The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-31
aiming Of
Rodney

for the blond little girl In the corner
candy shop his fond parents sat up
nights holding their distracted heads
and bemoaning Rodney's fate, for they
were positive that matrimony, and
perhaps an elopement, would crown
the affair.
The little candy girl thought SO too.
for when Rodney Of a sudden calmly
announced that everything was over
between them she talked of a breach
of promise suit after she had finished
weeping and asking why he didn't love
her any more. To the latter query
Rodney had bent a studious mind and
had finally delivered the verdict that
he was blessed il he knew. Apparent
ly his affections came and went with
the wind.
After that followed love affairs with
long series of girls. Finally Rod.
ney's family became SO accustomed to
this sentimental state that they went
right on with their usual three meals
a day and paid no attention to 1t. II
Rodney was not at the point where he
had at last found the girl of his heart
and everything was settled he was at
the next point where OF sudden he
had decided that It was all mistake
and he did not really care for that par.
ticular girl.
Finally he met Stella. She had
paused for few days in the city on
her way to her home In San Francisco
or Seattle or Reno or some point in
the distant west. Rodney instantly
fell victim to her charms.
Stella was one of those girls who
are so slim that you think them skin.
ny until you observe that instead they
are merely 1.-THE and willowy. You
think her only moderately good look
ing until you dissect her face and con.
clude that there never before were
black eyes quite so big, skin quite so
white and fine and lips so clearly cut.
As for her slow smile-well, that was
positively irresistible.
Rodney rushed out to San Francisco
or Seattle or Reno or wherever it was,
Just two weeks after Stella left. He
said he had business out there and he
had. His business was to fall still
more deeply In love with Stella. Soon
there came day when. lettering un.
der the trelised arbor in her yard, he
told her how he felt and that he want.
ed her to marry him.
There is no reason to blame Stella
for liking him, because Rodney is
cminently likable and his wooing had
been spectacular and therefore attrac.
tive. She said yes-and Rodney de-
parted on air. because he simply had
to 80 back home.
The next morning Stella got tele-
gram from him. sent from the train on
which he was speeding eastward. 1t
read: Consider 1t all a mistake and
at an end. Am miserable. Will write"
BY the time the startled Stella had
got Rodney's explanatory letter and
perused it and completely failed to un.
derstand il. Rodney had discovered to
his alarm that he did not experience
his usual citation, at being free from
an ENHANCEMENT. He had heavy
heart and a yearning which he finally
figured out was desire to see Stella
again. He really loved her!
Expense not having to be consid.
cred by Rodney, he travelled back to
the coast and metaphorically cast him.
self at Stella's feet. Stella smiled her
slow, sweet smile, regarded him mus
ingly and then practically summoned |
the gardener to sweep him out with
the other rubbish. Rodney went and |
sat by the sea after that and medi-
tated upon death and raved at him.
self. Stella regularly hung up the re-
ceiver whenever she found him on the
phone, SO after while he returned
home, a blighted being. Everybody
knew he was blighted being because
Nc NlouC AO oSSkSI VI lts
Stella was his only thought and his
sole conversational topic. till finally
his family struck. They told him to
clear out and 60 and marry Stella by
main force or else fall In love with
some one else before he returned
home. So he hunted up Stella.
Rodney was very much in earnest
and very desperate and he made Stella
listen. Incidentally she gathered his
sentimental history from friends Of
hers who knew him well. But Stella
was a wise girl and saw possibilities.
I'm going to take a chance that
you mean what you say" Stella told
him. Anyhow | hope you do mean
what you say. because well. I'm
foolish enough to like you myself!
think Ill marry you after all
Today" Rodney cried. jubilantly.
Il should say not" said Stella. with
decision. I'm going TO give myself
six months to change my own mind"
The six months during which Rod
ney was on pins and needles for fear
she would suddenly and definitely
throw him overheard did him a lot OF
good. He was reformed character
when his wedding day arrived. You
Nould have Thought that he had never