The Hidden Garden, Based on The Secret Garden By Frances Hogdson Burnett

The Hidden Garden,

Based on The Secret Garden

By Frances Hogdson Burnett 

Lady Karissa loved gardens as she grew up in a suburb of Washington. D.C. her late mother had gardens on the property that they lived on in a simple two level house.

Lady karissa ‘s late mother came from an quite ordinary Southern Baptist family with two other siblings, Louis and Louise.

Lady Karissa ‘s maternal grandfather and grandmother were farmers in Southern Alabama and they raised Pecans, Cotton, and farm animals.

Lady Karissa ‘s maternal grandfather was too young when World War I broke and he was too old when World War II broke out.

Edgar Lenwood Stanton was a direct descendant of Edwin McMasters Stanton and his ancestor came from Ireland and French and they left England, French, and Ireland to escape religious persecution from both the Puritans and Roman Catholics. 

They were French Huguenots that married other Protestants and they believed in the reformation.

Lady Karissa late father, Benjamin Lawrence Lowell, came from an English-Scots and Irish ancestry from Wessex, England and her paternal grandfather, Benjamin Luke Lowell earned his degree from Auburn University and The University of Chicago in Illinois and he returned to Talladega, Alabama and he married his sweetheart, Myrtle Collars who was 15 years younger than he was.

They eloped with each  other in 2198,and in 2200 their first child was born and they named him Benjamin Lawrence, a second son, Robert James was born in 2221, followed by third son, Benjamin Luke Lowell in 2224, and daughter, Mary Elizabeth in 2225 and a fourth son, Herman Rudolph born 2230 and it was Mary Elizabeth who introduced Matte Colleen Stanton to her oldest brother who was five years older than she was and in May of 2243, Lenwood Edgar signed for his second daughter, Matte Colleen to marry Benjamin Lawrence Lowell.

Well, his wife, Anna Hixon Stanton wasn’t very happy with his decision but he didn’t give a damn and he told his wife so.

Benjamin and Matte Colleen had their first child, a son, Benjamin Lawrence in 2244, Stanton King Lowell in 2249, Lawreen Cottilaer in 2252, followed by Lady Karissa Elizabeth Ann in 2255, Anna Colleen in 2256 and finally Cameron Montgomery born in 2265.

Benjamin Lawrence was 45 years old and Matte Colleen was 40 years old when they completed their family in 2265.

They were all born in Post World War III Planet Earth and no one knew the long term side effects of radiation poisoning.

Post World War III Planet Earth still suffered with famine, pestilence, and diseases, and food was being rationed but Benjamin Lawrence was an attorney and able to feed and maintain his family.

Until starting in 2268, one by one they started to experience the long term side effects to radiation poisoning and the first one to go was their eldest son, Benjamin Lawrence JR, followed by their second son, Stanton King, followed by Lawreen, followed by Anna Colleen and Cameron and finally Matte Colleen watches her husband and she was the last one of them to die in 2269.

Lady Karissa was the only to escape the long term side effects of radiation poisoning and sent to live with relatives in California but on May 1, 2270 she was driven to San Francisco to board The USS Republic to be transported to Star Base 12.

Karissa was only 15 years old when she boarded the USS Republic with 499 other war orphans.

The trip took five years to reach Star Base 12 but she was befriended by Lt. Kevin Thomas Riley.

The USS Republic orbits around Star Base 12 on May 1, 2274 and Lt Kevin Thomas Riley and Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell are the last ones to be transported down to Star Base 12.

Waiting to meet the new arrivals to Star Base 12 are Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR, Duke of Norfolk Territory and Lord Richard William Carey, Duke of Bedford Territory. The two biggest territories on Star Base 12.

Both are direct descendants of Lord John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk of England.

Lord Charles Andrew Howard through the male line of Lord John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk and his son, Lord Thomas William Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Lord Richard William Carey, through the matrinenal line of Lord John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk and his granddaughter, Lady Elizabeth Howard, who married Sir Thomas Boleyn and they had three children, Lady Mary, Queen Anne Boleyn and Lord George Boleyn and Lord Thomas Howard’s son, Lord William Howard, and through his son, Lord Charles Howard who marries his second cousin, Lady Catherine Carey, the granddaughter of Lady Mary Boleyn and Lord William Carey.

Lt Kevin Thomas Riley walks Karissa up to meet both Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR and Lord Richard William Carey and standing with his father is Lord Andrew Charles Howard.

It is  Lord Andrew Charles Howard that marries Karissa Elizabeth Ann Lowell in 2275, and he presents her as a wedding present at the Manor of Beltane that is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Lady Karissa calls the gardens surrounded by high walls “The Hidden Garden” and she keeps the key around her neck on a sterling silver chain.

Lady Karissa remembers the novel “The Secret Garden “ and she calls her garden “The Hidden Garden”, but she tells Lord Andrew Charles “It’s a children’s garden.” 

“The garden will always be open to the children. Children need to be able to run wild and free. They don’t need to grow up too fast.” Lady Karissa explains.

“Children need to be able to be children.” Lady Karissa states and with that she takes her two young daughters , Lady Elizabeth and Lady Samhain out into the hidden garden and she teaches them to love nature, respect nature, to sing and dance and clap their hands and love music, art, literature, and reading.” 

Lady Karissa watches her daughters play with each other in the golden sunlight over Beltane Manor and Star Base 12.

The hidden garden has a secret door that only Lord Richard William Carey knows about and he enters it and he watches Lady Karissa with her two daughters who are his third cousins.

Lord Richard William Carey watches from a distance until Lady Karissa notices him standing watching her and she walks over to him “ How long have you been watching me?”

“Not very long, Lady Karissa.” Lord Richard William tells her. “I came through the private entrance.” 

“I will have the private entrance closed up. I only want one entrance to the garden.” Lady Karissa tells him.

Lady Karissa has the masonry seal up the private entrance and she tells everyone “ If the door is unlocked and opened. Anyone is welcome to come in but if the door is unlocked but closed they must have permission to come into the garden.”

“The garden is my  private sanctuary. I must have a place of my own where I can take my children to play wild and free.” Lady Karissa explains.

“I will respect your wishes.” Lord Richard William tells her “ But I can’t live a day without seeing you.” 

“Don’t you remember the song that I sang to you on my wedding day “Hold Onto Your Dreams and Our Day Will Come.” Lady Karissa asks.

“I remember them both very well. “ Lord Richard William tells Lady Karissa..

“I beseech you to hold onto our dreams.” Lady Karissa asks.

“I am still angry at Lord Andrew Charles for marrying you.” Lord Richard William tells Lady Karissa.

“Why waste your breath on it?” Lady Karissa asks.

“It is not worth it.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“We must abide our time until Lady Elizabeth grows up and she becomes Duchess of Norfolk Territory.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“I don’t want anything to happen to my children’s father. No matter how bad he is.” Lady Karissa states.

“In time we will have our own child to love and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“Remember that our child will be a sibling to Lady Elizabeth and Lady Samhain, but I have one more child to give to Lord Andrew Charles before I can even think about having our child.” Lady Karissa tells him.

“I made a vow to make sure neither the Howard’s or Carey’s would cease to exist  and with Odin by my side they will continue on Star Base 12 and flourish to Star Base 10.” Lady Karissa states.

Lord Richard William Carey looks at Lady Karissa and he smiles and tells her “ I love you, Lady Karissa and I am a patient man.” 

Lady Karissa smiles and she tells him “ Patience is a virtue.” 

From the distance, Lord Andrew Charles Howard is watching and he enters the garden and he looks at his second cousin once removed, Lord Richard William Carey “ What are you doing here , Lord Richard William Carey with my Duchess and children?” 

“I came to visit my third cousins, Lord Andrew Charles  and to converse with Lady Karissa.” Lord Richard William states.

“They are my third cousins and I love them. They are the great-great-grandchildren of Lord Frederick William Howard as I am.” Lord Richard William reminds him. 

“Lord Charles Andrew Howard JR told me to remember who my kin were.” Lord Richard William states. “But it appears you have forgotten who your own cousins are.” 

“I have so many cousins. I can’t keep up with them.” Lord Andrew Charles states, “I know that Lord Richard Edward II is my first cousin, and Lord David William Beck is my first cousin twice removed, and Lord Frederick William Howard is my first cousin once removed and Lord Frederick William Howard is my first cousin thrice removed and Lord Richard Edward Howard III is my first cousin once removed, and Lord David William Beck II is my first cousin thrice removed and you are my first cousin thrice removed.” Lord Andrew Charles states.

“Lord Richard Edward II is my first cousin thrice removed, Lord Thomas and I are third cousins, and Lord Frederick William is my first cousin thrice removed.” Lord Richard William states, “Lady Elizabeth and Samhain are my third cousins.”

“Lord Andrew Charles and Lord Richard William. Don’t fight in front of the children. They don't need it.” Lady Karissa  tells them.

“Whatever your petty differences are. I don’t care to hear them. Duke it out but take it out of my garden and off my property.” Lady Karissa tells both of them.

“Take it to Norfolk Estate and duke it out and may the best man win.” Lady Karissa tells them and with that they both shut up and quiet.

“Andrew Charles. We will discuss this matter further at Beltane Manor.” Lady Karissa states.

“I came out to find out when the children and you were going to come back in.” Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

“The children are playing and I love the garden;” Lady Karissa states. “You may stay or leave.” 

“Lord Richard is free to remain if he so desires.” Lady Karissa tells Lord Andrew Charles and with that Lord Andrew Charles bows and he walks out of the garden and Lady Karissa and Lord Richard William remain out in the Hidden Garden while the children play with each other.