The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25

dropped in great fragrant clusters over
into the next yard.
"oh. dear" she gasped, 7 mustn't do
that"
why mott" he inquired.
They're your roses"
Not at ALL" declared Ned unblush-
ingly. The law on partition fences
out here in the country. Is that half Of
1t belongs TO each adjoining tenant
and all that hangs over II"
Then ! can pick all the roses
want!"
Why. certainly. and come over and
get as many more from our side"
"Oh. couldn't do that without ask
ing mother" demurred Edna, and ran
into the house.
Ned was charmed. More than that.
he was smitten. He managed to be at
his post in the garden Immediately aft
or breakfast. He observed Edna look
ing wistfully towards the cherry trees
1t the back of the Perkins house.
Il never saw cherries grow before"
she said wistfully.
Why don't you get . basket and
pick sonnet" he Infatuated. I'm your
own orchard?"
Our orchard"
Why. yes. That strip back Of you
Is free to you. Lot law out in the
country. you know
Edna regarded him keenly and sus-
piciously. but her face was an limo
cent blank. The audacious fellow did
not explain to Edna that II was con-
tinuation of the Perkins lot that went
around the new neighbors domain.
She went wild with delight - he
got q stepladder, held the basket and
let her pick the ripe. bursting globes
in her orchard" In fact, up till near
ly noon they were together and Ned
forgot all about his fishing.
Later that day a coop of chickens
arrived. Edna called over the fence
to know IL Ned couldn't come over and
get the new arrivals into the chicken
house. This led to an introduction to
MIS-. WHO sHOWeu ueTScIt
well pleased With the young man.
And whca sill there be some eggs?
When do IT, : chickens lay most?" fiut-
tered Edna.
"Why-weil night times mostly" re-
ported Ned uitfiincringly
Then there will be some fresh eggs
for breakfast n the morning." cried
Edna delightcily
There were Notwithstanding that
Ned had discovered thai the imported
brood consisted mostly Of roe a,ers. In
the morning with scream of wild joy
Edna discovered nearly two dozen
eggs, surreptitiously placed in the
nests before daylight by the cbliging
Ned.
Again a day of rare companionshir,
Cupid forging the chains closer and
closer as the sunny hours went BY
Then Edna was full of the theme Of
the little chicks. A setting" was duly
| provided for by Ned.
and when will the little darlings
be ripe?" inquired the eager novice in
rural ways.
We'll" responded Ned slowly with
cold devoted serenity, with warm
! weather, by morning."
"Oh. shall be awake at daylight!
declared the excited enthusiast.
so will u" vowed Ned, and was.
At the weird hour of midnight he had
substituted a new brood of their own
for the setting.
Mr.. Purtelle arrived at the end Of
the week. He stared hard at Edna, as
! she introduced Ned, as II he were
some old-time chum. Then there was
a closer acquaintance Of the members
of the family all around. One day the
truant pair came homo consciously
flustered
I've asked her and love her." Ned
told Mr. Purtelle promptly.
"Humph!" growled Mr.. Purtelle
good naturally enough" and wha
about the false pretences of cherries
eggs and the like?"
"Oh. that shows his kindly disposi
ton, papa!" chirped in Edna. II saw
through the humbug of his lot law
and twelve hour chickens all the time
but he was SO obliging-so-so anxious
to please me, that led him on be
cause--why. because" acknowledge
the blushing maid, II loved him"