflected. Her eyes seemed piteously
startled as he forced her gaze.
"That fool Brodie wOman!" he NUT
tered, as he retraced his steps.
The next day when Jack returned
from business in his car, he alighted
with difficulty at the gateway.
From thence, his little neighbor,
watching through her porch vines
saw him totter unsteadily with the
help of crutch up his own garden
path. His leg hung limp and one shoe
less foot was heavily swathed in band
ages. Jacks cOld-hearted neighbor
looked for the evening light in the
bungalow window, but none was forth
coming Jacks hOusekeeper-so Mrs.
Brodie told her-had gone home for
a short vacation, Jack having made
arrangements to stay in the city dur
ing her absence.
It was evident that he had met with
an accident, and had been obliged to
come back unexpectedly to his empty
home Hours passed.
"Why," reflected the troubled head
peering through opposite curtains
"did not Jack use his telephone to call
for assistance? Assuredly he had en-
tered the house, and assuredly he must
he there in darkness. Not glimpse
of light showed and the blinds were
up. Neglected, the car still waited In
the roadway. Could it be possible that
he had tainted from pain?
The now thoroughly anxious neigh
Dor called Martha, and sent her across
the garden to make inquiry
"Mr. Trowbridge is lying on a
couch" the woman brought back in
formation. "He says he is suffering,
but that there is nothing l can do"
"What nonsense" the girl cried i'm
patiently, ''for him to lie there alone.
| will have to go over myself"
Jack opened his appealing eyes as
she turned on his sitting room light
and stood reflected in the doorway.
The girls charming face softened,
at sight OF his bolstered bandaged
limb.
"You are hurt" she murmured. "Oh
Jack, is there anything that can dor
The detected lover sat up iOyouSly.