The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-04-26
Betty's
War Garden
By MIRA E. SMITH
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)

Betty dug savagely at huge weed
whose roots refused to come up. Red
and perspiring, at length she straight
ened up and tossed it triumphantly on
the weed heap. Just then an auto horn
sounded and gay voices called:
Betty! Oh, Betty Mason! Come
here"
Betty hesitated in dismay, glancing
. at her earth-stained dress and hands,
and thinking ruefully Of her tumbled
hair Then, as she saw no way out
she advanced to the machine.
Within were two girls in dainty sum-
mer costume, who gazed in plying
amusement at the slender khaki-clad
figure with its bright face. One ex-
claimed gaily:
Behold the farmeretter' ~
The other girl spoke sharply: For
heaven sakes, Betty, don't make a
fright Of yourself getting sunburned
and actually dirty out in that garden.
Hurry up and get ready to come with
us for a ride. This is Lieutenant Clay
ton, who is anXions to meet the farmer
cite we talk about so much Bob and
Jack made us promise to persuade you
to complete our party. Don't you dare
say you can't go"
Betty flushed miserably as she met
the young officers keen gray eyes,
feeling that no detail of her disrepu-
table appearance had escaped them.
Her brown eyes were troubled as she
shook her head firmly.
Il can't Katherine. You mustn't
tempt me- l would be delighted to go
with you if / could leave my hOeing.
But the weeds will smother my pOta-
toes and beans if don't hoe them this
week. And then, there is canning
"Betty Mason, you are perfectly alb
surd when you could afford to hire
that kind of work done, and you might
be knitting for the Red Cross"
"But / don't like to knit" retOrted
Betty. "And I do love to work in the
garden, so I am doing my bit here"
"a very important bit, too" inter
posed Lieutenant Clayton smilingly. 1T
may sound ungrateful, but If we sol
diers had to take our choice between
mufflers or helmets and a square meal
we would surely take the square
meaI!"
Katherine pouted and, glancing at
her charming white hands, asked hast
lily, Surely you don't expect all girls
are going to toll at such dirty work as
farming? / am certain / never could
stand it."
1--WE don't expect the lilies to do any
thing but look beautiful. Miss Mason
and are of different stuff AS a farm
er myself from the middle West / can
sympathize with her. wonder" add
cd the lieutenant slowly, 'if couldn't
suggest a solution of our difficulty.
Suppose you girls go on with Bob and
Jack and leave me to assist Miss Ma
son with her hOeing. l am sure we can
finish by noon time, and you can come
back for us, and We'll spend the rest
of the day with you. Won't you ac-
cept helper, Miss Mason"
Betty was too surprised to more than
gasp in amaZement.
"But you couldn't 1t wouldn't do
to work In garden in that uniform" "
"This uniform means l am in the
service of Uncle Sam to help him beat
the Huns, whether l dig trenches in
France, or dig weeds in the garden
here. Please may help you? really
can hOew
1t was settled In spite of Betty's pro-
tests, and the others drove of, prom
Using to return at noon, while her new
assistant, stripping off coat and hat,
went speedily to work. She soon found
he had spoken the truth about his
ability and, although she worked rap
idly, he quickly Outstripped her.
Before noon the hOeing was complet-
ed and Betty had changed to a pale
green dress, looking like a rose with
her pink cheeks and yellow hair.
The others returned and soon were
all enjoying the swift motion Of the
car and the cooling breezes.
Lieutenant Clayton found frequent
opportunities to renew his acquaint.
ance with Betty'S war garden and its
faHnerette. He told her about his
Western farm and of his plans for ii
when the war was over. He shared
his worries with her over the difficulty
of finding a manager vino would take
a real interest in it and carry out his
plans until his return.
At last the time drew near when he
was to CO. He called on Betty one
morning and announced that he had
decided on a new manager for his
farm. Betty was at once interested
and asked If he had secured q good
one.
az think So" answered the Heuten.
ant, with his old twinkle. 81 am sure
that have selected a good gardener
as I have had a very good chance to
Judge the new managers work from
personal observation. All am anx,
ious about is whether she will accept
the Mace"