The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-16
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

this place forever"
Helen made frultless protest.
She had taken the little house by
the roadside on the impulse Of
the moment one day when she Ind
been driving with friends through
Old parts OF Connecticut. The
nopse had seemed to beckon to her
toacone into 1t and make 1t home.
a house was the last thing in the
world ST had expected to 'ac-
qtire, now that Ronald was gone
and she had the two boys educa.
ton to look after.
But, somehow" she was explain.
ing again to Ruth, when saw the
river running on SO bravely at the
foot Of the garden and heard It
niurmuring eg1stantly over tbs
rocks and pebbles, 1t seemed as II
dcould not help coming here. And
now ! love every inch Of IT,"
ut is the first time you have not
seemed lonely since-since Ronald
died. Ronald had been her hus.
band.,'
= am not lonely here" admit.
ted Helen.
There was more than one reason
for her lack Of loneliness. First,
there were always innumerable
things to do inside and outside the
old house.. The garden was her
Joy. And It was in the building and
planning Of this garden that she
had learned to be less lonely.
Frank HARDWOOD, a landscape
architect, had happened upon the
place at almost the same moment
that Helen had bought 1t, and he
chanced to meet her at the rivers
edge one afternoon when he was
still contemplating the purchase.
Butt have bought It," ex.
planned Helen.
Aslook OF disappointment caught
his expression.
I'm - sorry. / did not know
you wanted 1t so much !" said
"a passing fancy. perhaps" he
said lightly. But, then he went on
to tell her of the water garden he
had planned and of the old gaz.
ing globe and sundial he had
hoped to place In the upper gar
den.
I'm sure ] shall never be able
70 do so much with It," Helen de.
plored.
And after that he came to see
herBand to tell her that he had
found, In the artists colony just
above, a little place that was for
sale.
nl'll take 1t II you will let me
help you plan your garden" ne
had said.
And Helen. being swept on, as
she seemed to be. by Fate. had
consented.
Now she and. her friend Ruth
Frost were sitting at the rustic
table in the very water garden
Frank HARDWOOD had planned and
watched grow, He, too, called It
Helen's River. Let's go down to
Helen,s River" every one said
when they meant to stop in at tho
hospitable little home for a cup
Of tea or an evening of music on
the big porch under the moon.
.tFtank has made me keep q
garden book since the first day
planted seed in the ground,
Helen was saying.
ssWhat do you put in it?" asked
the city-bred Ruth.
s'oh-everything, from a record
otlthe first tiny shoot that appears
above the ground to-oh, to the
names OF every one who visits it.
And-I have a picture Of the land.
scape artist in the 'front.'" she ad.
mitted.
Ruth looked at her scrutinzingly.
S'DoEyou need the picture, Helen ?
lent he here every day to watch
progress and-let you see him III
pmson?"
Helen FLUSHED.
s:He is go fond Of the boys, you
know"
aYes-rve noticed how he looks
at-the boys. And how he walks by
the riyer-with the boys!"
The man under discussion an.
peared at the brow Of the hill at
that moment. He was a big, curly.
lsaired fellow with boyish face and
% buoyant gait. He whlstled the
sttmiliar bird.call they had chosen
for their signal.
tCome on down. We've about to
have tea-or something" called
Helen.
Leaping down the hill as II he
were sixteen instead Of nearly for.
" Frank HARDWOOD Joined the party
81 the rustic table.
DO you know that It Is three
years today since we had our first
cup OF tea here at this table IN this
river garden?" he asked, looking
AT Helen.
mo: is it," she asked. pretend.
Ing innocence.
at IS" he said, deliberately,
Ruth felt as II something were
going to happen. She felt a thrill
In the afr, a magnetized atmos-
Il "And II you don't hurry up.
Helen, and tell me that / may
come here to share your home.
your garden, your life-and give
you all my love-"
Crank" protested Helen.
IT don't care for Ruth or any
zone else. You have kept me at
arms length as the landscape art.
ist, the friend of the boys, for
long enough. Now, please tell
me-"
Ruth looked helplessly up the
hill toward the cottage. "If Helen
will promise not to say no again