The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25

Dutsl WONT let. you stay there WIN
me-not eFen. if the law would permit
You shall go, out and know what Il
issto work and be Free -.
"Iought to call your blunt--and say
co." Jabez snarled. But you bank
on my family feeling. Sit. down,
William--I really had no thought Of
stirring up such hornets nest. Now
tell me just what you object to?
was thinking only for your own
good.""
Elinor sank down, burying her head
in her locked arms. The two men
talked eagerly. breaking in one upon
another-she hardly heard them, and
certainly did not heed. Presently her
uncle touched her shoulder, saying
with gruff contrition: I'll send up
old Mag ELY. She can do the rough
work for you and the gentlemen shall
be told they needn't expect more than
breakfast-served in the arbor-"
NO." Elinor said, rising and fac
ing him. IF you let me have Mag. I
can give them whatever they call for.
Meanwhile--if the work leaves me any
leisure-may use it in my own way?"
Nobody II hinder you," Jabez re-.
turned ungraciously.
Before her uncle had quilted the
house she was out in the big old.
fashioned garden on her knees besides
the laden gooseberry bushes picking
green fruit as hard as ever she could.
The artist tenants found but one
cause Of complaint-they never GOT
more than,a passing glimpse Of Miss
Elinor Gordon. Meals were prompt
and perfect. Bills duly rendered
Uncle Jabez made him whistle and
say to himself IL Elinor were only q
man he'd be glad to have her a. .
partner. There was . handsome mar
gin Of profit after settling for sup
plies. He admitted As much to Ell
nor; limiting that she should have her
share.
She amazed him BY flushing deep
~ and shaking her head. But, she
had grown, handsomer-much, hand,
somer--of that he was sure. Her
scowl was gone. she had got Q, fine
color and, although her hands were
often stained and rough, she, did, not;
complain.
Something about which Unole Jabez
knew nothing was going on.
Higgins.. the grocer, was: Elinor,s,
accomplish. In putting over things
upon. har uncle and the tenants. Those
latter gentlemen had fine discriu,>>
nation for all manner Of table dam
ties; and; further. they liked the,bnaaAs
Higgins supplied 80 well that thsy
ordered them. lavishly-in, dpsana
weekly-to, send % gifts ta tlsir
friends or to- use upon. their soesial
outings:
Eiinor was the. source Of thssa. She
had q positive, genius for such things.
She had appealed frankly 10 Higgins.
and he had backed her hike q man,
telling himself he'd risk II for Just
half the chance TO- Hfague that old
skinflint Of q Jabez.
Efnor had worked hard. Quietly
she had bought fruit, melons, vsss-
tables for preserving and pickling-
old Mag had helped when she had
time. but that was not often. Elinor
felt that her mounting profits were
coined from her very life blood. But
she reioiced. Here was the begin
ming Of independence-&rads would
grow-Higgins would back her. Down
a far. dim vista she saw the eoal OF
independence.
Fate resolved she should not 90
reach It and brought about the thwart-
ing mechanically enough Young
Barham, one of the artists, coming In
very late to dinner one day, was Just
In time to catch Elinor - she tainted
In the doorway. She had been ON
her feet all day beside . hot stove.
with the whole world scorching hot.
Barham was man Of action. When
he knew the straight Of things he said
promptly: "This won't do at all. It's
even worse than marrying me-"
In the course Of time he BROUGHT
Elinor. round to his way Of thinking.
But old Jabez, although he gave her .
handsome dowry, declared hatefully
that 1t was her cookery and not her
self Barham was making sure Of.
Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)