Evening star., 1928-03-29
The Weed Woman.

Cuna Borden was bending over her
strawberry bed hunting for the first
ripe berries II she was successful in
her search, she was going 70 make q
Shortcake Tor supper She had Just
discovered a stem Of luscious, big, red
berries when she heard some one COM
ine into her garden, Turning, she saw
MIS- More, her nclghbor from across the
way
i inst stopped in on my way TO
town C9Ma. 10 see II there was any
cryand / could do for you. and then,
as her ewes fell on the berries, she eN-
claimed Ripe Strawberries Cuua,
your Garden IS wonder It's way
ahead Of mine. I tell my husband that
the sun always seems to shine warmer
IN your yard than anywhere else on
this street But, ali the same, it's a
shame that YOU have 10 live next door
10 old Mrs Kerr Her place Will never
b. ANYTHING but an eyeSore 10 the COM
rl,nitv as long as she lives. II SpoilS
the whole tone of the street, let alone
broadCaSting seeds from every weed
imaginable / suppose We might just as
vel make the best Of II. John says
there is no law III this village that can
compel a man TO clean up his YARD.
And ola Mrs Kerr Will never do a
She told Mrs Fly the other day that
she clesSeS one way and another she
gets lust as many weeds as she SowS.
The conversation tTailed of into other
channels. and finally Mrs, More went
or her way.
After Mrs. More had gone Cuna stood
for several moments contemplating the
adjoining yard It was a shame, Just
as Betsy More had said, that nothing
could be done TO make old Mrs. Kerr
clean uD her ward In the bright sun
lirNt ii looked as II il were covered with
p fleece of fluffy white cotton. SO thick
was ID s,rewn with dande.loO blossoms
gone to seed Even rs Cuna looked, q
puF ot wind swSopcd down An instant
later the a.v was filed with a cloud OF
6auSeNon fun Each bit of fluff. as
C,sAa knew al too we'll. carried a tiny
seed which eventually would appear as
g full-grown plant in every carefully
kept ward for several blocks. Cuna'S
ewes followed the fight Of seeds, What
was the use Of all her labor year after
year. II old Mrs. Kerr'S neglected yard
was allowed TO go on broadcaSung
weeds2 She thought of the old lady
herself. bent and gnarled. with piercing
dark eyes which somehow. in their
DEPTHS. seemed TO harbor such an un-
Friendly clearn. Mrs Kerr had well
earned for herself the title Of the
"Old Weed Woman" But what a dread
fli} thing II must be 10 be old eSld dis
liked A moment later thought came
70 Cuna that sent her flying into her
house.
Two DAYS later Mr.. GRAY. the green
house man. delivered = whole carJload
a. plants All The rest Of the day Cuna
worked like a beaver setting out plants
Directly on the line which separated
her lot from old Mrs. Kerr's, she thicEly
set hollyhocks These she fianked with
phlox, zinniaS, luplnes. nicotineS, pam
sizes. Old Mrs Kerr watched from her
tiny back porch. Her attitude was bel
ligerent. She meant her presence 10
warn Cuna not TO set foot on her prem
iseS.
Weeks went by and Cuna's hedge be-
gar 10 bloom. It was a glowing beauty
People drove past the place IN the eve
ming Just 20 catch Whit OF the ira
grant nicotlnes that glowed like white
stars in the moonlight. Cuna tol!ed
vatered and watched. Her hands were
callouse6 and bll5fered with wedding
Then one DAY a message came saying
that her sister needed her. There was
AaD kAA4kE ~ AAa4AAA 1A N@A+ A+E&AAt,F ~Att4N-
packed as quickly as she could and left
without having time 70 bid Mrs. More
Eood-by.
II was FIVE weeks before Cuna again
Kaw her home. she arrived on late
evening train and slipped into her
house and 70 bed without even waiting
10 make herself q cup Of tea. She slept
Boundlv.
Next morning Cuna was awakened By
the sound Of rain driving against her
window. The sound made her want 10
snuggle down under the covers for an
other hour but she was out Of bed in
stantly. Her fingers fairly few as she
slipped into a house dress and twisted
her dark hair and pinned II into place.
Her one thought was 0f her garden.
She had read that PineVille had been
visited by a drought Donning an old
6licker and not waiting 70 put anything
or her head. she ran downstairs and
out of the house
A moment later she stood staring IN
suazement a. what she saw. Her gar
den was As neat and well cared for as
II she had not been away even for one
DAY Her tomatoes we're carefully
trimmed ard staked up Her flowers
hac rot suffered from the drought.
8aHA I1fGGA4e tE4eA 9J&f4G A4SG AAs~A " eAeC4 e "a
them. There vas not a weed 70 be
seen The h0llghocks had grown tall
sLc thick They we're covered with a
wealth q brilliant blooms. They com
ple,ely hid the adjoining yard. a hoo
hoCsng from across the street caused
her 70 turn quickly. Il was Betsy More.
When did you get home Cuna?"
MI More called
"TzH night On the late train" Cuna
answered But, Hrs More. what
want ID know IL VINO II Was that took
E1cn good care u nv garden"
Guess" Mrs Mo0Tes eyes twink!ed
y can't" Cuaa admitted
Just take q peek oger IN Mrs Keu'a
yard Mrs More laughed her good
ust1fec laugh Then ! guess you n
hzge BITTER luck guessing" And still
srn Ing Mrs More turned and ran home
CgE4 parted a big bunch % holly
hocks and peeped through into the next
yard she gave 81 exclamation II sur
prize 5ue actually rubbed the rain out
Il neT eyes because she thought sht
vas noH seeing right Old Mrs. Kerr
YARD Wsa as vel trimmed ~ her O%n
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