The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-28

was broken with the efforts of the
aeedlings to reach the light. TOO
much Is enough" he cried. and
I stSrted in pursuit. The chase led
him In circles around his garden
q and in dtagonals across II and end
y "a in mass of tangled shoots at
Y he base OF the white lilac hedge
which lined part of the fence, But
hP caught the intruder and, for
her away in burlap bag just emp
tied Of seed potatoes.
Then, after considerable mop.
Z ming OF his brow. he searched in his
rockets for card and pencil and
after a moments deliberation
wrote very plainly the following
aRegret to state the next time
@1rn this bird will feel called
to no so on q platter"
Attaching the card about the
hens neck with a piece OF t%ine ne
had been using to straighten his
gpws, George dropped the hen over
he fence and returned TO his noe
ing.
= The white lilac hedge concealed
from him the greater part Of his
netghhor's yard and when some
fAAEaE AGfAAN -NOAG09 va 49,
kii6r side OF the bushes he at first
{ ps5d no heed. Then, gradually,
Certain rising infection and sever.
al calculations caught his attention.
and he became, in spite OF himself,
aware OF their words. In fact, The
az length, quite shamelessly ceased
hoaing and Inclined his ear very
definitely in the direction OF the
sWeIl2of all things"
ms; fDid you ever?"
~ suppose he thinks
Everyone says hes odd and tliiS
prpvesSit It. But he doesn't mean H.
) He wouldn't dare!"
lied the late OF the hen. Wouldn't
dare kill that old beast that was
Z eating up his garden faster than he
could plant 1t? But bark what were.
lGo right along back and dig up
q Old garden!" Laughter.
n lwo days later, after discovering
the nibbled remains OF the first
spears of the Golden Bantam corn,
George made a neat job Of 1t down
to the plucking and dressing ana
singeing. Then arose the question
~ preBentation. 1t would never do
t44C DAl AAAACA hAS AASN6 =
a1d leave 1t to be discovered.
That would be equivalent to pro.
viding a banquet for the cats In
the neighborhood. No, he must de-
liver 1t in person. And now that
the moment Of his revenge had &C.
tlfaily arrived. George, who was
not by nature vindictive, shrank
from making the most OF 1t. How
ever, he was not one to put his
hand to the pillow, to use season
Sble metaphor, and then turn back.
Y Shortly after dusk, strengthen
ing his resolution with memories
OF his wrongs, his arms purdened
with q platter Gas promised In the
inYitingly ready. for the oven.
sc5eorge peered through the hedge.
stygliight, was watering down a gar
den. Great idea that-keepinG
ones own garden intact by send
ing ones pet hen into somebody's
else's garden.
~ fAhem," he gently invited at
teution. I'm sorry, but | had to
keep my word. Here she Isl" He
Z deposited the platter and turned
quickly away. He had seen the
hose drop suddenly at the sound
Of his voice and had gathered an
iincoherent, "what-who-wh
Then silence, unbroken and deep.
Two mornings later, George lean.
ed on his wheel.hoe and contem.
plated his two-lnch peas with sat.
lsfaction. Peas by the middle Of
June-that was his fond ambition.
HIS beans were doing we'll, too.
green pods for succession, also
some bush limas. He hoped his
n lettuce would head. He must set
y out his Chalks Early Jewel TO.
mato plants.
n beg your pardon, Mr.. Davis,
: hut I'm returning your platter.
And the hen was simply delicious"
She had wonderful voice. Even
In his embarrassment George made
mote Of that. In fact, II he had
I2tkpown the owner Of taat pertu-
fous hen was an enhancing young
thing with blue eyes and brown
,lgold hair and apple blossom cheeks
He was blushing awkwardly. ut
was an objectionable thing to do"
he bIurted forth, land its quite
Z too late to apologize"
1Oh, don't bother about that"
aaid the girl with the sweetest OF
Bmfles. "But tell me, Mr.. Davis,
why are your peas so much taller
IAt1hn ours?"
From that moment dated many
long discussions on peas and other
vegetables and the weather ana
{ tha peace treaty and our national
parks and how much 1t cost to fur.
niHh q home. And the transition,
from one topic to another was Of.
f6Cted so easily and naturally that
neither realized just how 1t came
about. Even Elaine's mother said
ftarward that the Whole thing
smed stpreordained," considering
the hen and all.
George himself gave duo credit
to the hen.
s.Darling,n he murmured, Just
after the blissful moment when
elaine had promised to make a
garden with him every spring for
rest OF their lives, III had
doWn that that Y in one-stepping
bout my garden Has to bring Ine
ma she would be now living In