The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1926-10-23
Her Garden Of
Dreams
By CLARISSA MAcKIE
(Copyrig ht.)

II best. who worked In 1t, and dreamed
over it. always seeing beauty in 1t
at any season of the year.
"JOans children have gone to bed
under q white blanket" smiled Mrs.
Worth when the first snow came. The
others looked out, seeing the arbOr
great hump of snow, and garden
benches misshapen oblOngs. Every bush
and vine wore bridal veil of white.
or sparkled with icy diamond drops.
The sun shone wanly.
"Well, Joan, my DEAR" said Nan
briskly, what has your garden to
offer todayf A bouquet Of icicles?"
Joan looked out Of the window
81 believe l can get a winter bouquet
there are some dried clematis seeds
and downy fluff, the barberry bushes
are full and red"
as there any romance in your gar
den of dreams?" asked Nan gently.
Joan's thin face flushed and her eyes
were very soft.
II am sure 1t must flower there,
Mani You remember your Stephen
used to sit there with you" she
smiled as Nan looked down at her
engagement ring.
"That Is true" said Nan softly.
stephen always said the garden had
a great deal to do with his cOurtshipl
But, my dear girl. am not talking
about us; am speaking about q
romance for you in your garden Are
you sure there is not a root some
| whereT
Joan laughed There's love In q
mist'-and love lies bleeding and
bride roses" she said mischievously.
Nan looked up Shrewdly. Those
flowers are all asleep-like you, Joan
| Worth" she declared, and stopped
teasing Joan. She felt sorry for her
| younger sister who was so timid and
retiring that only very bold and per-
sistent lover could win her love. "And
where is such MANI" Nan asked her
self-"Stephen was the last eligible
| man in Little River" And then she
thought Of Stephens cousin, Mark
Raymond-she had only met him once
but he was a large, blond young man
with an aggressive nose and chin and
persistent blue eyes. It must ask
Stephen to bring him over the next
time Mark comes to Little River"
she thought. and planned some pretty
frocks for the unsuspecting Joan.
The afternoon that Stephen brought
Mark Raymond was a Saturday half
holiday. Nan had persuaded Joan to
wear q vivid orange flannel frock
which made the girl look like some
brilliant-plumaged bird. Downing an
old russell cloak, she prowled around
the garden, seeing II sometimes n It
would be when the first buds pushed
through.
She was planning the garden for an
other summer, when q quiet voice
| spoke. ANY room for weeds in your
garden, Miss Joan?" She turned quick
ly to meet the admiring eyes Of Mark
Raymond-she had not seen him for
several years-she had been q small
girl then at her first grown-up dance,
and Mark had taken pity on her NOR
LITIGATION at being a wallnower, and
had given her the most delightful
evening Of her quiet life. She was
glad to see him.
There Is always room for friend
~ weeds, Mr.. Raymond she said.
81 viii have to explain-fight along
here 10 the place where my dahlias
stand, all In a row like soldiers, and
as I raised them all myself for several
years, I have named the different
varieties after the twelve disciples
see the stakes with the labelsr'
Mark went down the row, glancing
at the labels-he read them aloud,
Matthew, Mark. Luke, John" and
so on. $50 am not a weed after ALL"
said Mark Raymond 81 am a nice
dahlIa In a lady's gardeni"
you are named for saint" said
Joan primly.
"Of course, ! am only a humble
namesake," he said meekly, his blue
eyes never leaving her vivid face,
wondering why he had ever called
this child plain! Seems only last
week that you and I had our famous
evening at the charity ball." he went
on.
"It Is ten years ago." Joan said.
and when he did not answer she
looked up to find him regarding her
with the queeresi expression-mingled
admiration, wonder. amazement, as
II he had just discovered a great
treasure. Perhaps he had-for Joan
was twenty-five, and the sweetest girl
he had ever seen. What had he been
doing all those years while she was
growing up? Perhaps she was en-
gagged, as well as Nan. He must find
out. His aggressive chin was not
there for nothing at all ! $50 II Is you
that are engaged to old Steve" he
murmured mendaciously.
Mercy no." said Joan briskly. at
Is Nan-and we must 60 In now and
have some tea"
They came up the garden path to-
gether, talking. and Nan, waiting for
them, turned away from the window,
while Stephen stirred the FIRE. How
about tit" asked Stephen. grinning.
1T will be all right saw his
eyes-we will have double wedding,
SteveI"
TN the rose garden" added Stephen.