Evening star., 1928-05-25

hat and peered out through the
IL screen door at the open stretch
of sunny garden. Her eyes
touched professionally on the iris bed
which needed the grass pulled away
from roots: at the tea roses, which
would have their warm covering OF
leaves taken away now; at the violets
that were crowdinc in upon the lilies
of the valley in her coveted wild cor
ner. The peonies were up , inches, and
the hyacinthS, tulips and datfodilS were
ready TO bloom. Spring had called IN
the warm weather suddenly and every
thing in the garden clamored for atten-
tion at once.
Laurinda sang as she went down the
garden path. AS she reached the rim CT
her new pool she pulled on protecting
gloves and took her trowel from the
pocket of her apron. 1t was call 10
battle. this yearly fight against weeds
and pests, and it drew her TO the soil in
3 way that tea and bridge invitations
could in no manner stop. She had al
WAYS had a garden, and when she
moved into the red brick house with Its
long, slouing lawn in the Fall. the first
thing she had done was to have rows
of bulbs planted ready for Spring.
I'm glad those lilac buShed that run
around our fence line are high enough
to hide the view," she had glggled TO
her grave-eyed husband only that morn
ing. Just think, John, what our high
and mighty neighborS would think II
they should look out of their windows
and see me working in the dirt. You'd
better send Kitchens around on the ter
race TO put up a good appearance cut
ting the grass this afternoon, so l can
sneak out and do my work. l have
some bulbs that must so in the ground
today"
IAN right" he laughed. Still the
CraiGs must like things of that sort or
they wouldn't have SO much in their
own garden"
SHOW place!" Laurinda shifted un-
generously. She belongs to the Garden
Club, I hear. and the membership III
that seems entirely composed of those
who do not do their own gardening. A
lot they know of the joy of digging up
worms"
She paused in her digging and looked
up at the strip Of red tile roof visible
through the lilac bushes. The Craigs
had been rather a thorn in her side
since she had come to the brick house.
They moved in much older crowd So
cially than the Davis and at Art League
meetings, Women's Club, symphony
concerts, etc. In the Winter, when the
CAC1SS ItdSSt0s tiiSy hcAS away Al ElOA
ida. Laurinda and John had only seen
them at a distance, and Mrs. Craig had
not been TO call.
High and mighty" she muttered to
the bulbs she was planting A collie
dog strolled out across the lawn next
door. Even their old dog is stuck up
If / ever have dog it's going TO be
friendly one, If it does bury bones in
the hotbed."
The morning was exceptionally hot
Streams Of perspiration rolled down
Laurinda's face as she kneit, with her
trcwel near the iris bed. but she kept
on tenaciously As she neared the
lower line of the terrace she saw q
trailing line of wild flowers in the va
can lot below her hedge, and she i'm
mediateiy slipped through the bushes
70 transplant them into her own yard.
Below the Craig yard there was
similar plot OF ground surrounded by
a struggling hedge. and as she stopped
20 sink her trowei into the loan Lau-
rinda heard the sharp sound of aNhoe
coming from that direction. It drew
near, and standing up finally she met
the smiling eyes of an old woman in a
faded dress and ragged hat.
Good afternoon"
Good afternoon. Aren't these wild
A4CAGAo EOA AECQA1s
YES I brought some of them into
my garden. too. Wouldn't YOU like to
see them2"
Yes, indeed There was a tirnid
pride IL the old woman's voice and
LaurinC2 went graciouSiy in TO admire
the mass Of delicate flowers. Why. it's
lovely in here. It must be an old-fash-
1oned garden when it is in bloom. And
aren't those apple trees down IN the
corner marvelous2"
Il like it." The woman was pleased.
$50 few people care for gardens, espe-
cialiy old-fashioned ones. nowadays.
I'm real glad you like mine" She
seemed 10 warm yiSibly to Laurinda, and
she led her along the paths, pointing
proudly 70 rare plants that were Just
beginning TO thrust frail tendrilS
through the ground, promising her
seedlings and offering her advice
A quaint little house stood at one
end of the lot, and she took Laurinda
there. II wasn't at all what Laurinda
expected TO be the home Of such a
woman. as it was all one room in a
studio effect, furnished with few good
early American pieces But tea was
made ard served in as comfortable a
fashion as one could wish over a lac
cuered kitchen table. and the cakes had
been baked. so the old woman said, in
the coal range that stood III lean-to
at the back Of the house.
81 love 10 cook" She said it 50 apolo-
gettcally that Laurinda laughed
4 should, too, II could make cakes
ike this"