Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-26
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
BEHIND THE ROSE HEDGE
BY j. s. BROOKS


merry gray eyes seemed to dance be-
tween the lines of the letter. Coming
back to earth, she shrugged her shoul
GERS and puckered up her pretty mouth.
Absurd! !" Lena overheard. letting
visions like those enter your brain -
Yet that same little sly mink selected
an upper back room overlooking a Ger =
tain rose garden, where she nurscd her
sprained ankle-just to catch n glimpse
of-the roses. of course.
And one day she actually threw a
weighted message right into the garden
and 1t was picked up by the man whose
name the note bore.
1t said: "Where is the grouch-still
smoking behind the hedge, while you
tend his roses? I'm awful lonesome.
may sit near the wall Wednesday if
they'll let me-"
Artful little thing. as if she didn' t
surmise the answer that followed:
I'll be there if you'll reply to my
line on June, etc. Crouch still smokes
in the same place. Never mind, hes
deaf! I"
SO it came about that girl distract :
ingly pretty, in pale blue gown, hair
glistening in the bright June sun. eyes
shining with expectation sat one aft :
ernoon beneath the rose WALL
"Oh. what is so rare as day in
| June ~ sang musical voice on the
other side of the wall.
Back came the answer:
1T would be If Lena were all in
tune"
A laughing mass of masculine hu-
nor and sunshine landed plump at her
side and. bowling low, presented her
with an immense bunch of the choicest
roses.
"Oh. I thank you, Mr.-Mr.--why,
isn't it funny, I've never heard your
name. Mr.. -"
Lindsay. at your service, fair
| Lena supplied the man. Excuse
me. that's all the name I've heard"
LENA Everhard. Listen. My
brother Ted comes next week. You'll
like him. They may let me go to meet
him."
Lindsay's eyes danced at the sight
of her.
Say, that's great Boob that |
was to cause that sprain. I'll make it
up to you"
Make it up-how?'
On. in roses or-SOme way
But the crouch may not like it. BY
the way. he must be pretty easy on
you. You seem to have so much time
you know"
Hes not grouchy when one knows
him. Stone walls don't make a Crouch.
Say. wouldn't it be jolly if he'd pull
down this wall-just grow the rose
hedge?"
Lena drew in her breath ccstaticallv.
! 'Why. it would be a rose heaven -
she breathed
Before she could add another word
lively shout of "IIev. little sis :"
sounded from the gateway.
'Ted. It's Ted. and can't go to
him. she trcmblcd. But the soldier
boy had vaultcd over the gate.
by all that flies high in the air.
Burton-zJm Where did you come
from. old fellow? I should judge by
1ena's pink cheeks that you were old
There sat Ted's sister, wide eyed.
open mouthed. with not one sign of
welcome for Ted.
Burton. Jim" she gasped. and sat
gazing into the smiling. mischicvous-
eyes of the man at her feet. Then at
his garden suit.
"Thcn-you are-.thc crouch behind
the hedge-you. the owner Of the roses
and ugly wall-and Ted's-paragon? ?"
At that the paragon" roared, as he
replied:
James Lindsay Burton at your
service. ma am. and owner of the roses.
anG-you. l hope-some day" he added
audaciously.
Ted threw his cap high in the air,
yelling:
'Say yes, sis. Best fellow in the
world"
But all the girl said was "And you.
too. in it, Ted? Come here and get
your kiss of welcome"
At which Burton locked so longing
ly at them, the irrepressible brother
shouted:
Yours won't be long on the way,
jim :"
SILLY" blushed Ted's sister.
The next complete novelette-"The
First Love-"