The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-18

she stamped her letter and ran over
to him and asked him please to drop
1t In the postoffice when he got to
town.
TN do it, gal" was his hearty re.
ply. ITO Dick Redfern, eh? Dicks
q purity fine boy, and was glad when
heard of the match. Oh. yes, I'll
mail your letter"
And then-he didn't. He carried It
in the breast pocket Of his coat and
never thought OF it again. Miss Min
ME looked for Dick that evening. but
| she looked in vain The same next
day and evening-the same for a
week. Then she was both repentant
and indignant. In her repentance she
weut and in her anger she cried out:
Il was a fool to give him chance
to snub me! Dick Redeem can just
70 to grass"
And as the letter hadn't reached
Dick he was hcaving signs and calling
himself an idiot at the same time. At
the end Of ten days both lovers heard
some interesting news. Gossip had it
that Dick vas TO marry Susy Tomp-
kins and Miss Minnie had promised
her hand to Milton Swift There was
nothing in it but gossip, but It made
two people very uncomfortable. Both
would deny the report about them.
selves. but not about the other. With
Il little more encouragement gossip
went so far as TO set the wedding days
and prepare the bridal outfits. The
old love was surely off in everybody's
opinion.
Then came day when Farmer Col.
Inns took down his best coat again to
hunt through the pockets in hopes OF
finding some tobacco for his pipe All
of sudden his good wife heard him
call out:
Wall. now, by heck!"
Joshua, what you swearing for?"
was asked.
Il am an old fool!"
That's no news"
IL orter be kicked by dozen
cows"
You may get it If ysu live long
huff"
1.-TWO or three weeks ago Minnie
Baines asked me to mail a letter in
town for her. Here it Is. forgot
all about it."
Who's it writ to-"
Dick Rcdfern."
"My stars! Joshua Collins, you
have surely cut dog in two! AS
understand it, they had little spat
about 2 hired man. and Dick got on
his high horse. After Il week Minnie
wrote that letter to make up Dick
never got it. and now they are both
going to marry some one clse."
"By heck and by hem"
Swearing won't do any good. You
have ruined two lvcs."
"Ilerc-gimme the letter." he cx.
claimed as he snatchcd for H. and
next minute he was out Of the door
and running for the Widows house.
Miss Minnie sat on the veranda alone.
and he held up the letter and said
Il forgot to mail IT,"
"Oh, Uncle JOSH" she moaned.
"ies, went right past the postoffice
twice. and. like the old fool am.
clean forgot"
I'm so sorry"
would that ere letter have made
up the fuss between you?"
IL think so"
Then give It here"
But. Uncle Josh"
Gimme the letter."
With It in his hand he ran for HE
barnyard. and Ave minutes later was
speeding toward the village on the
bare back OF his old mare. Six miles
there and six back lie made II In
little over one hour. and brought with
him word that Dick Redfern would DO
out within an hour Dick came. and
JOY and happiness were shedding their
radiance around like n 25.ccnt electric
mantle when in walked Uncle Josh
TO say:
Them twelve miles on the gallon
WAS too much for Sally. and she's
dead She was tWcnty-four years old.
however. and I'm an old fool. and if
YOU two folks make up and cit mar.
ried your tatcrs shan't cost you n cent
for the next year."