The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-20
BETTrS CHERRY PIE
BY cLARISSA MACkIE.

1t was such a delectable cherry pie
-faky, pale-brown crust, with delicate
pink juice oozing through tiny hole
at the top as if to give hint of
the imprisoned rapture within.
Because it was her first really sue
cessful cherry pie, Betty was highly
elated as she placed it in the pantry
window to cool. 1t was to grace the
dinner table that night when her ia
Their returned from the city, hot and
tired. after long day in the office.
Later Betty changed her frock and
with a readable book went out to the
hammock swinging under the apple
tree.
She loved this tiny vine-wreathed
/ cottage which her father had hired
for the season from its owner, Miss
Alicia Peck. She fairly yearned over
the polished mahogany furniture, the
| fine old china and the pervading at
mosphere of bygone day that was
completed by Miss Alicia herself.
tiny little woman who chung to the
customs of her mothers time.
! There was no one to notice when
ragged and unkempt young man
appeared from the direction of the
river and tried the kitchen door. But
the key was under Bettys pillow in
the hammock and all the other doors
were locked as well, for Betty was a
cautious little soul.
Then the intruder went around to
the pantry window, glanced specula-
lively at the removable screen-and
saw the cherry pie.
His eyes sparkled with anticipation
as he reached long arm, pushed aside
the screen, and removed the pie. plate
and all. Betty's eyes popped wide open,
just in time to glimpse the ragged
stranger disappearing with the cherry
pie.
"Of all the-impudence!" breathed
Betty as she slipped from the ham,
mock and followed him. There never
will be another such a cherry pie in
this world!'
When Betty came upon him, he
was holding half the cherry pie in
each hand, and his ecstatic expression
and general sickness of countenance
proclaimed that Betty's effort was
without doubt success.
What are you eating?" demanded
Betty in an aggrieved tone.
"Ambrosia," he replied with an
unctuOus smack of his lips.
Betty started resentfully.
That's a nice way to evade eX-
planning why you stole my cherry
pie! Id be ashamed, great big,
strong man like yOu-s-s.st-steal-in
pie!'
why steal plain bread and but
ter, or even cake, when you can find
pie like this? Cherry pie is my ia
vorite of all pies" he said with a
fond glance at the pastry. And l
never tasted better cherry pie in
all my life"
why don't you go to work and
earn money to buy food?' she asked,
after she had watched him with fas-
cinated eyes, consume the remainder
of the pie.
81 do work part Of the time," he con-
fessed.
What is your trader"
Painter" he said, rather humbly.
Betty's eyes frightened. Here was
an opportunity to make this recreant
} youth pay for his pie.
Then you can come right up to
the house and paint the veranda
chairs for me-" she said decisively. II
was going to do them myself, but you
might as well pay for the pie
. Very WE'LL" he said with aston.
; ishing meekness, considering his size
and strong, square chin.
They had reached the house by this
time, the tramp limping painfully
after her through the prickling stub
BILE of the orchard.
Betty turned to speak to her com
panion, but she was silent in the face
of his manifest amazement at their
= destination.
You said it was your pie" he re-
preached her why. could have
sworn Aunt Alicia made it."
Miss hlicia?" fautered Betty. why
!, its made by her recipe-she
showed me how--why do you call her
your aunt?"
Because she is, returned this
amazing tramp checrfully. THE only
, and best aunt fellow ever had. Are
, you visiting herr"
. Betty ted him the circumstances
\ 81 never received her letter" he said
h with chagrin. II came down the riveI
IN Il canoe, took z notion to 20 In
{ swimming before | cane up to the
I house, and left my clothes on the
a shore. When | came out my own
l. clothes had disappeared, and | found
these | had to wash them out first
and dry them in the sun before | put
them on, and then l came on up tC
Q Aunt Alicia's, knowing ! had some
old clothes in the kitchen loft cham
Der. found Aunt Alicia was not al
home, but | discovered the cherry pic
and annexed it, and, believe me
Aunt Alicia hasn't anything over you
on cherry pies. But ! don't believe
/ there1l be another one just like this.
Betty blushed. IF you are Miss
q Alicia's nephew, you must be the art
list of whom she is so proud-Mr. Cor
don Craig" said the girl rather shy
ly, as she remembered all she hat
said to him an hour before.
Gordon Craig was quite right. There
never was Just such another cherry