The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-12
When Spring
Comes

Well. it's beginnin' to look a little
like spring. Amt it," ventured the
groceryman as he tramped a muddy
path across the kitchen floor and be-
gan dumping the supplies on the table.
Il amt seen no robin yet. like some
Of these guys that's writin' to the pa.
pers, but ! kin sort O feel it in my
bones. Spring fever. guess. huh?"
The pretty cook smiled disdainfully
as she brought out the mop and start.
ed to clean up her floor.
THAT'S a good name to call it. sup
pose" she said. Il know when my
brothers back on the farm got SO lazy
they couldn't do anything but go fish
ing they used to talk about spring fe.
yer. But my poor old father had To do
all the chOres-he was too busy to
have spring fever"
That's the way-jump on me-" said
the groceryman mournfully. "Just
when ! thought prob1y you'd get
little bit sentimental about the comm
Of spring and matin' of birds and-and
all that. Don't you never feel that
way in the spring. Evelina? You
knOw-like you ought to have strong
, arm to lean on?"
"Any time want a strong arm to
lean on know where to find one"
retorted the pretty cook. III you
don't want to feel strong arm your.
self you'll 60 along out Of this kitchen
and let me get my work done"
The grOceryman sighed and moved
slowly as far as the door with his box
under his arm, but he kept his gaze on
the pretty cook.
Il wisht could think up some way
Of maxim you feel the way | do" he
said gloomily. SOS you wouldn't hand
me bump like that every time try
to talk about somethin' besides groce-
ries. | should think you'd want to
look ahead a little bit and sort O
think where you'll be five years from
now. Let's figger a little. Evelina.
won't you?" he added. anxiously.
The pretty cook jerked the kettle
Off the stove and poised II menacing-
ly, but the stream splashed into the
dishpan moment later. and the
groceryman brcathcd more freely.
III that's the way spring fever
makes you talk she said. you'd bet
ter go and see Il doctor and get 1t out
of your system. I'm too busy to do
any figuring this morning, and that
wagon load of groceries you've got
out there in the street will get wilted
If you don't hurry along with EN-.
What are you waiting for. anyhow?
We pay our grocery bill by the week,
You know"
Il know" said the grOceryman, edg-
ing slowly toward the door. u amt
worryin' none about your bill. II you
folks was to fall a little behind and
the boss should mention it to me, Eve.
lima, Id just pay 1t myself on account
of you. rather than say anything to
your missus. Honest, Id settle 1t up
and work It all out IL it took me six
months. That's the kind of friend
am"
what do I care?" said the maid,
scOrnfully. 81 shouldn't be surprised
II 1t took you six months to earn what
our grocery bill is every week--the
prices that man you're working for Is
charging nowadays
Jaw, now, didn't expect you to get
into the knockers club about the
prices, protested the groccryman
I've told you half a dozen times that
we don't get the money. It's them
farmers that's gettn' 1t all. Haven't
you been readn' about EN- ridin'
around in automobiles and havin' tele'
phones from the house To the barn to
give the hired man orders. and all
that? Us folks are payin' for that
swell business, and it's the poor
grocer who gets the blame. That's
Just what | was thinkin' when 1t felt
SO balmy and springlkc today-if
only had a nice little place in the
country, with few pigs an calves"
YOU'D feel right at home. wouldn't
your" snapped the pretty cook
That's where you'd shine. The pigs
wouldn't mind how much you loafed-
they're used to 1t. from al I've seen
of pigs. And the calves wouldn't care
how much noise you made-you could
stand around and talk to them all day
and not bother 'em a bit. But folks
happen to have work to do. and If you
get in their way you're likely to get
into trouble"
The groceryman sighed again and
slowly edged his way out to the back
porch. But still he hesitated.
II cant understand it," he unused
aloud. Now. to look at you, Evelina,
anybody would think you was real
sentimental girl that would sympa.
thize with a Teller when he's feelin'-"
With a deft move the pretty cook
stepped behind the door and closed 1t
on the sentimental groceryman.-Chi-
cago Daily News.