The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-12
TO RENT, FURNISHED
BY HARMONY WELLER.

per SyDViCdteb
Vance had seen her many times. |
They lived in the same neighborhood |
and patronized the same bookstalls. |
Ofen he had let his eyes rest upon |
her as she stood looking over the cur
rent magazines, and on one rare oc- !
casion he had followed her into the
elevated train and journeyed as far as
Thirty.fourth street. She had left the
train there, no doubt to shop. The re.
mainder Of the daily trip to Rector
street had seemed a sorry affair to
( Vance.
Vance had long ago made certain
that she was not a business girl in
the strict sense of the word. Other
wise he would have had the Joy of
riding each morning in the elevated
with her. Vance would have seen to
1t that he caught the well-timed
train.
/ For an habitually level-headed man
Vance had done a rather senseless
thing In falling in love with girl
whom he had not the power to be-
come acquainted with. At least that
power had not made itself manifest
nor had kindly fate come along to
help him in his love affair.
Kindly fate did not enter the affair
until Vance had been gazing in silent
admiration for nearly three months at
the girls alluring beauty
One bright morning in early May
Vance noticed that as the girl stood in
the bookstall she had made the pur-
chase of a sign on which was printed
in bold letters Room to Let"
For the first time since catching
sight of her Vance followed her
stealthily home.
When he had made sure Of the
number Of the more or less shabby
dwelling in which she lived, Vance
went back to the elevated station and
down to business. When he returned
from the office and made his way to-
ward the address of the girl he saw
the sign in the window of room that
seemed to be three flights up.
He mounted the brown stone steps
leading to the front door and was ad
mitted by slatternly woman. Vance
hoped it was not the wonder-girls
parent.
The woman was neither polite nor
gracious, but told him there was one
on the top floor. He could go up and
/. see it II he wanted to. With that she
shuffled of to the basement and left
Vance to find his way up those three
flights Of stairs.
Once there he succeeded in gaining
his breath then stood gazing at the
closed doors Of four rooms.
After a seconds thought he reasoned
: out the room that had the sign in 1t
and knocked on the door.
He drew sharp breath when the
girl herself opened it For a moment
+ she, too, was nervously silent.
3 This ROOM" blurted Vance. sudden
=! ly. lis to let-isnt it,"
D The girl found voice and command
Q the situation first and opened the
d door for him to enter. Vance did sc
and saw coy room that was ap
d parently the den of a writer.
"My landlady Is most disagreeable,
!. the girl told Vance, and there was ;
Q sparkle of mirth in her eyes. Il have
q contracted for this room for q yea
and she refuses to let me go unit
r September. II can sublet ito
? course, she cannot object"
l. Vance heaved sigh Of relief. TIT
It vcnder-girl was in no way connected
with the awful person who had let hin
@ into the house.
5 II haven't any furniture" he said
d Il thought the room would be fur
n nished."
g "Oh-I do want to let 1t furnished,
% she told him quickly. you see," sh
added shyly, 81 have been selling lot
e Of stories lately and can afford few
4 months at the sea. But" she sighed
g. 81 am a prisoner in town SO long a
% this room hangs on my hands" He
u eyes we're looking softly into Vance
II own. The man wondered afterwar
how he refrained from telling her a
% their very first meeting just how del
o. perately he loved her and had love
. her for three long months. He di
d have the temerity to speak quite franl
~ anu, iOOhlH6 Will peCuiidi mcduih
at her, said
III you will select summer hott
10 near enough for a city man to ru
down to each weekend | will tax
r this room and consider myself mos
IL lucky person."
VI The wonder-girl tried not to adm
~ the meaning in his look, but a So
* color creeping into her cheeks tol
IL Vance that she quite understood tn
situation He smiled and the gi
u caught the smile and responded.
% My landlady is the most awful pc
son you can imagine and | will wal
my furniture in the autumn when
return to town and you won't like s
ie many stairs to climb and" she woul
r, have said more in her nervous excit
a ment had Vance not laughed aloud
nj relieve the strain.
rs Il can stand anything" he told he
to $50 long as you permit me your frien
SO ship during the coming summer
Vance waited trifle breathlessly Il
TO her answer
or The wondergirl hesitated but sc
er ond, then cast swift, adorable glan'
to at him.
ut only during the summer? VIII
Mt about the autumn" she questioned
81 have very definite plan for Il
b autumn" Vance informed her.