The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-14


were awfully good to me but-well,
decided Id rather pass the rest of
my vacation in town.
You must have had some reason
for changing your mind?"
Its quite story, but you are well
come to 1t. dear, on condition that
you don't repeat it. You see, the
second morning after | got to Cherry
Hill had letter from Aubrey John
son saying that he was coming to see
me and telling me not to make an en-
gaGement with any country swain be-
cause he could stay only one evening
and he wanted me all to himself"
of course you were excited"
Il planned moonlight row on the
river. | thought it would be grand.
We'll, Aubrey had just arrived and
had hardly more than been introduced
to Uncle Dan, Aunt Hattie and my
bachelor cousins when terrific thun-
derstorm came up. 1t grew into
steady rain and we all had to go into
the stuffy little sitting room | could
have cried, but of course there was
nothing to do but to make the best
of it.
Aubrey came at seven o'clock and
the whole family sat there with us
until $50. They entertained him with
talk about the crops, the bad roads
and how scarce hired help was get
ting in the country. At last Uncle
Dan yawned and said: Come. moth
er. it's our bedtime. If you young
folks want to sit up little while
longer, all right
Il couldn't help being glad when
Cousin Zeb said to Cousin Dan that
they'd better go. too, for they had hay
to cut early the next morning if the
rain stopped
After they had shaken hands with
Aubrey and left the room Aubrey said
they were decent chaps to think of
the haying just then. and he changed
his seat to the sofa where I was sit.
ting. In about a minute Uncle Dan
surprised us by coming into the room
with lighted lantern.
I thought you'd have pretty hard
work finding your way back to the
cross roads in the dark, Mr.. Johnson
he said. You can leave this lantern
at the hotel and Zeb'll get 1t when he
goes to the creamery in the morning.
or course Aubrey thanked him and
said good night again He was Just
turning the kerosene lamp down
little-the glare made the room so
not. you knOw-when Cousin Zeb re.
turned
guess them patent feathers of
yours would be about spoiled If you
tramped in 'em through the mud he
remarked as he handed Aubrey big
pair of rubber boots You just take
EN- of and wear these You can
carry your shoes and I'll get the boots
tomorrow at the hotel
You're very kind said Aubrey.
Say, went on Zeb, If you'll wait
minute I'll get my rubber coat for
you. That's a pretty thin-looking
suit you've got on
I'll wait Aubrey replied.
Then he and discussed the wealth
er from distant corners of the room
while Zeb was gone. After Zeb had
left US again and Aubrey had re-
his seat on the sofa and was
beginning to tell me how he had
wanted to see me so much, he was
interrupted by the appearance of
Cousin Dan
1T was awful careless of us not
to think to offer you an umbrella he
said as he produced huge old cot
ton affair. I thought of it Just now.
Here's one you can take all the way
to the city ii you want to and send it
back any time
When We were once more alone
Aubrey gave me the funniest look
and said: I'm going now quick be-
fore your aunt comes down in her
with chest protector for
me. | wanted to talk to you about
special, but I'll wait till
you get back to the lonesome city
where there aren't so many Interrupt
lions. GoOd-by. little girl
Then he went away with the rub
Der boots. the rain coat. the umbrel.
Ia and the lantern.
Well. the next day | made up NV
mind that II was kind of dull in the
and I'd rather be back in
town, so | came home. I'm having a
lovely time. Aubrey takes me some,
where every night and
Are you and he engaged" inter,
'upted the girl friend ,excitedly.
i was Just going to show you the
ing" answered Mabel. blushing.