Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-02-09
Jos
s~n~~~~<~~~~~~~e~~~&<~
d JACK LAYTON

maps thnt Is Its only reason for being
q story at all. Jo was the gardener
Of Meredlth's estate, not lnndscape
gardener. but just humble digger
Of dirt. saw him upon privileged
evening when ! was invited to the
Merediths' for dinner. Joy was show
ing me the garden, and JOY was J. ID.
Meredith's only daughter.
] noticed 10 particularly, because
Of his fine build and handsome face.
Miss Joy prettllx excused herself,
and left me to my own ENTERTAINMENT.
/ sought the young gardener in over
alls, and drew him Idly into CONVERSE
ton.
Over our cigars we talked as man to
man, giving personal condolences as
received them. And ! learned that
10 had been born in crowded, dingyl
locality Of factory houses. JOS father
was one Of the worklnen. But his
motherJo knew little of his mother.
nor could remember her-had died in
his childhood And as listened toI
his easy conversation, ], an old man.
romanced over JOS mother. and won-
dered II love for u former handsonic
10 had led her far from a pleasantert
home to the dingy one OF her husband
As days passed. and accepted Mr..
Mcredith's Invitation to bring my
books at VIII to the silence Of his
gardens, I came to realization of the
big gardeners brooding discomfort
life IS all wrong" he Complained.
H0r else I'm In 1t wrong, some way.
Can't seem to find pleasure in any
thing
-Friends are good to have" / sug-
gested.
10 shrugged. milne don't measure
up" he said.
"Loye, then?'' questioned.
Tried that too he answered calm
~. doesn't satisfy. / met Rosa two
years ago at dance. She's pretty
and she loved me. We were engaged.
She's gone back now to the old coun-
try to see her folks and tell them all
about It and exhibit my picture" He
smiled mockingly. "Tlen she will
come back to marry me-"
I stared surprise. "That ought to
make you happy" said
1T doesn't he responded quietly
Suddenly Miss Joy came down the
garden path. She nodded to me and
went to 10, falling on her knees he
side him. I'D love to do that she
said. show me how
When she had gone, 10 turned his
earnest gaze on me, ''Fine woman
that he said, mo sham about her.
found them often in the garden to-
gether, she writing letters and throw
Ing him a word now and then, or
silently observing his work while he.
in turn. would come to her with
flower or a leaf for Inspection.
Their understanding. seemed perfect,
as was big JOS manner. *
4 One day ! heard Han say to her
with graceful alotion toward
a black earthly bed, Il was raised
down In the mud like that" JOY had 4
quickly answered, "All growing things
are.p
+ | was just beyond the arbor tree, !
engaged with my book, and i fancy
they, in their preoccupation, were I'M
aware Of my presence. 10 suddenly
and masterfully took Joy Meredith in
bis arms and she received his kiss.
I felt 1t my duty to waylay her.
Ky dear, my deai,'' reprimanded,
being old, and friendly enough with
her father to take that liberty, ''notl>
ing can come of this reckless lou
affair Your father would never heA I
Of the union. You must give 10 up"
Il win never give him up" she re-
piled. without some better reason
than just his poverty
Then / told her Of the girl--told her.
because !, hoped to spare her the flu
ture disappointment that the knowl-
edge Of JOS faithlessness to another
must bring.
10, when she called him, admitted
the truth, admitted also
that Rosa Klein was even now upon
her way across the ocean, in the ex-.
pectatien 5f becoming his wife.
4 will SO away Joy said quietly.i
Sand see the world father has so longf
wanted me to see. You must marry!
your Rosa, 10 dear, and you and ! will
never meet again.
SO 1t happened that the Meredith
garden was a desolate spot there-
after. / missed the courteous garsl
liener, as much as / missed the sweet
Joy. she was having a triumphant
time abroad. according to the papers.
10, did not see for more than a
year. Then he came 70 me one EVENING"
through the gates Of the Meredith gar
den.
"M8rried2" asked him. He nodded.I
sand thought ! couldn't 60 on llvt
ing he said presently, breaking q
silence. Rosa and are different,
No sympathy on her part, no patience
upon mine. It's the old trouble; r
have gotten In on life wrong, ] had
Just determined TO- end 1t all, when
| got this"