The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-06-23

| q JTllle 6CCeIlIIlC, UuI ollc d Qcdl at heart. I know you'll hit it off with her"
 Yet Mary Lou was awed at the thought of meeting one of the wealthiest women in England. She imagined Miss Titheringtons homo as an immense establishment, with enormous grounds and an army of servants.
 Here we are," cried Tony as he j, turned down a lane off the main road
 They were approaching a se- cluded, unpretentious structure that appeared to be a gardeners cottage.
 What did you expect--a Buck i ingham palace?" ns s
 He drew the car to a standstill, and opened the door for Mary Lou. No stretch of. the imagination could describe the home as, more than a cottage. It's matched roof curled round the sides of two tiny gabled windows and hung all most to the ground.
 Hello, aunt Tony called cheer fly. Here's the latest, come all the way down for your inspection" i Mary Lou flushed and turned to greet Miss Titherington. Then she received her second surprise.
 The spinster was doubled over, working in her rock garden. There was full six lanky feet of her to straighten out. Her face was an- gular, but her expression was not unkindly. An aged straw hat, frayed at the edges, was perched on the back of tightly coiled grey hair She wore battered leather coat and soiled shoes, and her fin gers protruded from a pair of dirty hardening gloves.
 Mary Lou stared at her in pro- found engagement. Could this be one of the wealthiest women in the Kingdom? It didn't seem cred ible .
 Miss Titherington gave Mary Lou a brisk nod. How do?" she jerked out Her attention iinmedi- ately reverted, to the rock garden.
 I'm having trouble with these gentians,' she remarked in a gruff masculine voice. Done everything in my power for 'em but they don't seem to thrive" a Miss Titherington's absorption in the garden made Mary Lou feel more at home. She bent down ana inspected the plants in question. Have you tried pressing the roots firmly into the soil and set ting small bits of limestone around them?' she suggested.
 Miss Titherington turned and looked directly at Mary Lou for the first time since Tony had in- troduced her
 Never thought of that" she re- marked in more friendly voice. we've had the same experience at home in our rock garden Mary Lou told her.
 "A couple of years ago Dad tried gathering his own seeds as soon as they were ripe, sowing them at once in seed pans in the green house, leaving them for about IS months, then transplanting them first into little pots, then into the rock garden. But I daresay you know all this" @
 T didn't" said Miss Tithering- ton. Thanks for the tip"
 Tony remained silent as he noted his aunts reception of Mary Lou. So many girls had failed to find favor with Aunt Ethelberta that he almost had given up hope of find- ing anyone who would satisfy her. He was too elated to speak when Mary Lou revealed knowledge of gardening-one of his aunt's princi- pal hobbies. ee 1 'I'n let things follow their own course, today" he thought. Tt looks as If Mary Lou may turn the trick I'll keep mum and see what hap pens
 Strange for town girl to have any ideas on gardening" Miss ITitherington remarked as she led them into the house. 'Or to have an idea on anything that counts, she added graphically.
 l T was brought up in the coun- try" Mary Lou explained. We live in Devon. Tending the rock gar den is my special job at home II love gardening" ! Brought up in the country, chi lThen how on earth can you stane living in horrid old stuffy townl'
 I'm only in town for a visit, Mary Lou hid the regret in hel voice.
 Miss Titherington gave her an. lother penetrating glance, but shs
 didn't comment. She opened an ole