The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-12

''If you please" he said decidedly,
"Tll take a piece Of cherry pie!"
"Pie?" repeated Linda. yes, sir"
and she tripped away.
Billy's eyes we're dreaming over the
roses in the garden when suddenly he
dropped his glance to his plate.
Before him were cup Of coffee and
. piece Of prune pie!
II was q rather delectable looking
piece Of pie and the top was piled
with whipped cream.
Billy's face went red; his eyes
flashed angrily. Then q smile. ap-
peared at the corners Of his well-cut
lips. He tasted the pie. 1t was good
served in this fashion prune pie be-
came q toothsome feast. Billy ate Il
all and then waited for Linda to 70
appear. There was no bell on the
table and he must perforce wait
patiently until she came again.
When she came and saw Billy's
empty plate he surprised . puzzled
CLEAN in her eyes.
Please, may l have another piece
Of pie?" he pleaded. Il never tasted
prune pie before. It's simply great"
I'm glad you like it" fibbed Linda.
as she sped away to bring him q Sec
ond piece.
After that, as she few about the
kitchen, her pretty eyes flashed
dangerously.
Il wonder II he really liked that pie
or II he ate it to tease me-" she
thought. We'll, he won't get one
crumb Of cherry pie while I'm here.
How cross he was this morning when
! sang! How surprised he was when
didn't prove to be a servant! He
called me Melissa. suppose he thinks
it's clever to call all country girls
Melissa or Hannah"
After dinner, Billy tried to go on
with his work, but he found 1t diff.
cult. Try as he would that tantaliz.
ing, Can she make a cherry pie?'
kept obtruding itself and he could not
Danish it. Finally, he brushed his pa
pers into a drawer and went out into
the open.
Half an hour later he had startled
blue heron from the rushes down
at the brook and was watching Its
awkward flight into the blue.
Green Center isn't half bad" he
admitted, but l wish its presiding
divinity were a trifle more agreeable
to lone chap like myself WASN'T
she hateful about the cherry pie
though? I'll bet it was good stuff II II
was anything like the prune pie. All!
That was a dream!"
Later he strolled slowly toward the
house. Nightfall was at hand. but
the insistent Can she make a cherry
pie?" was still ringing mockingly In
his ears.
Billy passed the kitchen, but saw
nothing Of Linda. He saw something
else, however. that interested him no,
little. The pantry window was open
there was sliding shelf and on that
shelf in plain relief was three-quar
tiers Of luscious cherry pie! Beside
the pie was a silver knife, as II to
make the temptation complete.
One brief moment he paused. and
then--he fell. With . swift movement
he captured the pie and the knife and
bore his booty in triumph to q rustic
bench under a nearby apple tree.
Uncle Ben. on his homeward way
saw him thus engaged paused and
eyed him humorously:
Can she make . cherry pie, Billy
Boy, Billy Boy?" he quavered in q
cracked voice.
She sure can" returned Billy un
blushingly, but never for a moment
hating in his work Of demolition.
Uncle Ben trudged on laughing
into the house, and presently Linda
appeared in the kitchen door. the
supper bell jingling in her hand
Billy was disposing of the last seq
ment Of the pie when she discovered
him and stood motionless regarding
him with an expression which waa
far from hostile. +
Billy, his lips stained cherry red
his face perceptibly flushed, returned
her gaze defiantly. Little halfre
pressed smiles crinkled her face, but
presently she broke into q cascade O,
laughter.
Il don't suppose you will want any
supper after this" she choked at last
Never better prepared for a square
meal in my life." he DECLARED with
amazing bravado. But J don't want
to eat 1t in solitary grandeur. II some
one doesn't come In and eat at the
table with me I'll 60 out into tina. II.
tie dining room with you and Uncle
Ben"
Really" she returned. You seem
to have what our old teacher used to
call the gregarious instinct rather
largely developed"
I'm lonely" he confessed. land I'm
fond Of cherry pie"
II see." said Linda, contritely
Uncle Ben and Aunt Hannah and
Usually take our meals in the little
dining room when there are boarders
In the house. Perhaps you will join
us tonight"
Thank you, il may" he said
sumbly.
After supper, as they sat on the
veranda. wainwright spoke again of
the pie
I'm afraid, Miss Barnard" he said,
that it will be a hard job for me to
convince you of my responsibility aft.
er that pie-eating episode"