The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-12-09
Her Garden of
Dreams
By CLARISSA MACKIE

L den-they called it Joan's garden
of Dreams" and they leased her about
it In kindly way. They all loved it
and sat in it when they could, but
Joan Worth was the one who loved
it best. who worked in it, and dreamed
over 1t. always seeing beauty in 1t
at any season of the year.
"Joan's children have gone to bed
under a white blanket" smiled Mrs
Worth when the first snow came. The
others looked out. seeing the arbor
a great hunu 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
briskiy, what has you1 garden to
offer today? A bouquet Of icicies?"
Joan looked out Of the window
Il believe l can get winter bouquet
there are some dried clematis seeds
and downy fluff, the barberry bushes
are full and red"
SIS there any romance in your gar
| den of dreamsT asked Nan gently.
| Joan's thin face flushed and her eyes
| were very soft.
Il am sure it must flower there,
| Nan! 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 courtship |!
| But, my dear girl, l am not talking
| about us; | am speaking about a
! romance for you in your garden! Are
| you sure there is not a root some
| where?"
Joan laughed. There's love in
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 a very bold and per
| sistent lover could win her love. "And
| where is such q 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 large, blond young man
with an aggressive nose and chin and
| persistent blue eyes. Il 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 Saturday half
holiday Nan had persuaded Joan to
wear a vivid orange flannel frock
which made the girl look like some
| brilliant-plumage bird. Downing an
| old russell cloak, she prowled around
| the garden, seeing 1t sometimes as 1t
would be when the first buds pushed
| through.
She was planning the garden for an
| other summer, when a quiet voice
spoke. amy 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 a small
| girl then at her first grown-up dance,
| and Mark had taken pity on her NOR
| LITIGATION at being a wallfiower, and
had given her the most delightful
| evening of her quiet life. She was
| glad to see him.
There is always room for friend
| ly weeds, Mr.. Raymond" she said
| II will have to eXplain-right along
here is the place where my dahlias
stand, all in a row like soldiers, and
| as 1 raised them all myself for several
years, 1 have named the different
varieties after the twelve disciples
| see the stakes with the labels?'
Mark went down the row, glancing
at the labels-he read them aloud,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John" and
so on. $50 I am not weed after ALL"
said Mark Raymond. II am nice
dahlia in a ladys garden!"
you are named for a saint" said
Joan primly.
| "Of course, l 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 had our famous
evening at the charity ball." he went
on.
1T is ten years ago." Joan said,
| and when he did not answer she
| looked up to find him regarding her
with the queerest xpression-mingled
| admiration, wonder, amazement, as
| if he had just discovered 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 we'll as Nan! He must find
out. His aggressive chin was not
there for nothing at all $50 1t Is you
that are engaged to old Steve" he
murmured mendaciously.
Mercy no." said Joan briskly. "It
is Nan-and we must 20 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,
| ,,,bjIo Stanbap ettrrad ba Gro ssIIou,