Middletown transcript., 1922-10-07
THE SECRET
ey GERTRUDE w. FIELDER

IL not grow, lady.
| Betty looked up from the trench
SHE was digging, straight into the
bright black eyes of Nicola, vendor Of
vegetables
why won't it grow?" Betty de-
manded brandishing her trench tool,
huge carving knife.
| Nicola retreated step and tried an
other tack. "Work too hard. Ladies
not plant seed, tubers."
| Those who work In gardens plant
other things than seeds and tubers.
They plant hohe and faith and love"
Betty began softly.
! 1t not grow" repeated Nicola.
Betty patted the earth around the
tuher with kindly hands. Without
looking up, she remarked, MY conf
dcnce is the confidence of seers.
Wherefore should | have veXation of
spirit lest what ought ITO be will not
be?'
Nicola did not task her to repeat.
Ht ignored her remark
| Me, plant early, cover ALL glass"
said Nicola. 81 sell, you buy" he add
ed In tones Of oily smoothness.
To-day I'll buy, yes but tomorrow
(Hetty spoke iiguratiyely). when my
garden attains its rich fulhllment. |
shall not need to buy. | shall have
| potatoes and squashes
But today I'll take that and that
and THAI, and be sure to call every
day. If l must become vegetarian,
at least I'll be graceful about it, she
added whinrsically.
You couldn't be otherwise" said a
voice behind her.
How long. If | may ask. have you
been aves-dropping?" Betty inquired
politely.
Long enough to he consumed with
| Jealousy. You never asked me TO call
every day"
Betty sat bacl; on her heels and
surveyed her next door nei.hhor
with eyes that would twinkle at was
hardly necessary" she was beginning.
when he vaulted the hedge as he had IL
habit of doing
If you will pardon the suggestion,
YOU would he saved from dsappoint-
| 1llHlt iatpf IL YOU
SHOULD send to the agriculture b,i-
rehu for a pamphlet prepared for the
alnateur gardener" Betty interrupted.
Tive good friends have already Of
| feFed me the same advice"
son the contrary" said the young
doctor, calmly. Il was about to Sug-
~.est you take n partner"
| Fs\in,Ju
having me for a customer" Betty re-
tofted. resuning her interrupted gar
| lening to hide the laughter in her
"yps.
~ did not Lave Nicola in mind" re-
.urred the young doctor.
There are individuals who say. and
tlpt boastin@N. thar this Ting Of let
liitg love get.the best Of yoa is ridicu-
lohS." he said suddenly.
For what are You digging n hole
Il tomato plant or IA trce?" quered
Batty. demurelH.
| And then n pair of startled brown
eyes gaZed into a pair of wondering
gray.
| What is it?" whispered the owner
of the brown.
| Captain kidds treasure trove, l
think" ANSWERED. the owner of the
@r}y.
"oo-oo. Can't you lift it out?" cried
~ rtty.
| "tm-m. Wait It's coming There !"
ddpositfng a small. iron box upon the
ground. I'll isn't Captain kidd's treas
nle, after ALL Maybe it's Mrs. Cap
iain's though"
How do yon know, before we open
itH giggled Betty
who but Il woman would leave the
key In the lock- he srinncd.
"Goody Now we can open it quick :"
said Betty. Its mine because grand
father left everything 10 me-
| "one moment" said the Young doc
tor, looking straight into Betty's eyes.
IF within the box be gold unfold. I
mpunt by coal-hlack stallion and ride
away into the unknoWn--for its
equivalent"
And then the box stood open.
"Letters,' exclaimed Betty "Who
Wbuld bury letters so earefully?" Won
deringly. she drew one forth. 1t
cracked between l~r fingers. Dear
est Charles" she deciphered the
crhmped, faded handwriting. then
turned to the signature, Ever your
Elizabeth"
They're love letters" she cried. n
little hreathlessly, "grandfather's and
grandmother's.'
Il wonder why the one who buried
Them didn't burn them, instead" said
the young doctor
~ wonder" said Betty. "Once. so
mPther told me, grandmother dis
olIeyed grandfather's wishes braving
his displeasnre and anger to bring
about something which she knew was
the desire of his heart. Grandfather
} never forgave her-not until the very
last. | think grandfather buried the
letters hecause-hecause they seemed
like part of grandmother, and he
WIS sorry he had been so hard. Well
not read Them hoy, dear"
'Of course not, dearest Well put
them back where we found them
Strange you should select this spot
for your garden
mo, not strange said Betty, soft
,, " Il was planting something beside
The setting was not the usual one
chosen by lovers-nght with silvery
moonbeams dancing in fantastic
: shapes beyond the velvet shadows
insH cad brown E;irth SIM kissed put