John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein

apidly down the broad centre path of the garden, looking for John Gay

do this because you compose stories yourself which in some ways are a good deal like this of mine. But I can't tell it to

ity; "and if you will go and make yourself comfortab

nto the ground or which wanted sharpening, but he succeeded in getting a small armful of them, and

-rimmed spectacles far out into the sunl

was exactly what he would like to hear, provided it

. She had thought of hundreds of things she would like to do if she only could do them in her own way and without control by other people. She was very anxious to perform deeds, noble deeds if possible, but she could not endure the everlasting control whic

th whom my heroine was acquainted went forth to do battle for their country and their principles, or

ohn Gayther. "Almia de Ponsett is the

war went on. Everybody who was worth anything was doing something, and here she was doing nothing. What was there she could do? This became the great question of her life. If I were about to write out this story I would say some

w. There was positively no end to the things she would have to do to get a regular appointment to go forth and do her duty to her country. So she threw up the whole business of regular army nursing, and made up her mind to go out into the field of duty to which she had appointed herself, and do the things she ought to do in the way she thought they ought to be done. She likened herself to the knights of old who used to go forth to fight fo

enemy," suggest

ely independent; he is under nobody; and that suited Almia. A bushwhacker nurse was exactly what

the young lady's parents-or perha

no parents in this case, at least none to be considered. I don't say whether they were dead or not, but the stor

d as if he thought she was

the chin; and from her belt on the left side she hung a very little cask, which she happened to have, something like those carried by the St. Bernard dogs in Switzerland when they go to look for lost travellers; and this she filled with brandy. In her pockets she put every kind of thing that

r, "that was dangerous. And then, you

story goes on. Then, when she put on a long waterproof clo

ir. He was sure she had had an abundance of light silvery-golden hair which fluffed itself all about her head under her wide hat

he next morning, she hired a cab to take her out to the battle-field. The cabman drove her several miles into the country, but when he heard the booming of the preliminary cannon with which the battle was then opening, he refused to go any farther, and she was obliged to get out at the corner of a lane and the highroad. She paid the man his fare a

was a nurse, and that he must not fail to call for her at the time appointed. Then he drove away; and she walked rapidly along the lane, which seemed to lead toward the battle-field. The lane soon began to curve, and she left it and walked across several fields. Soon she came

ht she perceived a faint smell of powder in the air. This made her feel wonderfully independent, and she strode onward with a light and fearless step. But when she came to a bosk

ople who are really in earnest, especially people in fiction, go forth to find things they want, they generally find them. And if it is highly desirable that these things should be out of the common the

gardener; "I compr

far away, the clash of arms. Greatly excited, she silently moved on, and peeping out from behind some foliage, she saw in a small open space in the woods two men engaged in single combat. How her heart did beat! She was frightened nearly to death. But she did not think of fligh

eathern belt. Fiercely and swiftly their long swords clashed. Sparks flew, and the ring of the steel sounded far into the woods; but there was none to hear save Almia only, and her so

fore," thought John Gayt

se brave warriors flat upon his back upon the grass, the wild flowers, and bits of bark. Instantly the impulses of a woman flashed through every vein and nerve of that onlooking girl. Scarcely had the tall form of the soldier touched the sod when she became a nurse. Sp

icycle-skirts," th

is shirt-sleeve he showed Almia that the cut was in the lower part of his left arm. Instantly despatching the other soldier to a neighboring spring for water, she cleansed the wound, and, finding it was not very deep, she drew the edges of th

al!' he cried, springing to his feet under the revivifying influence of the brandy. 'No hospital for me! I can walk as well as anybody. And now, sir,' he said, speaking to his former o

ldiers in these days should engage in single combat with long swords, how one

no knowing what she might meet with next. The soldier who had conquered now spoke. 'Yes, sir,' said he; 'you are my prisoner, and it is my duty to take you to my regime

thought John Gayther, "I should

to the dictates of my judgment. You are my prisoners; and if one of you attempts to escape it will be the duty of the other to assist in arresting his enemy. Do not smile; I am armed.' And with this she took from her pocket the pistol with the five barrels. The two soldiers stopped smiling. 'Yes,' continued Almia; 'I would not wish to do anything of the kind, but if either of you attempts to escape I will call upon him to halt, and if he does not do

d he, 'would you assist this lady in restraining me?' 'I would,' answered the other. 'Then I would do the sa

t fifteen minutes; "I suppose you could not tell by their uniforms which

She was determined to be absolutely impartial. 'Now, then,' said Almia to her prisoners, 'I am going to get just as close to the battle as I can. I am delighted to have you with me, not only because you c

e was making calculations in it with a lead-pencil. At the sound of approaching footsteps he rose to his feet, still holding the open book in his hand. He was a moderately tall man, a little round-shouldered, and about fifty years old. He wore a soldier's hat and coat, but his clothes were so covered with dust it was impossible to perceive to which army he belonged. He had a bushy beard, and that was also very dusty. He

t. 'Well, well, well,' said he, 'this is what might be expected from the tendency of the times! There are sixteen thousand two hundred and forty more wo

answered the dusty man, 'but, under the circumstances,'-regarding very closely the trousers of Almia's two companions,-'I am very glad you do not want to know to which side I belong. The facts of the case are these: I am an Exceptional Pedestrian. I am also a very earnest student of social aspects considered

join your company for the present.' 'I have no objection myself,' said Almia, 'but what do you say?' she asked, addressing the two soldiers. 'I am afraid, miss,' replied the man with the brown hair, who had recognized some peculiarities in the fashion of the stranger's dusty clothes, 'that if

nd who could not get away from her. They were like three mice tied together by the tails, eac

gular corps of nurses. Then any meritorious action on your part would have been noted and reported to the authorities, and your good conduct would have been recognized. But n

proceed to a greater distance along the path of duty than we wou

; it reached the spot where Almia's burning eyes glowed through the crevices of the foliage. Wildly galloping, cavalryman after cavalryman passed her by. The eyes of the horses flashed fire, and their nostrils were widely distended as if they smelt the battle from afar. Their powerful necks were curved; their hoofs spurned the echoing earth; and their riders,

the grandeur of glorious war! Oh, how willingly would she have mounted a fleet stee

of cavalry on the march, but he ha

ly the soldiers had brought no rations with them, and Almia had only some Albert biscuit, which she did not wish to eat because she had brought them to relieve the faintne

ow me where I should find my comrades. There is no better way to discover the position of an army than by observing the inclination of the geological strata. In this section, for instance, the general trend of the beds of limestone and quartz indicates the direction of the running streams, and these naturally flow into the valleys and plains, and the land, being well watered, is more fertile; consequently it wa

the battle comes over from that w

Exceptional Pedestrian, '

ion above sea-level of the soil in which it grew. The people who grew these apples would have done much better if they had devoted themselves to the cultivation of the huckleberry. These they could have sold, and then have bought much better apples grown in the plains. I also notice that the flour of which this pastry is made was ground from the wheat of this region, which is alwa

nd they would not go in any other direction, although the Exceptional Pedestrian endeavored to overwhelm them with arguments to prove that he was right. The din of

on the other, and how regiments and battalions and detachments from each side came down into the beautiful plain and fought and fired and struggled until the grass was stained with blood; and how the cannon roared from the hills and mowed down whole battalions of infantry below; how brave so

And she could do nothing! Her labors would be useful only in cases of isolated woundings. If she were to mingle in the fray she would perish in the general slaughter; and if she were to go and offer ass

several horsemen, take a position upon a hillock not far from the spot where she and her companions were concea

sharp-shooter," thought John Ga

e latter galloped away into the valley toward the right, and very soon the battle raged more fiercely in that direction, and the booming of the cannon and the cracking of the rifles was more continuous. Then another officer was sent galloping to the left, and in this direction, too, the battle gre

r, 'of stopping this? These two armies are like

ional Pedestrian. 'A declaration of war eliminates hum

usage of nations,' sa

nd peered afar. Then, suddenly turning, he sent his only remaining follower with clattering hoofs to carr

no thought to the falling of brave men or the flowing of

ands?' asked Almia, tr

them,' he said, 'there would soon be an end to the battle. He is the soul, the di

which desecrated the beautiful plain, but she saw, far, far away, the mothers and sisters of those who were dead, dying, and wounded; she saw the whiteness of their face

dly toward the Commander-in-Chief, whose eyes were fixed so steadfastly on the battle that he did not notice her approach. The three s

ed bewilderment. He gazed at the three soldiers, and again looked down at her. 'Girl!' he thundered, 'what do you mean? Let go my horse!' As he said these words he gave his bridle a jerk; but the noble steed paid no attention to his master. He was not afraid of girls. In former days he had

f his sword. If Almia had been a man he would have cut her down. 'Girl!' h

I am entirely independent. These men are under my control. They are from the opposing armies, and compel each other to obey my commands. I have determined to stop this blood and slaughter. If

at the reins; but Almia had just given the noble animal another biscuit, and

to come down or she would be killed. She instantly obeyed this warning, but she did not release her hold upon the general's bridle. She started down the hillock away from the ba

-in-Chief, she said, 'You might as well surrender. I do not wish to injure you, but i

loaded?' excla

ed Almia, 'and w

he terrible battle, showed signs of fear. 'A girl with a pistol,' said he, 'makes me shu

are my enemy, sir,' he said, 'and I am bound to assist in your capture if

in every direction. Without a word the whole party retired rapidly to an open space behind a large overh

urrowed brows he waited, while Almia fed his horse. The brown-haired soldier came quickly back. 'Tell me,' cried the general, with

'it did not charge in time, and it is now all mixed

d the general

emy is in active pursuit, and its left wing is now advancing up this side of the valley. In less than twenty minutes the ret

drawing his sword from its scabbard

impossible. If you were now to attempt to approach our a

attle of the war! If I had been able to order my cavalry to charge, the enemy's left wing would have been cut from their main body. But for you

e to be. 'Yes,' she said; 'that is what I did. And if this was the decisive battle of the war, then will follow peace; blood will cease to flow, widows and orphans wi

the Exceptional Pedestrian. 'I admit I am a soldier, but I do

ho remarked: 'It would be well for us to retire, f

notice; apparently he

brown-haired man, 'but you m

est?' he asked. 'I must take a roundabout way, and join

the limestone- and quartz-beds, and then keep along the crest of the mountain for about eight miles, y

Almia had now released, and, casting another look of sadnes

s given to him by the Exceptional Pedestrian, he rode at full speed into the ranks of the enemy, and was

a traitor, but only a person accustomed to making mistake

he had taken when she walked to the battle-field. A little after eight o'clock

over, and my regiment probably scattered, I shall go West. There are many features of our social aspects out there which I wish to study. But be

n Albert biscuit which gave us peace. If that horse had not been

y had come into her life in such a strange way; for a time she had ruled their destinies, and they had been so good to her! They had stood by her, regardless of everything but her wishes; and then, they were bo

of them it was. At a turn in the road she sank into her seat. She was tired; she was faint; and, instinctively thrusting her hand into her pocket, she found there one Albert biscuit which had been

had looked back, the brown-haired soldier or the black-haired one. Then she tr

ey would let her know how fortune should treat them. Day after day she watched and waited for the

ral appearance, but of course she did not know the handwriting. She held it in her hand and gazed

the letter, which was long. It told of many things; and, among others, it informed Almia how grateful were the writer's wife and two little girls for the kindness sh

She sat still, looking out into the nothingness of the distant sky. Then her face flushed again, and her heart

She hated war; but, if men must fight, it is glorious to conquer, and she had seen his quick and practised blade lay low his enemy. The thought of his power made her heart swell. Moreover, he had stood by her in the moment of greatest peril;

a supreme effort Almia controlled herself; she bade her heart be still, and she went down to meet him. She was dressed in white; there were flowers in h

before; he was glorious now. Arrayed in fashionable, well-fitting clothes, wearing only a mustache, and with his hair properly cut, he

ppened to be in the town in which she lived. When he went away she did not ask him to come again, and it was plain that he did not expect such an invitation. The few remarks he made about his future plans precluded the supposition that they might meet again. He was pleasant, he was polite, he was even kind; but when he departed he left her with a heart of stone. There was now nothing in the world for

lower and lower, and now she stopped. There were tears in her eyes, brought there by th

ou must have forgotten something-a good many things. Think it over, a

surprise. "What do

have done it. The longer he sat and looked at Miss Almia, the more he gazed into her beautiful eyes, the more fervently he must have thought that if it depended upon him he would never leave her, never, never again. And she, as she gazed into his handsome features, thrilling with the emotion he could not hide, must have known what was passing in his heart. It did not even need the words he soon spoke to make her underst

re sparkling; a little flush had come up

ing, John," said she; "but how did you ev

imes I notice things I cannot see, as when I look upon a flo

of the House walked away through the garden. She had determined to make her story

ORY IS

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