The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-29
N THE TRENCHES
ev DOROTHY eLAckMORE.

copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
THE enemy is in your trenches
again, SIS" cried Teddy Herbert TO
his sister, who had not yet come down
to breakfast
Dear, dear!" he heard her exclaim,
and then he heard hurried footsteps
and saw Matte run downstairs, PICK
up q coat that was lying on chair
in the hall, and slam the front door
after her.
-Four sixty.foot trenches lay open
at the side of the Herbert home, ana
Matte was running back and forth
chasing away the neighbors' chickens.
The fresh fertilizer which had been
placed so carefully in each OF the
trenches was scattered everywhere,
and dismay was written all over the
girls face when she turned to come
into the house
ITS q shame!" she said, as she
took her place at the table, breathing
hard, but looking as fresh as rose
after her exercise In the invigorating
March air. And this one year when
/ had counted so much on my sweet
peas and have followed directions 30
carefully. What shall do, mother?
Shoot the chickens" suggested
Teddy.
This isn't the war, Teddy" his
sister said. squelchingly. These are
sweet pea trenches"
Il pass" said Teddy, getting up
from the table. TITS not my funeral,
Mat. So long!" And with that he
was gone.
Matte and her mother were finish
ing breakfast in silence when they
heard the knocker on the front door.
"TM CO." said Matte, as her mother
started to rise.
Tim George Davis-next door.
you know. just saw you chasing
my chickens out Of your garden.
T."
Come in, please" said Matte,
opening wide the door to the young
man who was introducing himself.
"You see I've come to stay with
my brother, next door, for a while,
since my firm saw At to cut down
expenses by letting me out of a job.
He's never at home and my sister is
busy with the baby, so the chickens
have been in your trenches owing to
my folly apologize and will see
that it does not happen again"
"Oh, don't worry" Matte FASTENED
to say. "Of course, well, have
worked so hard this spring, and 1t has
been rather disconcerting-"
"Disconcerting!" interrupted Davis
THAT Is polite. If had been in your
place think l would have blessed the
whole houseful Of neighbors. Did
your" he laughed.
Matte joined him. Perhaps you
would call it blessing. hadn't
thought of it in that light. But now
you won't worry, will you? I'll get
out this morning and try to plant the
seeds, and then"
Then II my chickens dig them ul
l needn't show my face again in this
neighborhood?"
Matte nodded, laughing. That's
it," she said.
With a few more words of apology
George Davis left, and Matte Herbert
knew that she liked him and was glad
that he was to be neighbor.
That morning, when she was busy
out Of doors, trying to repair the
damage done to her trenches. George
Davis looked over the hedge which
separated the gardens. 1T is l who
should be doing that" he ventured.
you may help" Matte said
quickly.
A few hours work with her assured
him that Matte Herbert was not con
ventional, that she was the most orig
inal and charming girl he had met.
Spring came and went, and JUNE
brought the looked-for blossoms II
the Herberts' garden. The four sixty
foot trenches were riot of bloom
and some stems held four blossoms
Of gigantic proportions.
Matte and her mother and ever
Teddy picked sweet peas night ant
morning. and Matte herself ATTENDED
to the shipping 1t was then that Mat
tie called upon her neighbor for help
Il can't offer you much in return
for your help, which l need badly,
the girl said, frankly, but think
you are still out of position you ant
could do a small business togethe
with your chickens and our ground"
81 don't need any pay for helpinl
you,' Davis said earnestly 81 SHOULD
love to do il"
Later they worked out a scheme o
successive raising of table commodi
ties for which they knew of read.
and accessible markets. And Will
they worked on this scheme they fel
in love with each other
| One day he told her of his love an,
OF what he had hoped her answe
might be.
MY answer IS yes, OF course" Mat
tie said. But we must continue I,
be partners IN business as well as il
our home well. I'm glad the wa
brought to you and to me the neces
sity for earning our living together
For it was the exigencies of the wa
situation that brought US together
wasn't ito she asked.
Yes, it was the enemy in you
trenches, dear, he said, laughing.
Placing the Responsibility.