Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-04-19
10
10
BY JACK LAYTON

This is the true story Of 10; per-
haps that is it's only reason for being
q story at ALL 10 was the gardener
OF Meredith's estate, not landscape
gardener, but just a 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.
1 noticed 10 particularly, because
OF his fine build and handsome face.
Miss Joy prettily excused herself
and left me to my own entertainment,
] sought the young gardener in over
alls, and drew him idly into converse
tion.
Over our cigars we talked as man to
man, I giving personal condolences as
/ received them. And / learned that
10 had been born In a crowded, dingy
locality of factory houses. JOS father
was one of the workmen. But his
mother-Jo knew little of his mother,
nor could remember her-had died in
his childhood. And as listened to
his. easy conversation, /, an old man,
romanced over JOS mother, and won
dered if love for former handsome
10 had led her far from pleasanter
home to the dingy one of her husband.
AS days passed, and 1 accepted Mr..
Meredith's invitation to bring my
books at will to the silence of his
gardens, I came to a realization Of the
big gardeners brooding discomfort.
Life is all wrong,H he complained,
cor else I'm in it wrong, some way.
Can't seem to find pleasure in any
thing"
"FrienGs are good to have" 1 sug-
K gested.
10 shrugged. "NIine don't measure
up" he said.
"Love, then?" 1 questioned.
''Tried that too" he answered calm
ly, doesn't satisfy. / met Rosa two
years ago at a 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 1t and exhibit my picture" He
smiled mockingly ''Then she will
come back to marry me-
I stared surprise. 'That ought to
make you happy" / said.
ut 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 be-
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, "no 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 a
flower or a leaf for inspection.
Their understanding seemed perfect,
as was big JOS manner.
One day / heard him say to. her
bitterly, with graceful motion toward
q black earthly bed, 81 was raised
down in the mud like that" Joy had
quickly answered, "All growing things
are"
l 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
his arms and she received his kiss.
felt it my duty to waylay her.
my dear, my DEAR" 1 reprimanded,
being old, and friendly enough with
her father to take that liberty, moth
ing can come of this reckless love
affair. Your father would never hear
of the union. You must give 10 up"
II will never give him up," she re-
piled, without some better reason
than just his poverty"
Then l told her of the girl-told her
because 1 hoped to spare her the fu-
ture disappointment that the knowl-
edge of JOS faithlessness to another
must bring.
10, when she called him, admitted
miserably the truth, admitted also
that Rosa Klein was even now upon
her way across the ocean, in the ex-
pectation of becoming his wife.
Il will go away" Joy said quietly
"and. see the world father has so long
wanted me to see. You must marry
your Rosa, 10 dear, and you and 1 wsill
never meet again."
SO it happened that the Meredith
garden was a desolate spot there
after. / missed the courteous gar
dener, as much as I missed the sweet
Joy. She was having a triumphant
time abroad, according to the papers.
, 10, / did not see for more than
year. Then he came to me one evening
through the gates Of the Meredith gar
den.
"Married?" / asked him. He nodded
sand / thought I couldn't go on liv-
ing" he said presently, breaking a
silence. Rosa and / are different
No sympathy on her part, no patience
upon mine. It's the old trouble;
have gotten in on life wrong / had
just determined to end 1T all, when
I got this
He took from his pocket a sheet of
paper, spreading it on my knee The
envelope bore a foreign postmark, the
last published place of Joys stay.
Across the paper was written: cal
ways I think of you doing your brav-
est best. For / know you will grow
out of your darkness into something
worthy"
10 smiled at the written words.
SWELL" he said, I'm growing"