The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-13
aiming Of
Rodney

When Rodney was Is and developed
such a violent and romantic passion
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 studious mind and
had finally delivered the verdict that
he was blessed II 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 it. 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 1t 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-wcll, that was
positively Irresistible.
Rodney rushed out to San Francisco
or Seattle or Reno or wherever it was,
Just two weeks after Stella left. lie
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 trcllised arbor in her yard, he
told her how lie 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 60 back home.
The next morning Stella got tele
gram from him. sent from the train or
which he was speeding eastward. II
read: Consider It all mistake and
at an end. Am miserable. VIII write.
BY the time the startled Stella had
got Rodney's explanatory letter and
perused It and completely failed to un
derstand It. Rodney had discovered tc
his alarm that he did not experience
HE usual citation, at being free from
an ENHANCEMENT. He had heavy
heart and Z 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 tC
the coast and metaphorlcally cast him
self at Stella's feet. Stella smiled hel
slow, sweet smile. regarded him mus
ingly and then practically summoned
the gardener to sweep him out will
the other rubbish. Rodney went ani
sat by the sea after that and medl
tated upon death and raved at him
self. Stella regularly hung up the re
ceiver whenever .she found him on tn,
phone, so after a while he returned
home, a blighted being. Everybod.
knew he was blighted being becaus,
he made no secret Of II.
Stella was his only thought and hi.
sole conversational topic. till finall,
his family struck. They told him t.
clear out and go and marry Stella b.
main force or else fall In love Will
some one else before he returne,
home. So he hunted up Stella.
Rodney was very much in earnes
and very desperate and he made Stell:
listen. Incidentally she gathered hi
sentimental history from friends o
hers who knew him we'll. But Stell;
was q wise girl and saw possibilities
I'm going TO take chance tina
you mean what you say" Stella to!,
him. Anyhow I hope you do meal
: what you say. because well. In
foolish enough to like you myself,
think I'll marry you after all"
Today" Rodney cried. jubilantly.
Il should say not" said Stella. witt
decision. I'm going TO give mysel
six months to change my own mind
The six months during which Rod