The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-01

1t was now two weeks before St
Valentines day. Bates, who was i'm
proving in health. seemed also to be in
a state Of pleasant expectation. Every
day he examined with pair Of binoc-
ulars the bad the children had planted.
Meanwhile there we're various meet
ings between the parties. but Miss
Farnsworth for some reason best
known to herself ignored Mr.. Bates
entirely. and Mr.. Bates externally ig-
nored Miss Farnsw0rth. But when.
ever he 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 a terminating force in the
bed in the next yard. He had sow4
crocuses In his bed. for he preferred
that they should come up soon-sooner
than whatever might be in the next bed
On the 18th 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 l4th, St Val.
entine's day. after rain in the night,
the plants in both beds stood out plain
~ in green letters. the one BE My
Valentine" and the other Gladly"
What was going on next door on
that St Valentines morning was not
known to Arnold Bates. II Bob was
in trouble at having perpetrated what
he intended for very good joke the
fact was not permitted to reach the
gentleman for whom he had raised out
Of the ground a 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 taker
Of the valentine during the day. but a
soon as night fell Helen went out witt
hoe and destroyed 1t.
The Farnsworth family were mucl
disgruntled at Bob's performances. an,
Helen was ut first troubled lest tn
handsome invalid. supposing that sh
had planted the valentine. should con
slider her bold In the extreme. Blu
how had he been enabled to grow tn
reply In such short order? There wa
but one explanation-he must hav
seen the planting of the seed. Bob ad
mitted that he had done the work 1
daylight. which settled the matter.
The obloquy having been removed
Helen gradually came to attach les
unpleasantness to the matter. and on
day while standing before her miro
dressing her hair she saw the frow
on her face disappear before a smile
Then she laughed. She was shocked q
herself for laughing at such an Out
rageous proceeding. but. after all.
was rather funny. Besides. the hani
some invalid had been 80 gallant as I
make favorable response.
One morning when Mr.. Bates wa
feeling quite recovered he walked on
into the yard Miss Farnsworth cam
out and walked in her yard. Present.
she tripped up to the hedge separatin
the two places. Mr. Bates advance
toward her. removing his hat as b
did so.
II owe you an explanation" said tn
girl. for the Joke my brother perp,
trated. He planted those flower
that
II saw him do It.
Then you understand"
"Of course 7 do. But permit me
say that II your brother planted th
valentine planted the reply"
Miss Farnsworth blushed and droI
ped her eyes.
~ should have made an effort
make your acquaintance" added Bate
but I have been something Of an II
valid. I have seen you playing tenn
|. and regretted that 7 could not pla
! with you. However. am SO muc
better now that feel quite able
swing racket"
II shall be happy to have you pla
, with me-"
"Wheny
"Any time"
II think would like game now"
When these two young persons b
gan to dwell next door to each otht
they did not for a moment suspe'
what fate had In store for them-th'
It was the eventful period Of the
hves-for when they left Florida the
were engaged.