The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-21
FLOWER OF ROMANCE
By KATE CONWAY.

since he was knee high to a grass
hopper" said Aunt Bethiah placidly.
He won't hurt anybody, and I've new
er been afraid of him. He's got plenty
of money hid down the well, sup
pose, or under the mounting stone. !,
Then it's a pity he doesn't dig up |
some Of it for Berenice," said Laura |
! passionately She has had to stay at |
home and take care Of her father and
all those children. five of them, ever |
| since her mother died, and they're
well-not poor-I suppose, but always |
Just getting by-don't you know what !
| mean, auntie? There isn't enough |
money for this and that, and Bernice
can't even think of getting married for
years and years"
Has she got anyone picked out
YETI" asked Aunt Bethiah,
Has she? Why, don't you know
she's engaged to our Rob-
Mrs Fennimore dropped her cro-
cheting and looked over her eye
glasses at her youngest niece. The hope
of the Fennimore family was Rob.
Il suppose said Mrs. Fennimore,
with just bit of sigh, they were
sweethearts when they were children
Rob's the kind of boy to keep the
flower of romance blooming for years.
Is she nice Laura
Nice? She's just darling, auntie.
Wen ride over there this morning and
YOU can see her. She's the winsomest
girl you ever saw-iust that, the win
soonest
Willing to marry Rob-
"Oh. yes tell you they've been en-
gagged since his junior year but she
has a big idea of duty, and her ia
Their needs her But if their GRANDPA
Their Crawford would do the right
,, thing they could afford to hire house
keeper and let Bcrenice get married in
peace
Always was too selfish to give a
crow a crumb," Aunt Bethiah agreed.
Wen see what can be done. | never
/, was afraid Of Tuck Crawford and |
amt today He needs boss fear
fully"
About ten they drove over to the
junior Crawford home.
Real, slightly old place, amt it,
said Mrs Fennimore when they came
. away. "and | do like Berenice. She
sweet as a tea rose. | declare she ID
with those Dig brown eyes and that
fair. curly hair. Bless her heart
Just drive over to her grandfather
u place. will you. Laura?"
Back on an old side road 1t was, 6
l. little gray house in a tangle OF trees
and grape vines, with big well SWEEP
at the back and the barn across thu
road. Mr.. Crawford was strugglin,
with the we'll trying to draw up 1
. pail and Laura hurried over to nell
If him
Don't spill it, mind he cautioned
~. testify Cant bear mite o dam
or mildew round my house, Som
30 folks don't mind, but it makes me feaI
y full chilly. Just set it down on tina
~ shelf by the sink, Laury. Muc
Obliged
How be you, Tuck" called Aun
Bethiah, happily, coming up the pat
IT toward him, her full skirts brushin
&c weeds. SO swcct-faced and bloomin
she looked that Laura stared at he
And so did Tucker Crawford. NJ
such a vision had he seen in man
NO wears in his front yard He wiped h
liz hand off on his coat and gave 1t
of her a bit shakily
,rl why Bcthah how be yc?' he e
I'd claimed Look just as young and pc
ut as ever When did you get ov'
cs here"
or Been East two weeks.
in "Wdow, too, amt YOU
ar "These ten YEAS, Tuck.
ms well, well How pert you do look
he His faded blue eyes fingered on h
ed cheerful face hungrily. Want pla
sn- as housekeeper, Bethiah? I've BET
ok | looking round for a good, hard wor
'ge , ing woman"
re NO, thanks she laughed. 4
gh ! provided for, Tuck. | wanted to s
'od you about Berenice, your grandchi
Our Rob's In love with her, and 8
ms with him. ! want them to be MARI
ks, before 20 back West Now, I'll 81
the Rob some money, enough to set h
for up, and want you to look after he
ing nice. give her a nice wedding a
ule some of her grandmother's linen a
me silver. know she had a lot of
|, probably right up in your garnet Il
in minute
ian Like enough il is murmured
'ort Crawford. stroking his little point
in beard Il amt looked to see. IL
the pert you look Bethiah | cant
en- over it.
son After they had said good by a
OF driven down the road, the old n
eX- stood watching them. leaning his ar
eze on the little rusty iron gate, His T;
the wore peaceful, satisfied smile.
rye had PROMISED all Bcthiah had asket
IAN wedding clothes, old silver and lin
even the housekeeper,
Let rm have it and enjoy the
selyes. he sad Take about Z
use hundred to start with, she said. a
'aS5 i got eight thousand in the bank
Wilimantic and four over in PUTIN
sh' Guess We can give Rcronice a "
uh' ding like Nor grandmother had.
lu5- tering the flower OF romance?
her He sighed Sixty years back he
az loved lethiah Newell or was it fiji
Now she stepped into his Old 6
den and the flower of romance lif
its head at her coming and bloom
iliu' for another girl and boy.