The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-07
4 BASKET Of FLOWERS
BY DOROTHY sLAckMoRe.
1915. by the Mcclure New
per Syndicate.)

tie 1dZeI, SCdHpeIiH6 ofOi w
of gayly colored spring flowers sne
had spied suddenly.
Some fiowers!" breathed her little
brother, Ted, who was helping her tc
fill her basket with wild flowers tina,
grew along the edge of the woods.
The children had wandered farther
than they had known, and the bed Of
lovely tulips that they were now de
moralizing was the only boundary
line at the rear of the home Of Mr.
and Mrs. Marden.
When the two trudged into school
tardy and tired, but rosy and laugh
ing, Miss Mott gasped.
1--WE brought you a May basket,
teacher" the two said in unison.
They had been rehearsing their speech
all the way from the Marden flower
beds.
"Oh, what a beauty! Thank you,
children. Now take your seats. You
are tardy and we must make up for
lost time" She hadn't the heart to
dampen their Joy by asking where
they had picked the lovely flowers.
She intuitively felt that the little ones
had secured them innocently, but
none the less destructively and dis
honestly, from some of the gardens
bordering the woods on the south side.
When she reached home her friend
was sitting on the porch waiting for
her to have a cup Of tea "And who
gave you the flowers. Flo?" she asked.
TITS May day; bless your heart!
And two of the children brought me
the basket. It was lovely in the early
morning.. but"
Mrs. James laughed. "You will be
surprised to know that saw the
children picking the flowers very
early this morning from Mrs. Mar
denis border gardens down by the
woods. but l, like you, hated to spoil
the children's JOY"
Miss Mott looked serious for a mo.
ment. Don't you think I ought to
go and explain? 1t seems wrong,
somehow"
1T wouldn't do any harm, dear:
and I'll go with you as soon as we
have our tea. Run upstairs and
freshen up while I have tea served,
and then Wen 60 and call on Mrs.
Marden and explain. l owe her a
call, anyway"
When Florence Mott reappeared she
was as pretty and fresh as had been
her gift of tulips in the early morn.
ing.
They walked down the path and
turned into the winding road that led
past the Marden home.
I'll stand behind while you ex-
plain" said Florence laughingly, az
they shook the knocker on the great
white door.
TO the surprise of both women, a
tall young man in house jacket and
white flannel trousers opened the
door
rs Mrs. Marden in?" asked Mrs.
James.
"No-I'm sorry. I am her brother.
left in charge for a whole week. NV
name is Congdon, Will Congdon."
we came on missions" went on
Mrs. James. First, l wanted to call
On your sister, Mrs. Marden: and.
Mott" indicating Flor.
ence, who had suddenly, she knew
not why, become confused, received
May basket this morning, which wa
mink was filled with your tulips"
VIII Congdon laughed. "They were
aiken to fill a May basket, were they?
PARDON me, won't you both sit down a
ew minutes. You've had quite a
walk, perhaps"
Inc three sat down. ~ have felt
'uilty all day over having the basket
'ut two OF my little kindergarteners
brought 1t to me with the information
nat they had picked the flowers all
or me-"
AND l had seen some kiddies gath.
ring your tulips early this mornin1
Vhen ! was in the bride path in the
woods" added Mrs. James.
1T doesn't matter in the least-now
nat know who did it, but nv sistar !
las had a good deal of trouble with
'iants and flowers, and was about n |
alse row." explained the Young
nan. Ae
Oh I'm $3.50 sorry" repeated
florence. e"
congdon raised protesting hand
Dont be, please. I'm glad YOU were
ae recipient Of May basket, I'm az
ID that had forgotten that spch
retty sentiment existed" he laughed
oid! repeated Mrs. James, scorn.
Wen, feel like a crustv old
achelor living out here in this tur-
,lks." iieo
Florence pouted prettily. "And
mere do score in this gamer" sha
sked sno
MSs. James was interested in tho
l'uation at once and beamed at This
for matchmaking. why
~ OBVIOUSLY it is your duty to keen
=. consdon from qualifying for the
q mans home, isn't it?"
"Yes-isn't it?" the man rene.t.a
'oking straight at Florence.
IT looks like it." she said
And she began by letting him ,.ra
er out in the runabout that n;eht ~
ues .nat ne might find out the exact
ca,lon OF the schoolhouse where she
usnt' For | shall often get home
! an early train-now-and call for
,u." he said. A ior
AT ner wedding in the followin,
ay Tune the bride carried a Nav
'sket of tulips.