The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-01-28
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

Larry i-.lle WIS enjoying ner ulScOm
future from the back porch adjoining
The man. she decided. was big with
an allpervedins cneerfulness, and
might have b, tn called good lOokin;
il he had not rc5, nbled SO much the
rest OF the Daytons.
II wonder, he was saying to him
self IF she can possibly be deaf"
| tie cam quite close to the dividing
| hedge. Won't YOU let me come over
and do that for YOU he fairly shout
ed, and Miss Matte distinctly heard "a
suppressed laugh from the Lane back
porch
With cheeks entirely scarlet. she ap- i
preached the hedge. pruning knife
in hand Seldom had she appeared to
better advantage, and she was not a
plain woman at any time.
II am not deaf she explained
painstakingly, and in voice too low
for any ears but his. Gould you not
see that | did not care to speak TO
you?"
But why?' he demanded, initiating
her tone as we'll as his good bass
voice would allow his admiration
shining openly in his eyes. I'D like
to come over and do that hard work
for You What is the reason | can
not?"
because, said Miss Matte SLOWLY
"wa are enemies
"Enemics?' He threw his head
suddenly and laughed so unrc
STRANGELY that head appeared at a
nearby window Why. my dear young
lady how can We b, enemies when
we are strangers II We are to b.
neighbors
But wa are not to be neighbors,
she interrupted coolly. Il have nev.
er neighbured with the Daytons And
beg Of you to remember it, and NOT
make me ridiculous before everyone
In the street" And she returned to
her pruning without another glance in
his direction
What Philip Dayton thought of this
|
he had rect ntly come to the old Day
ton homestead upon inheriting 1t at
the death Of his uncle, and he had
made none Of the interested neighbOrs
his cOnfdant. He settled down with
capable housekeeper, and Miss
Mayne continually heard him spoken
Of In the highest terms Of approval,
all OF which she accepted in silence.
But it takes two to make a bargain,
as she presently began to PERCEIVE;
she might refuse to be his neighbor.
but he certainly had every intention OF
being hers.
One morning she found on her back
porch basket of such grapes as grew
nowhere but in the Dayton garden
The horrid wretch, she cried. mot
to give me an opportunity to refuse
them Nov shall have to accept, OF
let them spoil Aud she carried them
in reluctantly.
Another morning. following a moon
light night, she found the apples from
her spy tree in a neat pile at the foo,
OF her back steps Il was out there
!, yesterday wondering how | should ge,
them, aud | suppose was seen,
( declare. ii is getting so hardly dar.
walk about my own garden"
! When snow came. which il dit
. early, as if in evaporation. nothins
could make him desist from keepin.
- her paths clear. And Miss Matte at
&C tackled her morning work furiousl,
to drown the sound of his shovel
keenly conscious of the peerngs an,
titterings along the street
The Dayton cat, a huge, black crea
ture, seemed to share in the friend
illness OF his master and haunted he
) premises persistently. while the Day
: ton puppy chewed up her door mat an,
the evening paper
q by spring Miss Matte was actual,
! showing signs of the strain Their
{ was a little quicker OF Worry betwee,
! her eyes, and she really dreaded tn
Z season of outdoor living and garde,
4 making 1t was a shame. for She wa
4 ardently fond of gardening
Happy that she was free from Oh
servation. Miss Mayne dug contentee
6 ly in warm early bed close to IN
: sheltering hedge She even indulge
: in little song quite under he
|<e breath Other contonted little sound
- present.. mingled with her own ant
{ turning, she saw, coming through
: hole in the hcdse the spriehtliest G
! yellow balls OF fiji with sharp. /,
& quisitive eyes. and busy feet "Ol
you darlings, cried 11iss Matte an
Z the chickens ran and picked familiar
{ ly al her fms rs. But you mus, Q
i back the wa you came you paught,
4 runaway babies, And She bepa
tuckng them back throa-h the bol
1 in the hedge As she stooped to nus
the last one through. someone's finger
closed over hers and released them a
I suddenly.
I Miss Matte fed precipitately "Ho
should ! know be was on the othe
= side coaxing them back?" she erie,
y, washing her hands vehemently. "Ol