Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-04-08

The wonderful time had ended abruptly.
With the informality of a long time protege,
Michael had called over his shoulder a Ter
vent request to Miss kimbau TO come here
and see what them aphis was dom already
to the Harriet roses and Miss Kimball had
flown TO the afflicted plants. when she re-
turned after a ten minute discussion OF
aphis and spraying her small playmate
late for her dinner. Nevertheless she was
disappointed. She had planned 10 take
Mrs. Demorest' home in her car and learn
who her people were and why she was so
much alone"
The garden tea was the first of many to
which Anne Kimball found herself looking
forward with amazing and growing Zest. 1t
was incredible that she should take such a
fancy to a strange child, but she rejoiced
that she could do 1t. In certain moods
she even told herself 1t was one OF the con
solutions God offers the lonely. Amazing,
too, was the child's continued remoteneSs.
Days, even weeks, passed and MISS him-
ball was no nearer knowledge of her play
mates home and family than she had been
In the first hour of their meeting. though
she saw her a dozen times over their tea
cups and related with increasing gusto the
experiences Of George and Georgina. Often
she spoke of taking the child home. Of
giving her a ride, but always at the last
moment, when the time came to go, the
shy little creature had disappeared.
where do you suppose she lives 2" Anne
demanded of the old gardener, and Michael,
his thoughts busy with his roses, answered
briefly that ms far as he could see she lived
mostly In that garden, though to be sure
she kept way from 1t during the crowded
hours, when the town folks and children
were there.
"she's here early in the mornings"
Michael said, "and again around sunset,
and lately I've seen her in the long twi-
lights when | stayed to WORK. TITS clear
no ones givin' her much thought. IN lay
| a hot Miss her mnthnrfE dQad md nor.
haps," he darkly added, 'she has a step
mother!'
Anne, too, formed a habit Of driving or
walking up to the garden during the lin-
gering twilight of the long 5umme days.
1t was a perfect time to come. Usually,
not always, she found the child there, and
though she learned nothing of the little
girls home or family, she learned some
thing about the cha cacteristics of the child
herself. Her silence, for example. She was
not dumb, for she kept up a soft singing
that hummed reminiscently down the long
avenue of the years. Thus had Margaret
hood, but the habit was not unique. In
later life Anne had heard many other chill
dren hum as they played and always the
sound had carried her back.
The n~eatness of her companion was also
reminiscent. With Mrs. Demorest" every
thing must be just so--the plates and cups
rightly made, the table rightly set, all
things done properly and in order. There
was a quiet authority and decision In the
manner of Mrs. Demorest which Mrs. Mont
morency recognized and accepted. Thus,
too. it had been in those faraway days. On
one occasion the guest committed the faux
pas OF bringing some dishes with her-a
tea set which should have delighted any
small heart. But it was not used, and after
the little red haired girl had gone Anne
found 1t tucked out of sight under a lilac
bush. She bent and picled 1t up with a
~forgiving smile.
That's the way Margaret always quietly
got rid of anything she didn't like she
told the listening garden. 'That infant
not only looks like Margaret, but she acts
like Margaret. Of course, that's why I'm
so interested" To Michael she added al
most fercely, 81 must get in touch with
that child's people! l want to know who
she is
"she don't come as often as she used to-"
Michael contributed absently. He was still
fighting thin aphis."
Miss Kimball frowned. She had observed
this. In the last week she had seen the
child only once, though she herself had
come several times to the t~rysting place
and had vainly waited for the approach of
the quaint figure.
81 suppose I'm getting foolish about her.
she contided to Michael the last time this
happened, when she realized with amaze
ment the extent of her own disappoint-
ment. But | nay as well admit that I'm
awfully fond of the little thing. / can't
help feeling that 1t must mean something
that perhaps she has been sent to help me
1--we never believed in adopting other peo-
pies children" she went on soberly, "but
IL | can learn something about her, and If
she's all right, | really believe
Tonight, as usual, she had heard no
sound of approach but suddenly she knew
the child was near her, and with a leap of
the heart she spoke without turning.
Good evening, Mrs. Demorest,' she
called gayly. She had learned that gaiety
was always the right note with this new
friend. as it had always been the right note
with little Margaret and with the mature
Margaret as well. An approach to serious
ness, even to any sort of affectionate adj
vance, made her small companion shrink
away and brought an odd cloud to the
red brown eyes. Thus, too, it had been
with Margaret. How we'll she could recall
the inevitable shrinking from too serious
topics. too serious situations. which always
characterized Margaret Leigh. 1t was held
by her critics-and even she had critics
to be her one serious fault. She would,
they maintained. have made life a fairy
tale, If she could. SO far as was humanity
possible, she made her own life just that,
She preferred to shut her eyes and ears ia
anything unpleasant. Yet those critics had
admitted that when life led her face to
face with tragedy, as it so often did, she