Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-06-25

Donor of the Twin
Trees
.--N-~N-N~~~~ q
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS


n
v into the shop window on Fifth
avenue were lusi pools of hunger.
IL didn't thmt any eyes In the
world could get that much expression
into them when looking at green
trees" was the comment cast by
young Hedley from within the shop
Fancy girl So daily over trees as
TO look positively furnished ut sight
of them" Iledlcy was In buying an
orchid or two for young lady whose
salary would permit her to purchase
all the rare flowers In the city II she
cared to. He watched the hungry
eyes outside with keen interest. lie
seldom came In contact with people
who wanted anything so much as this
girl apparently wanted some of the
dwarf evergreens she was ndmring.
However, she was coming inside to
Inquire the price and young Hedey
stood close by listening to u very mu-
steal voice In conversation with the
florist.
MADAM" said the clerk, those
cedrus deodnras are five dollars each
they make wonderful palr-twln
beauties"
"They are indeed beauties" Vlr-
glnia agreed touching the graceful
young branches of the tiny sacred
cedar with loving fingers and wlst.
fully signing, ~ wish | could have
them both, but one is all can take.
I Oh 10. To
them, but maybe later, II II Is not sold,
| can have the twin" She gave her
address and went llngerlngly from the
shop. her eyes stil eagerly glued TO
the exquisite small trees.
~ say" said young Hedley, send
the young lady both trees and III
stand the racket. Don't tell who sent
them-or you will never see the color
of my check"
Virginia continued her office dutie3
that afternoon with singing heart,
for she knew that awaiting her nj
her back room In East Flfty-tiflh
street would be her new treasure and
she would so right out on her roof
garden and place Il among her snnIl
forest of trees.
When she breathlessly unpacked
the cedrus deodara and found II &c
companled by the twin and the lovely
standard box she could hardly stand
the JOY Of II.
Virglnia's small garden was like n
Jewel set In the heart Of hot city.
She stepped from her French win
dow into paradise of dwarf eve.
greens. out from the window, stand
ing like dark sentinels in their blue
tubs were two Irish yews, and In the
evening Virginia could sit In her low
swung hammock and watch the red
sun sinking behind them.
As Virginia set the graceful species
from Hlmalaya beside her red spruce
and the gold-tipped box above her
tiny cedar and sat back to glory In
them she wished with all her heart
that she could thank the unknown
donor. If he could only know how
very happy she was just sitting there
looking at her trees he would be glad
he had sent them.
A few weeks later Virginia returned
from the office to find an exquisite
flame cOlored azalea waiting for her.
The card said, Thought you would
like this red plant"
"Red plant, lndeed-thls beautiful
nzaleaw Virginia most certainly did
like II, and wondered bit who her
unknown, generous donor could be.
From California a few weeks later
she received two tiny Lombardy pop
lar trees with no card, and again a
small blue spruce from the South.
81 will have 10 rent greater acre
age" laughed Virginia, and began TO
think that some eccentric old man
was carrying out bis pet hobby, or
some of her wealthy friends enjoying
a Joke. A very happy joke for her,
however, Virginia admitted
Both surmlses were OF course
wrong, as young Hedley was neither
old, nor eccentric, nor yet friend OF
Vlrglnia's.
He was merely spending some Of his
superhuOus money In giving some one
pleasure. He remembered persistent.
ly the look in the blue eyes, though
not In any sentimental way. And
while he was making an extensive
trip In the interests of his fathers
great business he shipped Off minla-
ture trees from time TO time.
And upon arriving In New York
Hedley went straight to the Office and
there entered into lengthy discussion
Of business.
II was after some half hour or 80
Of conversation that hiss eyes 70.
malned fixed on the back OF head.
"When did your stan acquire that
headf" he inquired Of his dad.
"a couple Of weeks ago, and lei me
tell you, my boy, that once you've
seen more than the back Of that head
you'l be losing sleep nights thinking
about her" And forthwith the elder
der to the young lady In question and
she turned and approached.
or course young Hedley stlied a
swift intake Of breath as he met the
blue eyes. He had not seen hei In
the florists shop with her hat on. but
the eye well, he figured there must
have b. u some sentiment connected
with bis first look. While Virginia
was not aware OF having seen bin be.
fore, she, too, realized that big things
were happening In the office things
not Of q business nature.
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