The sheriff took Rachel home from the hospital, and they stopped at her parents on the way. The four Bishops were there and she was not allowed to enter the house. She had the sheriff take her to Walcott’s Mills where she secured an apartment. Her first business was to visit the library and secure Jean Stratton Porter books. Her greatest joy was being able to put up Christmas decorations and a tree, which had been forbidden by her faith.
She met a girl her age who helped her enroll in WMHS. Through the help of her friend she was able to graduate in 2 years. Then it was off to Purdue.
Something had happened while she was still living at home. One day while she was walking to her aunt’s house, a car speeding by ran her off the road. She had to take the ditch. The boy hit the brakes, backed up and apologized profusely. He was a student at Purdue, and lived at Rome City. He was driving a yellow convertible with the name Stutz on the front. His name was Lance Martel.
Now that she was going to Purdue would she perhaps see the boy with the yellow Stutz Bearcat. Unknown to her, he had been hunting for her, and had even gone to her home. The small gas station, near Rachel’s house had seen her, but had no idea where she was. They had even passed on opposite sides of the street.
Rachel took a room in the dorm and thoroughly enjoyed her time at Purdue. Being older she became close friends of the dean of women. She began giving talks on the Amish faith, and wrote her cousin asking her to make her an Amish outfit. It felt good dressing in her familiar clothes once more.
One afternoon returning from a tea party at the dean’s house, it was getting late. She was in a melancholy mood and found a bench on the Oval, beside the grave of John Purdue. Hearing the sound of the crickets, she began to relax, and watched as a yellow Stutz convertible came down the street and stopped right in front of her.
As she watched, her shadow became three-dimensional, left her and entered The Secret Garden. And the boy’s shadow left him and also entered The Secret Garden. As she watched the two shadows began to dance, slowly at first as if doing a waltz. Then faster and more passionate, until the passion reached a heated peak and the shadows fell to the ground exhausted, and blended into one. She had become an alumnus of those who have seen the garden of three-dimensional shadows.
Rachel attended class in the summer, only taking off holidays to visit her apartment at Walcott’s Mills. One day in her sophomore year returning from class she saw the Stutz convertible parked on the street. It was definitely the same car she had seen at home. On a whim she left a note on the windshield. If you wish to see the little Amish girl she is in 310 Duncan Hall.
20 minutes later she received a knock on her door. They looked at each other a few seconds, then melted into each other’s arms. After that day Lance and Rachel were together every spare moment. They studied together at night, picnicked on the Wabash, and spent holidays with his folks in Rome City, and visited Rachel’s apartment.
Rachel went to school every summer and was able to graduate the same time as Lance. He had presented her with a gift. Being an architectural student, as a project he had drawn up plans for a mansion with specifications that they had talked about, that each wanted. Her desire was a special reading room and library. They purchased a lot on Oliver Lake and contracted to have it built.
But now Rachel had one last request. She wanted to teach one year at WMHS, but married women were not allowed to teach. Would Lance wait one more year. The next year at the Methodist Church, there was a wedding such as Wolcott’s Mills had never seen before. After the reception, the newlyweds drove the Stutz the three miles to Oliver lake, and their new dream home.
Here they spent a remaining days, watching the ducks on Oliver lake, and Rachel spending time in her library. Rachel never saw her folks again, although she lived just a few miles from them. She became good friends with her little sister, and was able to keep up with her family through her.
PS: I read about The Secret Garden, years ago and wondered if it actually existed. I even knew several Purdue grads and they weren’t much help. Then Mrs. Google came along, shows where it is, and even has pictures of it.
—James Neuhouser
