The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-27


You shall 60 out and know what II
is to work and be free"
Il ought to call your bluf-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: Eli 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. III 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 If Elinor were only q
man he'd be glad to have her as q
partner. There was a handsome mar
gin of profit after settling for sup
plies. He admitted as much to Eli.
nor, limiting that she should have her
share.
She amazed him by flushing deep.
ly and shaking her head. But she
had grown handsomer-much hand.
somer-of that he was sure. Her
scowl was gone, she had got a fine
color and, although her hands were
often stained and rough, she did not
complain.
Something about which Uncle Jabez
knew nothing was going on.
Higgins, the grocer. was Elinor'a
accomplice in putting over things
upon her uncle and the tenants. Those
latter gentlemen had q fine discrim
nation for all manner of table dain
ties, and further, they liked the brands
Higgins supplied SO we'll that they
ordered them lavishly-in dozens
Weekly-to send as gifts to theil
friends or to use upon their specia
outings.
Elinor was the source OF these. Sh,
had a positive genius for such things
She had appealed frankly to Higgins
and he had backed her like q man
telling himself he'd risk it for jus
half the chance to plague that oil,
skinfiint Of Jabez.
Elinor had worked hard. Quietl,
she had bought fruit, melons, vege
tables for preserving and picking
old Mag had helped when she hat
/ time, but that was not often. Elmo
felt that her mounting profits wer'
coined from her very life blood. Blu
she rejoiced. Here was the begin
ming of independence-trade woul,
grow-IIiggins would back her. Dow
far. dim vista she saw the goal o
independence,
Fate resolved she should not 9,
reach 1t and brought about the thwart
ing mechanically enough Younl
Barham, one of the artists, coming II
very late to dinner one day, was JUS
in time to catch Elinor as she fainte,
In the doorway. She had been OF
her feet all day beside hot stove
with the whole world scorching hot.
Barham was man of action. Whel
he knew the straight Of things he sail
promptly: This won't do at all. IT.
even worse than marrying me-"
In the course of time he brough
Elinor round to his way of thinking
But old Jabez, although he gave her ,
handsome dowry, declared hateful.
that it was her cookery and not her
self Barham was making sure of.
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)