Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-12-09
PETE
BY MoLLIE MATHER


the young man seated before her. He
was an Idle. good looking young man,
and as Dora's petulance merely added
10 her charms, he smiled good humor-
edly.
"Well, what's the afliction nowf
New car not turned orr to be all as ex-
pected, or has Phipps developed dis.
temperg'
The new car" Dora answered crisp
~ rs all that was represented. And
Phipps is healthy dog. The trouble
is, wish Aunt Celesta had willed her
Ealuables, (meanng house and garden)
TO some other dependable relation. The
gift to me was unexpected because
Aunt Celesta and never did get along
well. And she hasn't left money
enough TO properly care for the place,
which, under the condition of legatee,
| am obliged to occupy Look at that
lawn, Bert;S Barlow, grass so TAN and
bushy one can scarcely walk through
1t, and no man to cut Ii down. Why
don't you prove yourself a friend in
need, and bring out the lawn mowerI
The exercise would do you good.
Bert Barlow glanced ruefuny down
his immaculate white flannels.
Wouldn't do the suit any good" be
objected, anyway / am out here for
vacation. What's the matter with
asking the fellow across the way to
come over and NOW this grass when
he Is through with that job over there
Dora hopefully regarded the khaki
clad figure, busily troweling the gar
den beds opposite.
Il am afraid" Dora said, shat the
people over there hire him regularly.
| Thornton is the name on their mail
box. / have not met Mrs. Thornton,
but she is sweet-faced silvery-haired
old lady, who frequently comes out to
give the man directions regarding the
! pruning of trees and SO FORTH
| Dora crossed the dusty highway and
| presented herself to the laborer. Il
would like to engage you," she an
nounced, ito NOV my lawn--the gar
| den opposite have also other odd
jobs for you to do, if you work out
/ by the day"
The man Strengthened from HIS task.
He was tall and lissome, his dark eyes
gravely regarded Dora, while he
brushed the hair from his forehead
with a grimy hand.
II am the new tenant of the Har-
mon house," she explained, "when viii
you be able to come over and work
for me?''
The mans eyes We're still specu-
lative. "Well I've got lot here TO
finish," he began.
Tomorrow them Dora's tone was
imperative.
The man smiled in sudden surrender.
His white teeth flashed against the
tanned brown of his face.
Tomorrow then" he agreed.
BERTHE was lollingr on the veranda
the following morning, when Dora's
workman reported for duty. He still
wore the dirty khaki suit, and set
to work with a will. She went with
him to hunt the cythe and mower with
! the garage and admired the free easy
swing of his arms as he worked.
Bertie's incident inactivity fretted
her more than usual Berthe was be-
coming each day more embarrassing.
Dora was quite sure now that ssse
could never marry him. His visit TO
the country had proven the fact.
IF you please" called the workman,
will you show me where to hang the
hammock beneath the trees?"
| Dora went TO show him, and when
the hammock was placed she sat in
| Ii, and explained-while the man stood
looking up into the branches-just how
she would like the tree trimmed. And
as he got out his pruning knives. he
talked to her respectfully, yet with
pleasing humor. concerning the cum
tryside and Its residents.
Dora was utterly astonfshed when
the noon whistle blew and quite In
different to Berries resentment of her
neglect.
II am going" she told him after the
noon meal, Ito direct Pete in the ar
| rangement of a flower bed. Pete is
the name the man told me to call him
by. So you will have 60 amase your
self this afternoon, BERTHE, or &c home"
BERTHE, in his grievance, promptly
went home. But as days passed with
no word from her desirable admirer,
Dora felt no regret
She was busy-happily busy-in the
4 planning out of an entirely new gar
den. which her workman was to bring
/ to achievement; and sometimes as she
sat at twilight, with only Aunt Celes-
ta's housekeeper for company, Dora
thought very wistfully Of the strange
contrasts in life-of BERTHE and his
kind, aimless, assured and tiresome ;
and of the other man, assured too, in
some mysterious, masterful way, but
tiresome. oh never; Dora sighed
oveT her thought; the big, mans mere
] presence was satisfying as no mans
presence had ever been before.
Through the shadowy garden, she saw