The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-18


polling way. come with me for
walk"
The girl rose reluctantly.
Not far" she stipulated.
only to the arbOr." he said.
A sudden daring entered her heart.
Would he ask her. too? 1t is rather
an unusual experience to be proposed
TO in words as familiar as those in
which this proposal would undoubt-
eddy be versed:
Il may as we'll see it through" she
thought bitterly.
In the fragrant twilight of the
arbor he made her comfortable in
silence.
There is to be a little variety this
time" she thought with strange hui
NOR Il am not asked to be seated
that | may have something very spe-
cial said to ME. Perhaps he lays his
failures to fault in his system and
is going to vary the program with this
yictm."
Lucy" he said huskily, taking her
cold little hands in bis big comfort
able ones, Il love you'll love you!
1t seems almost absurd to tell you
so, because | have loved you so long.
and it seems as if you must have
known it.
Il could not ask you to marry me
before, dear, when had nothing to
offer you. have just got the new
position that I've been working for
I've only been reasonably sure of it
for two hours. and now can take
care Of you. Lucy, as would wish.
VIII you marry me. darling? | Offer
You clean record and as great a
love as man can give woman
"A clean re rd." cried Lucy Des-
more.
Aaron o,anley, was in the ham
mock back Of this arbor this after.
noon; heard every word. How can
YOU come TO me this evening with a
tale OF love? DO you suppose would
marry
Watt" commanded the young
man sharply. DO not say another
word, beg you. You in the hammock,
Lucy? Oh, good heavens" He
dropped her hands.
Only trust me few minutes long
er Lucy" he pleaded at last. II can
explain the whole accursed thing,
black as 1t looks against me. DO not
say another word. Gomez"
She followed him silently.
Stay here" he whispered. seating
her beside q window on the upper
veranda.
Then he tapped lightly on the win
dow and stepped inside.
"MacGregor." he said to the man
seated at the low table. you offered
me that position on a peculiar condi.
ton. You want married man."
Il do. Stanley"
And. since | am neither married
nor engaged. you stipulate that am
to propose to three eligible young Ia.
dies, the first two of whom are to re.
iect me and the third to accept-that
this is to be done without any explana.
ton OF any sort to the young ladies'.
Those are the conditions"
You are right. my boy Any
young fellow who has the nerve to
pull off a stunt Of that sort is just the
fellow | want"
very we'll, sir. At four this after
noon | proposed to Florence Tracey in
the rose arbor. She refused me. At
4:3O / repeated the performance with
Mary MacWayne as leading lady. with
similar results. Half an hour ago." his
voice grew suddenly tender. Il asked
the dearest girl in the world TO marry
me-
And she accepted you?"
she is going to-" he anwered
II only WISH" said McGregor ad
miringly. that she knew the sort OF
fellow she is getting. Come up in
the morning and we'll fix up the pa
pers" NlacGregor's usually gruff voice
was very cordial
Aaron Stanley stumbled through the
window, held out his hands entreating
" 10 the girl She slipped her own
into them happily
sweetheart. forgive me for saying
you were going to accept me-" he
begged humbly. Il had to say that
or lose you-and cannot lose you
Lucy"