Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 June 1936 — Page 17

FRIENDSHIP GARDEN

By Granville Fortescue

gO YRANDMA, Mrs. Virginia La trobe, shook the silver Colonial tea caddy, lit a blue flame un-

der the tea kettle, and then stood

lost in dreams. What would she be like, this motion picture granddaughter of hers, and her “this year Bode] husband” as she had writ~ n Grandma Latrobe knew too well how things had “gone to seed.” Sixty years, and 20 of these alone, except for old Joe, alone in the great house tucked away between two mountains in southern Maryland. Little “Ginnie” had offered to help, but a Latrobe did not accept money, even from her granddaughter. Grandma promptly returned those checks and went on living on the little money Dick had left her. A voice broke in on her reveries. “I's cooked dose muffins like you sald, Miss Ginnie.” An old darky, cotton-white hair jnnging his bald head, stood in the oor. “Thank you, Joe.” Miss Virginia arrives about 5.” " ” ” HE darky stood grinning. “You been to the gyardin’ Miss Ginny? I ’spects our peony done bud mos’ any time now.” “I am going now, Joe.” Grandma walked under the portico, across the lawn. She paused on top of a slope that made a natural amphitheater ending at the rim of a small lake. She had stood on that same spot when Dick brought her as a bride to “Wildmere.” { “Oh, Dick, what a beautiful site for a garden. We can cover the banks with morning glories, lay out beds in the center with a path leading down to the lake. Oh, Dick, it's ideal!” : Dick had smiled, patted her hand. “Happen to notice that black oak growing right in the middle of your spot? Can’t cut that down.” ” 8 2 WO days later, after Dick drove to town in the surrey, she and old Joe—young Joe then—had put the ‘darkies to work, dug out and transplanted the oak tree, spaded up the earth, and her garden was born. Dick had come home that night bringing a geranium as a present. That geranium was the first flower planted in the garden. The old eyes awoke from their “ memories. Well, the important thing now was Ginnie’s coming. She must water the plants. The old hands unhooked the watering pot, filled it at the old pump. First a little water for the geranium—there had always been a geranium in the garden—then the peony, that had been a present to - Dick when he was sick. She counted the buds. When it blossomed its gorgeous flowers dominated the garden as Dick had dominated her life. Next the dandelion. Folks had laughed at that dandelion. But did they know her own Ginnie had planted it with baby fingers? It's bloom was over, but she'd show it to Ginnie the third, and tell her why it still grew in the garden. She wouldn't laugh. ” ” ”

HE last sprinkle for the pop-.

pies. Dick Junior had posted those seeds from France. “From - Flanders Field” he had ' written, Grandma's eyes grew moist and she turned to the buttercups. They had grown, uninvited guests, but welcome. They were so brave and bright. As the last drops trickled from the watering pot, the old woman surveyed the garden sadly. In imagination she saw it again a carpet of color as when Dick and the children had helped her with it, when pansies, cowslips, lady-slip-pers, mignonette—living gifts from living friends—had bloomed. They had called it Friendship Garden. Where were those flowers? Where were those old friends? Was it that when the friends passed on, the flowers had missed them? They, too, had passed on. Only the geranium, the peony, the poppies, the absurd dandelion and the uninvited buttercups still flourished. 4 n° 8 ; RANDMA LATROBE turned back to the great house. The water boiled cheerfully in the silver tea kettle. She peered under a covered silver dish. Muffins, hot and crinkly. The honk of a motor horn outran a sparkling new car speeding up to the portico. Out jumped a girl, sparkling as the car, a young man followed her. “Grandma!” shouted the girl. “Is it really you?” Grandma Latrobe felt the kisses, felt the fresh young face pressed against her wrinkled cheek, the strong young arms hugging her frail body. “Oh, Grandma, dear, I am so happy to see you at last. And you are even more wonderful than mother used to picture you, dare Another hug and kiss, then the girl turned. : “Dick”—the old woman started slightly—*“this is our grandma— Mrs. Virginia Latrobe, a very grand lady, I'll have you know.” The young man bowed. “And this is her home. Isn't it just marvelous, Dick, like a picture out of a book; and look, Dick, the Latrobe silver”’—the girl snatched up the cover of the ‘silver dish—"and the famous muffins mother told me about. It's just perfect.” ' 8 8 = FTER tea the three walked to the top of the knoll. Ginnie the third had one arm around her grandmother's waist, her other hand held her husband's. They came thus "suddenly to the hollow spread below the

m. “Oh, Dick.” exclaimed little Ginnie, “wouldn't this be a wonderJul spot for a garden?” “It is a garden—" Grandma - Latrobe began in a small voice frowned in the girl's voluble en-

little Ginnie see the geranium, the peony, the poppies? Of course, the absurd dandelion, the buttercups. Suddenly her flower world seemed to shrink, the weeds and the grass fo push in and smother her Friendship Garden. “I can just imagine it terraced to the lake with a stone path down the center”—the youth-keyed voice rushed on—“and a border of tulip and iris. Oh, Dick! Dick!” Little Ginnie clapped her hands excitedly. a » » ” { RANDMA LATROBE stood . staring before her with vacant eyes. . That night she slept badly. It seemed to her little Ginnie and her husband talked all night. Still, that was to be expected. Early next morning she hard the sound of a motor leaving. Ginnie explained it later, saying Dick had to go to town on business; he'd be back soon. : Then Ginnie took possession of her grandmother. They ransacked the old house. Grandma showed her the faded photographs of “the children.” Then she confessed that she had never-geen little Ginnie : in pictures. The girl kissed away the embarrassed explanations

‘| from the trembling lips.

“You old-fashioned darling. I like it. But I am going to take you to my latest picture in town. It’s less than two hours in the car I'd just love to take you to your first movie, especially of me.” ” ” 5

RANDMA LATROBE found the motion-picture theater rather bewildering. The garish posters showing Ginnie in a man’s arms, a man not her husband, but some famous actor—“tops in Hollywood” her granddaughter explained—oufraged her somehow. She tried to think what her Dick would have said, Ginnie’s grandfather. And the picture distressed her, she mustn’t

that she saw the world through different eyes. Ginnie wouldn't understand. : Grandma Latrobe was glad when they were speeding home again. She brought all her Southern tact to parry Ginnie’s unending questions. She tried hard to appear “thrilled,” but her thoughts were with her garden. It would be late when they arrived. How/could she find time to water her flowers? She must slip away somehow. Perhaps old Joe would have already watered them; she hoped so, the peony needed water.

” o #

HEN Ginnie drove the car up to the old home, her husband was waiting. The two whispered excitedly, .then Ginnie suggested: “Grandma, come, we've something to show you.” : Eagerly the girl led the way to ‘the knoll. As they passed the old

fully. No. she would not ask Ginnie to water the flowers for her, she would do it herself later, even though she was tired. They came to the top of the slope. Ginnie waved a hand. Grandma, look!” Grandma Latrobe stared. At first she couldn’t understand. Stretched before her lay terraces of color, mauves, pinks, yellow, blue waving stems of color. Her old eyes focussed at last. Flowers! Roses climbed on trellises up the sides of the slope, a rock path ran down the center between banks of flowers—strange new flowers never seen in her garden before. : “Oh, Dick! You've done wonders.

wood!” Ginnie raved. “How did you manage it, you clever man?” "” 2» 2

ICK stooped and turned a hidden faucet. Water sprayed, shedding - sparkling drops over the flowers. “A fountain! Don’t you think it's marvelous, Grandma?” the eager young voice demanded. "The mist that sprayed the flowers semeed to have moistened the old eyes. Grandma Latrobe turned as she heard Ginnie saying, “We'll call it Lovers’ Garden, Dick.” They did not notice as she faltered toward the great house. Perhaps they were right. It was a garden for lovers now, colorful, with brave, flaunting flowers, symbolizing young love. The mist in the old eyes grew. Friendship Garden no more. Tears came. She wiped them quickly away. Silly, they had done this for her. Then she saw old Joe. He had the watering pot in his hand. “It’s all right, Miss Ginnie,” the old voice quavered. “When dem city folks done come wit’ all dat truckloads of flowers, I jes’ digs up our gyardin, dat geran'um, peony, an’ all, even dat littl’ ol’ dandylion. I dug ’em in outside de ol’ barn. I'se jes’ on my way to water ”» .

Grandma took the bucket from the black hands; together they Fstole out to the newly-dug plot.

here?” : Even the uninvited buttercups seemed ‘to nod in answer.

THE END

J. W. BOSSE TO LEAD WALTHER LEAGUE MEET

Indiana District Session to Open at Evansville. By United Press EVANSVILLE, Ind, June 2-—J. ‘W. Bosse, Indianapolis, is to preside

.at the Indiana District Walther

League convention here Saturday

_ jhusiasm. Something hurt her, hurt

her deep in her heart. Couldn't|

let Ginnie know; it was just that— |:

pump, Grandma looked at it wist-|

“Look, |

There’s no prettier garden in Holly= |

“Little old friends, are you still |

CREDITOR WHO HAS

LETTER FROM

SWEENEY, SWEENEY, DECIDED IT'S EASIER TO | KNOW You

AND SWEENEY,

ATTORNEYS AT HA ARUSTY NUT, THAN IT IS TO TWIST MONEY OUT OF A NUT LIKE You! SO HE'S TAKING A DETOUR AND SUMMONING YOu INTO A HUDDLE

LAW? EGAD/ SOME NEWS OF A

J GET A BOLT LOOSE FROM ) AS WE DO,

THEY'LL HAVE You , SQUAWKING FOR

WASHINGTON TUBBS II

: . EE TT EE EL SAL]

NOU HOME ~RIGHT INTO TH HOUSE! WHY, THAT'S TERRIBLE, BEIN' SCAIRT TO TANGLE WITH A RUNT LIKE THAT.

“TM ASHAMED OF YOU, LEAVIN! A KID THAT SIZE RUN

OO RWILLIAMS &-2

YOU HEAR THAT 2 JEFF PICKETS | NOT ME! DEAD, AND IF YOU DON'T TELL / YOU SEE -WHO THET THIRD BANDIT WAS, THIS HERE THEY'LL HANG YOU FER MURDER 2

ALLEY OOP

GREAT SCAT! HE DRANK IT!

YEH-BUT I'M 2%

YOU MISS looo “MOO

215.1 AVE A ( THIS IS. A VISITOR FOR ; PLEASURE - COME RIGHT IN AND ‘MAKE YOURSELF

} AT HOME ~

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

ny SPAT. OFE/|

—By Crane

INC. 7. M. REG. )

OH,HO! YOU FELL) FER IT, YOU DUMB LUCK:

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SERVICE. INC, . 8. PAT. OFF.

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WE OW MANE A © | { BUT,LFE 1S LIKE THAT, YOULL FIND! TX HAS TO BE, JUST LIKE A TOSSEDUP SALAD w= A BY OF THS ,AND A —1| B8'r OF THAT ! A LITTLE OF EUERYTHING we BUT, TOO MUCH OF ANN~THING SPONS AT ALL