The Wrangell sentinel., 1920-08-26
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THE SILVER CUP

By M. L. WALKER.

three-roomed bungalow in a summer colony of lakeside commuters. Here she hoped to rest from her labors as trained nurse for long, healthful sum. mer and incidentally raise a fine gar den.
 She stood on her small front porch in the midst of 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- cfared. 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 blowing! 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 wagon road.
 "Why, yes," said he, considering the blue gray eyes and chestnut locks be- fore him, q think can get off to blow your little garden tonight after sup per. It's light till pretty late now"
 AS the sunset faded the farmland drove his blow on to her little field and soon the furrows. straight and black. lay open to the night air, enriching its odor.
 "Ever plant before?" he asked as he rested the horses at the end of row.
 "Oh, not a big garden like this." said Louise, noting the well shaped head and the graceful vigor of the fig ure leaning against the horses, bat tered hat in hand. i've planned fine one," she continued, and was surprised to remember later how interesting 1t had been to explain 1t all to MT. Ward. as he gave his name.
 'I'll come over tomorrow and harrow it," he offered as he swung his team into the road at last.
 'Ill be so glad to have you," said Louise, happily, flor 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 silver cup to the winner of the most awards at the fair. As the days went on the vegetables responded to the zealous care Louise expended upon them. MT. Ward offered to take her exhibits to the hall in his wagon, and he suggested entering the great purple pansies and the flaming nas- turtiums also.
 She asked the dairy maid at the farm when she went for the milk if Mir. Ward was about.
 "He's in town today at the office," replied the girl.
 '"The office," thought Louise, "prob- ably his employers; wonder who the owner of the farm is."
 But after supper he came and con- doned about the giant squash leaves. The blight wouldn't hurt the vege- tables, and the drought was nearly over, too, for already the sky was clouding for a tempest.
 And Mir. 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 MT. Ward was announced as chairman of the fair committee, and he gave a dignified 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 Mir. Ward coming toward her as she stood with a group about won- derful silvery COW with little calf be- side her. The others greeted him gayly with the easy introduction of country customs.
 "SO you are the owner of the great farm near our lake," said Mrs. Free man. "I always supposed you were hired man, you attended Miss Nor tons 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. "So you are not hired man | at all?" asked Louise. "No l have an office in town, but | thfs summer I decided to have gar