The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-14
APRIL'S TICKLE LADY
BY MARTHA M'CUltOCH.
WILLIAMS.

Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
paper Syndicate.)
"Tiresome is no word for it." Leeta
said, throwing herself back In her
low, easy chair. She had been star
ing in the fire. elbows on knees.
Jean, her comrade.cousin, laughed
softly. What is 80 tiresome-endur.
ing Ned or doing without Billy"
Both - neither!" Leeta cried,
springing up and darling to the piano.
Il believe 1t is mostly-men In gen.
eral."
Say. rather, the fact that you can't
be quite happy with or without them"
Jean retorted. Tell the truth. Lee
you know Irritation is-the salt of
life to you"
You're no better-only slyer."
Leeta famed out.
Jean laughed heartily. please ex.
plain!" she said. after a minute.
Maybe I am sly; II so, I deceive my.
self the same as anybody else"
You DON'T" Leeta cried, whirling
to face her cousin. You know-you
can't deny-you've played your cards
beautifully-to make Davy Andrews
propose"
whats Davy?" Jean queried, with
just the faintest flush.
Leeta stamped hard. "The only
one really worth wilhelm all this
ruck that has come calling on u.s."
she said.
Jean stared. "Why-you called
him frozen fright at flrst-and
begged me to save you from him"
she said defensively.
Leeta nodded. II was q fool-now
i am WISER" she said huskily. II
didn't mean to tell you ever. but 1t
hurts so to see you playing with him
when T."
playing with him!" Jean echoed.
"You speak in riddles. You can't
mean playing at love-making. just
because I made him leap-year pro-
posal! You know how that happened.
All Of you dared me to do It. I
chose Davy because"
"Bescause you liked him-best Of
ALL" Leeta exploded. "And YOU
wanted to see him get hot and red
with all the others laughing at you
two!"
Funny way to show affection-mak.
ing the one beloved mighty uncom-
Portable" Jean interrupted.
Leeta gripped her shoulders hard
saying in a thin-edged voice: You
do love him. Deny tiff you can"
Jean freed herself. looking at tho
other half-compassionately, half.
scornfully, walked to the door and
said very crisply:
III It will ease your mind, here and
now make you present Of all right,
title, claim or interest ! have. had or
NAV have In David Andrews, Es-
Quire.
Then she rushed upstairs all un-
knowing David had heard her. He
had been just within the entrance.
She had chosen the back way for her
exit A big fellow. ugly. but after
frank, engaging fashion. he was much
puzzIed as to what was best IL he
could have got away unseen he would
have done II, but Aunt Margaret, host
ess of the two girls. had met him
at the yard gate and hidden him go
inside.
Men propose sometimes when they
are disposed otherwise. Davy was
destined to prove the fact. Finding
Leeta in stormy tears. he would have
rushed out but that she all but fiung
herself in his arms. And she was
very. very pretty, very, very clinging,
narrower her voice was very soft. her
round arms velvet to the touch. BY the
time he had Gained her a little. and
got in the way Of comforting her, all
inclination for flight had vanished.
And BY the time Aunt Margaret came
IN upou them, Leeta was comfortably
nestled within his arm as became his
hetrothed.
Aunt Margaret was direcA discon-
oarttnsly 10 sometimes. Why. I
,houeht you were after other gams.
Jean, mx littla. hroxa psEsEidess>ahe