The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-02
EUening Story
Say It With Radishes.
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD.

talk so much about 1t. How could
he expect that Betty, with all-sorts
of radiant possibilities suddenly
opened to her, would stin feel the
same toward the prosaic life he could
offer her as his wife?
John was doing well in his profess
sion. AS a matter of fact, he was
fast getting the name of being one
of the finest landscape gardeners in
the country and had many a beauti-
full, artfsticaHy perfect estate to his
credit. Yet it would be many years
before his income would be drop in
the bucket compared to Betty's.
Now, one of Betty's first extrava-
gances-so termed by Miss Deborah
Perkins, Betty's middle-aged, thrifty
housekeeper-w was the purchase of old
Caleb HemingwGy's place, a rambling,
rundown farm of devitalized fields,
overgrown woodlots and unkempt
meadows. Betty had torn down the
house and replaced it with a tapes,
tried brick affair, comfortable and
pleasing in appearance The grounds
well, what more natural than that
she should put them into the hands
of her old-time friend, with carte
blanche to do as he pleased with
them?
Their identifying became a labor
of love with John. Much of the
shrubbery and many of the rare speci-
mems in the rose gardens he set out
pored over his books and blue prints.
seeking new means of expressing
beauty.
Frequent consultations with Betty
were by no means the least desirable
feature of his job, and at times 1t
necessitated all his self-control not to
tell her of his love. A certain visit
fulness in the girls eyes tempted him.
Did she wonder why he was so much
more formal than in the old days be-
har
them?
Day by day the impulse strength
ened to let her know, in some delicate
fashion, that his love for her still ex-
listed. He came to ponder the prob
lem almost necessarily, but not until
Betty declared she must have veg
etable garden did the answer come.
For some time he had decided what
form his message ought to take, but
to use for the purpose the conspicu-
Gus means of a flower bed would
never do. A vegetable garden Sug-
gested the solution He would plant
his love in seeds-in some quick grow
ing annual. Radishes, for example.
All but a sunny, ineonspicuous lit
tie corner he turned over to his as
sistant, a canny, taciturn old Scotch
man named Ferguson. In that little
plot he labored carefully, reminding
himself that he must urge Betty to
take personal supervision of her rad
ish bed. Truly it was a work of love
as we'll as alphabetic art, and on the
morning of its completion John rose
from his, knees with a prayer for the
proper amount of sun and rain to pro-
duce speedy results.
Now, whether or not Johns long
hours spent bent over in the sun was
the cause, or whether. as an up-to-
date psychologist might say, it was
his love for Betty, at any rate some
thing went suddenly out of killer that
night in Johns wellbeing. Morning
found him calling incoherently and
tossing in fever, while two doctors
discussed treatments and remedies.
and tried not to listen to Betty!
Betty Betty"
Anxious hours followed, in which
Betty shared. Her first thought in the
morning was for the latest news of
John; her last, a prayer that he would
spend a quiet night She made many
a dainty dish to tempt his appetite,
but labored in vain.
At length Johns nurse assumed an
responsibility. 81
she said to Betty as she stood
at the door answering her inquiries,
that before he will recover some
worry must be removed from his
mind. He-ne's evidently in love
with some one who doesn't recipro-
catei"
Betty's glance fell. Then she raised
her eyes bravely. But she does!"
she said. 'COulQ-COulQ see MIN
and tell him so?"
1Bhn's quick recovery dated from
the moment when, startled out of all
reserve at the white. drawn face of
the man she loved, Betty fell on her
knees at his bedside and whispered
brokenly, "Oh, my darlingI My
darling!"
The doctor prescribed a sea voyage
to assist Johns convalescing, and
Betty not only acquiesced but made
all arrangements, even to insisting
that he must have a nurse along, and
in order to provide one she would
marry himI And John, weak but
happy, could only thank
heaven he had saved sufficient to
keep them going, at least until he got
into harness again.
Some time afterward. one glorious.
breezy afternoon, Betty, leaning
against the rail with John watching
the scudding wake of their steamer.
heard a queer little chuckle from her
husband.
what is it. dear?'' she asked Gu
II was thinking" said John whim-
sically, how very much surprised
Miss Deborah Perkins must have
been when she read 4 love you, sweet
hearth in her radish bed!"
But not until the two of them were
back at home again did they learn the
true efficacy of Johns vegetable mes
sage. Blushing like a bride herself, |
Miss Perkins welcomed them at the
door, and after proper inquiries as to
Mr.. Bradley's health, with becoming
hesitation she broke the news.
Yes. Miss Betty, I'm Mrs. Fergu-
son now. Yes, ma'am, know you'd |
be surprised. He's that reserved you
wouldn't have thought it of him. But
he's clever. for all he's Scotch. He |
writ in radishes what he thought of |
nae. And when see them coming up
in such lovely sentiments 1 went !
to him and said, ferguson, |
I'm yours. Wen be married tomor- |
row. And we was. And I'm sure If |
he hadn't thought of such a lovely |
way to get around his bashfulness |
we'd each been single yet!'
Copyright. 1922. by Mcclure News |
nana,-