The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-12
FREDA's FICTION
BY GRACE fAlSLlE.

her head slowly.
All. something's wrong" sht
unused. She amt been like hersel
since she come home from the noun
tains. I'll just wager there's a mar
back of all these blue spells. Well
l wish he'd turn out to be the right
man. for she ought to be married
and took care Of.
Freda kept Miss Markhams bun
galow immaculate and served whole
some meals, but felt that she ought
to give additional service in lessen
ing her mistress's indifference toward
matrimony. She felt justified in US
ing strategy if it led to her mistress
happiness. She walked rather noisily
to the door of the living room, which
was lighted only by the blaze from
the fireplace.
Miss Markham, if I'm too bother
some, just say So but this drizzly
November day has kept me all shut
in till I've got to thinking again
about something | thought I'd for.
got
Why, Freda. 10 it anything | can
help you to settler Miss Markham s
tone was sympathetic
"Oh, | knew you'd be ready to
help; you're always doing things for
everybody but yourself"
Well, that is the right way, Freda.
I'm less important than a great many
people" The short silence which fol-
lowed this remark was bluntly broken
by Freda.
What | wanted to talk to you
about she said, was man | couldn t
seem to forget
What YOU too. Freda?" exclaimed
Miss Markham, quite unconscious of
all that her words implied.
"Yes'm; you see it was this way:
He was gardener and | was cook for
the same family. He was good.
lookin' Irishman and whole year
younger than me- He'd melt his blue
eyes and tell me he'd never liked any
other girl as he did me, but when
| wasn't bit sure about my feelings
his for me?" Freda gazed straight
into the fire as she concluded part
one of the plan. and Miss Markham
was leaning out from the big chair
looking hard at her.
How strange, F'reda. that you
should have told me all this tonight"
Then. catching herself, Miss Markham
added. that is ! mean it is strange
you never mentioned it before
We'll, you see.' Freda answered,
still looking at the fire. Il used to
think l did right, but sometimes now
| wonder il did"
What did you do, Freda?'
Il just came away without saying
good-by or letting him know where
Id gone l felt mighty smart about
it till l got good and lonesome, and
sometimes thought he might be lone
some, too. More than once I've
thought here Freda introduced
heavy sigh-"that having my own
way is not so good for me as learning
to live for other folks and taking care
of husband and babies would have
BEEN
Miss Markham laid a sympathetic
hand on Freda's shoulder. The other
hand carried her handkerchief to her
eyes.
Having finished her story, Freda
hurried out, but she did not go too
far to hear every sound from the liv-
ing room. Miss Markham turned on
the light and opened her desk. There
was a rustic Of paper, a scratching Of
a pen, another rustic Of paper. and
Immediately Miss Markham, in her
waterproof and her collie by her side.
took walk in the drizzly darkness
down toward the mail box. When
they came back they had an old.
time romp on the veranda. The next
day Miss Markham sang about the
house and brought cheerful face and
good appetite to her meals.
The morning following was a beau.
tiful Indian summer day and she went
for ride, wearing her khaki suit,
tan boots and soft brown hat. While
she was gone tall, distinguished
looking stranger came walking up the
hill from the railway station and
asked for her. Freda. who thought
he had some relation to that hurriedly
written note, determined to keep him
waiting until her mistress returned.
He showed no disposition to be manip-
ulated by Freda. but questioned her
about Miss Markham's usual riding
route, and announced that he would
walk in the direction that lady was
expected to return. AS ne walked
away. Freda decided that she ap.
proved of him from his dark. we'll
shaped head to his well-shod feet,
with their determined way of setting
themselves down Especially she APP
proved of the fashionable cut OF his
close-titting clothes
He met Miss Markham a short dis.
lance away. and in plain view OF the
dining room window where Freda mad
stationed herself. Her keen eyes
sparkled as she saw the stranger
take Miss Markham's right hand in
both of his Miss Markham said little
but smiled much. Presently he lifted
her from the horse and, arm in arm.
they started toward the house.
Il never had gardener for a lover
in my life, chuckled Freda as she
hurried INTO the kitchen. but raked
up the right KIND of story to make