The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-13

omuseu. OUT whQt he had discovered
ne kept to himself. The next day be
went ont into his yard and with his
own hands prepared little bed in
which he planted some seeds. But be
look care not to plant the seeds while
the children next door were about.
1t was now two weeks before st.
valentines day. Bates, who was i'm
proving in health, seemed also to be In
q state of pleasant expectation. Every
Gay he examined with a pair Of binOc.
ulars the bad the children had planted.
Meanwhile there were various meet
tngs between the parties. but Miss
Farnsworth for some reason best
known to herself ignored Mr.. Bates
entirely. and Mr.. Bates externally ig-
nored Miss Farnsworth. But when.
ever be met Bob he looked at the boy
With an amused expression. He felt
sure that Bob had been teasing his SIS
ter and the person about whom she
had been leased was Arnold Bates.
A week passed after sowing the seed,
but neither bed showed any effect OF
the planting. though Arnold Bates by
close examination saw a slight swell
ing Of the earth where the seed had
been planted in his own bed. His
binoculars refused to disclose any sign
whatever Of terminating force in the
bed In the next yard. He had sown
crocuses In his bed. for he preferred
that they should come up soon-sooner
than whatever might be in the next bed
On the nth Of February his GRO
cuses appeared above the surface far
enough to show the word Gladly"
though they were not plain enough to
be read by one In the next house. On
the 18th Bates could discern In the
bed in the next yard parts Of letters.
On the morning of the 18th. st. Val
entine's day. after rain in the night.
the plants In both beds stood out plain.
ly In green letters, the one BE My
Valentine" and the other Gladly"
What was going on hext door on
that st. Valentines morning was not
known to Arnold Bates. Ii Bob was
in trouble at having perpetrated what
be intended for very good joke the
fact was not permitted to reach the
gentleman for whom he had raised out
of the ground valentine from his sis.
ter. for nothing could be palmer than
that such was his intent. The shades
on the near side Of the house were
down and kept down all day.
The next morning no signs of the
valentine next door appeared. 1t had
been removed in the night. Bates had
believed that this would be the case.
At any rate. he removed his reply. and
on the 18th of February not sign of
either message was to be seen.
Helen FarnswOrth the morning be-
fore st. Valentines day had noticed
the parts Of letters that had appeared
in the bed under her window, but had
failed to make them out. The next
morning. however. she not only read
them plainly. but read the reply. She
judged at once that Bob was the per.
petrator and accused him. He admit.
ted the impeachment with shouts of
merriment, which were turned to moan
ings on being shut up by his mother
in a dark room. No notice was taken
Of the valentine during the day. but IA
soon as night fell Helen went out with
hoe and destroyed It.
The FarnswOrth family were much
disgruntled at BOb's performances. and
Helen was at first troubled lest the
handsome invalid. supposing that she
had planted the valentine, should con-
slider her bold In the extreme. But
how had he been enabled to grow the
reply in such short order? There was
but one explanation-he must have
seen the planting Of the seed. Bob ad
mitted that he had done the work In
daylight. which settled the matter.
The oblouuy having been removed.
Helen gradually came to attach less
unpleasantness to the matter. and one
day while standing before her mirror
dressing her hair she saw the frown
on her face disappear before a smile.
Then she laughed. She was shocked at
herself for laughing at such an out
rageous proceeding. but. after all. II
was rather funny. Besides. the hand
some invalid had been % gallant a. to
make q favorab BILE response.
One morning when Mr.. Bates was
feeling quite recovered be walked out
into the yard. Miss Farnsworth came
out and walked in her yard. Presently
she tripped up to the hedge separating
the two places. Mr. Bates advanced
toward her. removing his hat as he
did so.
II owe you an explanation" said tn"
girl. for the joke my brother perp,
trated. He planted those nowers
that
II saw him do 1t"
Then you underestimate
"Of course do But permit me IN
say that II your brother planted the
valentine planted the reply"
Miss Farnsworth blushed and drop
ped her eyes.
81 should have made an effort to
make your acquaintance" added Bates.
but I have been something Of an in
valid. | have seen you playing tennis
and regretted that could not play
with you. However. I am SO much
better now that feel quite able to
swing a racket"
II shall be happy to have you play
with me"
"WhenT'
"Any time"
II think ! would like a game now"
When these two young persons BE-
~an 10 dwell NEXT door to each Other