The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-09
THE BULLYING BORLAnDs
BY BARBARA RHODES.

course, he couldn't see his only |
nephew marry into the Farday family |
without making a vigorous protest.
The Fardays and the Borlands had
wrangled over boundary lines and
sundry other matters for . decade.
and now that the younger generation
showed a disposition to be friendly
the old mans wrath was stimulated to
frenzy.
Il won't have IT," growled Uncle
Zeb.
Ted was talking to Mr.. Dodd, the
lawyer. His pleasant. drawing voice
exasperating Uncle Zeb beyond con-
troll.
"Ah, Mr.. Dodd!" Ted was saying,
Uncle Zeb wants you to come down
to Borlands this afternoon-oh, you
can easily make the 200 train. Some:
thing about changing his will, be-
lieve! l suppose so-thanks-good-
by"
Think you're mighty clever to have
him down here, don't your" Quavered
Uncle Zeb.
Il thought you wanted him down.
Uncle Zeb," returned Ted with q
straight look from his brown eyes.
Il didn't believe you were such q
fool" grumbled the old man. How
are you going to support that Farday
girl?"
''Lue." corrected Ted quietly. Why,
we thought we'd live on the old place
with Miss Henrietta, and I'm going
to raise chickens. You know I've had
considerable luck experimenting on
the farm here"
The telephone bell jingled from its
corner
Ans wer it, Ted"
Ted's handsome head inclined to
the instrument.
Yes? oh. you, darling? I'm COM
ing over presently. Something impor.
tant? Aunt Henrietta?-Jove, Lue,
but that's a blow. Good-by, sweet
heart. Don't grieve, it will come out
all right-o."
He hung up the receiver and
crossed the room to look down at the
little dried-up old man with Quizzical
eyes.
Il suppose Henrietta Farday objects
to having anything as practical as
chicken farm on her estate" sneered
Uncle Zeb.
Ted shook his head.
1T isn't that, Uncle Zeb Miss Hen
rietta objects out and out to my mar
rying Lue-says she'll be hanged II
her niece marries a bullying Borland.
So there you are!"
And your girl won't chance mar
rying on your salary?"
"Yes." said Ted proudly; only she
thinks it's her duty to Miss Henrietta
to remain with her. Henrietta is not
very we'll, and there is no other rela-
tive"
As soon as he was alone Uncle Zeb
peered from the window until he saw
that Ted's figure had disappeared
through the gate. Then the old man
hobbled across the room to the tele-
phone and called for local number.
The deeply masculine voice Of Miss
Henrietta Farday came IN answer.
I This is Zeb Borland." began Uncle
Zeb. doubtfully.
"Humph! Bullying Borland!" COM
mented Aunt Henrietta In her most
forbidding accents. I've put my foot
down ON your nephew's lovemaking."
Put your foot DOWN."
"Yes-both feet! There won't be
any bullying Borlands in my family"
declared the old lady.
You can't know Ted very we'll.
He's good enough for any girl in Al.
mos county-or the world, for that
matter"
! He isn't good enough for my
Luella! don't know how you can
FAY he isn't Borland. Why. he's the
living image Of what you were. Zeb
cortland, forty years ago."
Textbooks like mel did? Pshaw,
Henrietta, I never was half as good
looking as Teddy" Uncle Zebs voice
bore q pleased note.
you were better looking" contra
dicted the lady sharply. Il can prove
1t by that miniature"
Silence for q moment.
Uncle Zeb smiled into the mouth
piece of the instrument
Henrietta Farday-have you kept
that picture of me?"
Il keep lots Of trash" came in q
stifled tone.
I've got your picture, Henry. but
don't call 1t trash" said Uncle
Zeb in an oddly gentle tone. You
want to trade pictures with me?"
| A hush-then:
You better keep the one you got
and I'll keep mine"
Il should be lonesome without IT,"
whispered Uncle Zeb I've kept It
In my pocket 80 many years, Henry,
I'd miss it. But l suppose you've
kept mine in some trash box-along
with other trash"
'Zeb Borland, I'm q liar blazed
Henrietta with all the fire of her
youth. i've worn your miniature
next to my heart all these years be-
cause it's all there was left of-love!
Laugh, il you want to-"
Henrietta" How eager was the
old voice now. 1T isn't too late to
have little hsppiness-just rs two
ana the young folks-why, there's
enough room in these two houses for
all of us--and for another generation.
What say, Henny?"
Yes" came Henrietta's answer