Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-12
H SILVER CUP

BY M. L. WALKER.

she hoped to rest from her labors as a
trained nurse for a long, healthful sum-
mer and incidentally raise a fine gar
den.
She stood on her small front porch
IN the midst of a litter Of household
goods and watched the furniture van
tilt up over the hump in the road and
disappear down the hill.
"If three rooms can hold all these
things, it's time to prove It." she de-
clared, and set about her moving in
with energy.
Lights began to twinkle in the little
bungalows around her as she sat down
at last in the tidy little house and
looked about.
But the plowingi Last years mat
ted grass covered the 10000 square
feet" that went with her camp. She
| called at the great white farmhouse
on the slope of the hill, to ask advice
the next morning. A workman met
her, evidently a farmland, who was
driving the farm horse out on the
WACO road.
"Why, yes" said he, considering the
blue gray eyes and chestnut locks be-
fore him, 81 think l can get off to pillow
you little garden tonight after sup
per. It's light till pretty late now"
As the sunset faded the farmland
drove his pillow on to her little field and
soon the burrows, straight and black,
lay open to the night air, enriching Its
odor.
Ever plant before?" he asked as
no rested the horses at the end of
a row.
"Oh, not a big garden like this"
! said Louise, noting the well shaped
| head and the graceful vigor Of the fg-
ure leaning against the horses, bat
tered hat In hand. "Tve planned a fine
one" she continued, and was surprised
to remember later how interesting 1t
had been to explain 1t all to Mr.. Ward,
as he gave his name.
"T1l come over tomorrow and harrow
it" he offered as he swung his team
into the road at last.
am be so glad to have you," said
Louise. happily. "for I can hardly wait
to get my little farm started"
The garden grew apace. The flourish
ing potatoes nodded a sea of blossoms,
the corn was blithely green, butterflies
lowered over the tender peas. Already
the posters of the county fair orna-
mented the store windows and bulletin
boards. All the neighborhood was in
cited to greater efforts yet by the Of
fer of a silver cup to the winner of
| the most awards at the fair. AS the
days went on the vegetables responded
to the jealous care Louise expended
upon them. Mr.. Ward offered to take
her exhibits to the hall in his wagon,
and he suggested entering the great
purple pansies and the flaming mas
turtiums also.
She asked the dairy maid at the
Ward was about.
"He's In town today at the Office"
replied the girl.
'"The Office" thought Louise, prob
ably his employers; I wonder who the
owner of the farm is"
But after supper he came and
doned about the giant squash leaves.
The blight wouldn't hurt the vege-
tables, and the drought was nearly
oyer, too, for already the sky was
clouding for a tempest.
And Mr.. Ward handled her treas
ures carefully and appreciated the
beauty of their arrangement.
You can't help getting some prizes
with these Jewels" he assured her.
She went up with the neighbors on
the early train next day to hear the
opening speeches. To her great sur
prise Mr.. Ward was announced as
| chairman of the fair committee, and
he gave a dignifed and interesting
speech of welcome and then introduced
the others on the platform.
When the gay luncheon party Of the
neighborhood was over, and the after
noon had begun to wane, and all the
| winners of honors In the lake commu
nifty had compared their results, she
saw Mr.. Ward coming toward her as
| she stood with a group about a won
| derful silvery cow with a little calf be-
| side her. The others greeted him gayly
with the easy Introduction Of country
customs.
$50 you are the owner of the great
| farm near our lake." said Mrs. Free
man. ~ always supposed you were
a hired man. you attended Miss Nor
toms garden so diligently"
well, there's NO disgrace In hiring
| out to help the neighbors, I'm sure.
| Mrs. Freeman" he replied,
They went over toward the office
| quarters. $50 you are not a hired man
at ALL" asked Louise.
"No, I have an ONCE in town. but
| this summer / decided to have a gar
! den Of my own, SO ! came up to my
farm for the summer for a change. You
don't mind my telling you about your
| mistake In taking me for the hired
man, do you" He stopped at the
lower step and looked ut her anx-
iously.
'No," said Louise happily. "Now
that I've won the awards and the sill
yer cup I won't scold about anything"
The judges were already descending
the stairs to meet her. There was
only a minute left, but he made good
use of 1t.
sand will you let me drive you home
tonight-Louiser"
"Yes." whispered Louise. turning to
greet the judges.