The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-27
HOUSE he BUILT HER
BY e. L. DlTHRIDGE.

Yes" said the elder man. you may
but only after you have complied Will
certain condition
The other leaned forward eagerly
hoping the condition would be within
his powers to perform. His eyes
glowed; his lips parted his hands
clasped, and his fingers twisted anX
iously, during the pause that ensued
Then the condition came, short, iorci
BILE and abrupt:
First build her house,"
Well. it was hard requirement at
best. and almost an impossible one
Yet he made up his mind at once
that he would comply with the con
dition.
James Burton was young engineer
trying to make his fortune in the
mines of Mexico. He had no money
with which to start independently. SC
he had engaged as an assistant in the
employ of large company operating
near Mexico City. He had not been
in the country six months. and during
that period had grown to love the
daughter Of wealthy ranch owner
The ranchero had practically nc
English education himself, but had
provided a way for the education of
his children in both English and Span.
ish. His eldest daughter. Aurora, had
attended boarding school in Phila.
delphia.
Aurora was as sensible as she was
bright. None Of the tickle, firty
character of the Spanish race seemed
to belong to her
Burton loved her, not merely be-
cause she was captivating, but be-
cause she combined those sterling
qualities admired by every mar OF Sc
rious nature.
He knew Aurora loved him. and al!
he wanted was the parental sanction.
Now he had obtained it, but With a
difficult condition imposed.
How could he build her a house" lie
was drawing only Sl2O per month.
Enough, you say? Remember that
this is the debased currency OF Mcy-
leo.
So how was James Burton to sup
port himself on $120 month and
build house besides? You don t
know, and neither did he; but he de-
termined to do it just the same.
BY means of many inquiries he had
satisfied himself that $3.50 Mexican
was safe estimate of the cost Of a
three-room adobe house built so as to
be barely comfortable.
Burton figured that the wages on
the foundation would cost him $40,
that the adobes would cost him $40,
and that he could get half the guam
tity delivered in March and the 9th
err half in April. Then he could get
about 500 worth of work done each
month until the house was completed.
AS a site for her house he selected
the brow of little hill about a mile
from the reduction plant and about
half a mile from the line of the com
panys property Then he started a
man excavating, for he had decided
to deviate from the Mexican custom
and have little cellar.
Every evening he would trot out
on horseback and take look at the
progress being made. He was rather
disappointed at the slow rate OF adj
vance, but couldn't blame the work
man for the cause of the trouble VAS
self-evident. Right in the middle OF
the hole stuck point of rock formed
in a perfect cone. The workman had
tried to dig it out; but as he dug the
rock seemed to grow
AS he stood there musing on how
much extra the rock would cost him,
he kicked at it absent mindedly and
vindictively
The sun was just setting, and its
rays struck squarely on tie place
where his boot had scraped of the
earth from the stone.
MY! That's mighty bright sort
of stone!" thought Burton to himself.
Guess I'll knock off bit and see
what 1t looks like inside
The house he built her was not lin
lished till two years later; but it was
located in the American section Of the
City of Mexico, instead of out in the
wilderness.
It was built OF cut stone instead of
baked mud and contained 30 rooms
instead of three. Its lights were cleo
trio instead of tallow. Its windows
were trimmed with onyx, and its mir
rored halls with marble. Many an
opal decked its dining room; for it's
hostess entertained with lavish hand
and was never called on to economic.
One of these functions | was per-
mitted to attend; and | heard her
father say;
Burton, you've made fine sue
cess!"
Il owe it all to YOU" he replied.
You made ME attempt to build her
house; and twas then | struck the
mine"