The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-09
DOVE-P!E AND HONEY
By ROB M'CHEYNE.

man; you'll find dovepie and mesquite
honey mighty monotonous diet after
the honeymoon.
They were the words with which
old Henry P. had closed the interview
that had resulted in his giving his
daughter to the handsome young
westerner who had won her love,
That was more than a year ago; now
the big. brown-faced ranchman sat IN
the door Of his little shack. watching
a duststorm drift over the face Of the
setting sun, and thinking Of what the
hard-headed old flnancier had said
back there in his luxurious home In
various New York.
A slim figure in . blue dress came
slowly up the lane Of umbrella trees.
It was Jim's wife. There was a tired
stoop to her shoulders that was all
too plain in spite of the poise OF her
chin. She had old Henry P.'s chin.
Superb be ready In = minute.
Jim" she said.
What you goin' to have!
Il found some partridge eggs" she
said, holding out the blue sun.bonnet;
I'm going to make an omelet. Then,
there's dove-pie and mesquite honey"
Jim burst out laughing.
why, Jim," cried the little woman,
terribly hurt ~ thought you liked
partridge eggs"
Come here, little GIRL" He held
out two great brown arms and she
pumped into them regardless OF eggs
and Independence alike.
What was it, JIM" she asked,
when he had kissed away the tear.
oh. nothing, little linnet; it was
the--the dove-pie and the mesquite
honey"
But we haven't had them for ever
so long. thought you'd" She had
to bite hard on her lower lip to keep
her chin steady.
"How would my Sallie o like to see
little old New York;
80, jim. jim. you dear old thing"
Her arms were about his neck.
Really? Don't tell me it isn't SO
When"
Tomorrow.
How perfectly de- Not tomorrow |?
What'll I-?'
, Wear what you've got till you get
to Chicago, and then get something
fit to steal into broadway In, after
dark. You couldn't get anything here
but a string of beads and Navajo
ring, if you's TO wait a year. Tomor-
row you're off at daybreak.
But you're coming, too?'
"Why, little gray goose, couldn't
get away on bet
! They were rather silent as they
drove into the little railroad town the
next evening. There were plenty OF
things to be thought Of.
The big fellow stood on the platform
and watched the train pull out, and
the little figure in the gray gown and
turban left its impress on his heart
rather than his mind.
After all, there's a feeling OF free.
dom comes with this sort of thing
jim walked up the street with light
step. There was hum Of congenial.
ity about the open doors Of the ga
looms, billiard balls clicked In secret
merriment behind curtained windows
while from the subterranean depths OF
some basement near by came the Ions
roll and cataclasmic clash of the
bowling alley
"Hul-lo, JIM" He was greeted on
all sides. No one dared ask him to
have a drink, and he stood talking
with the proprietor. A game Of faro
was on at one side Of the room; the
roulette wheel was thronged with
players; Mexicans, Indians and white
men mingled amid perfect babel.
above which rose the song Of . rather
corpulent halfbreed girl and the
stringy tones Of an outworn plano.
"Hullo. Jeem." said the singer,
making her way toward him. you
no spin EN- any moro. no? You use
play'-you use spen' lot O da none!
Helm! You 'membah dese7" She held
up a finger, displaying a fashy ring.
"Nita," said Jim, slowly. "IIl buy
that ring"
You geev Get to me; l no SELL"
Appealing to an instinct that he
knew to be strong in her, he stepped
to the roulette table, where he placed
coin on one Of the large numbers,
and continued to play until he had
won. Then he turned to Nita
Take it; give me the ring" She
slowly drew IT. of and laid it In his
hand. AS he rode home under the
stars, Jim took the bit OF jewelry
from his pocket and threw it off into
the sage brush
The next morning things at La
Ranch Bonita had desolate air.
She's about to Albuquerque now"
said Jim. and he drew a solitary
chair to the table. A step sounded
on the threshold.
I'm back" said CHEEKY voice.
YOU"
Jim. just couldn't DO It. and
when the conductor told me I could
redeem my ticket. turned around"