The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-12
that HoRR|D man
By KEITH KENYON.

Charlie, my Dr0tHeT, lOiepHo
that dreadful Saturday that he hau
bought tickets fora The jumping
Jack" in the afternoon and to meet
him at Wentworth's. the florist.
| had asked six of the girls III ioi
tea, but when | got Charlie mes
sage, called up and postponed tne
festivities until Monday. Charlie must
have known | was dying for a chance
to wear my new hat and the stunning
suit Renarki had just sent nome But
like all of Remarks things, It was
little striking | felt queer in II al
first, for have always stuck TO styles
that are not too extreme, or at least |
have not adopted them until people
have got over their first gasp.
Well, put the duds on and. OF
CO - :. Ok -. a.. ! was late
starting and had to hurry for the car.
/ saw it coming before ! got TO the
corner and started to run. Then |
did the most stupid thing. ! don't
know just how it did happen. but
fell.
Just then a man came running and
helped me up. He whistled for the
car to stop, evidently guessing | had
been trying TO make it and he helped
me to get on ! thanked him ana sup
posed he would leave, but he got on
too.
The whole way into town that man
sat exactly opposite me and scarcely
looked away an instant. 1t must have
been the suit, and got madden every
yard OF the way never was so re
licved in my life as | was to get of
that car
But | nearly tainted when turned
to go into the florists TO see my man
come in too. He deliberately looked
at me, half smiled and followed me
back to the counter
| hate scenes, and have always pic
tured to myself just how | should act
and what | should do if ever a man
whom | did not know should speak TO
me. Here was my cue, Stony silence
and extreme haughtiness. Besides,
Charlie would come bouncing in in a
minute and would do any annihilating
necessary
Oh, Miss Arnold" called clerk.
coming out of the office, Mr.. Arnold
Just called up and said to tell YOU he
would be late and for you to go OH
to the theater and ask for your
ticket at the box Office He left it
there. You are to go in, and he said
he would be there as soon as pos
sibie."
Well, there was nothing to do but
90. The theater at any rate was a
haven of refuge
When ! left the store the man
noticed. was buying violets. He looked
up as | passed
When | went by the window
saw the clerk hand him the purple
box and his change. and the man
started hurriedly toward the door. |
vas getting frantic. Such persistence.
such impudence, it had never been
ny lot to experience.
he followed me right into the
heater and stood behind me in line
t the box office.
l got my ticket and went in. He
anne in after me. had notion
o say something to the usher, but
struck me that our seats would
ot be together, and Charlie would
re with me going out.
The seats were in right F. Mine
vas two didn't know which was
or three. But | soon
ound out. The orchestra was play-
ng the overture and the curtain
'as going up when someone sat down
the seat beside me-
The man-violets and all!
He gave me funny little smile and
ctually opened his mouth to say some.
hing
l was cold with fright now, and too
aralyzed to move. But | saw the
iolets coming. l could see that he
as thinking of neat way to get to
Xix to me and offer me the flowers.
hen | did move. Charles seat evil
emily was number three. | moved
ito 1t as quickly as | could and piled
" hat and everything could think
into the empty one between that
onster and myself.
The first act was good, and had al.
ost forgotten the man was there
hen Charlie came IN.
But the funny part OF it was he
'arcely looked at me. He grabbed
lat man and nearly shook his hand
I. He asked him IL he got his seat
l right. and said he was sorry he
'uidnt meet him at Wentworth's-
'ped he got the message all right
Id so on.
Ihen he turned to me. sis, | want
" TO meet Jimmy Livingston. you
low my class at Yale. just came
town and living out our way. Too
ID had to spoil our little theater
irty by being late, but we three
III nave a rousing good dinner after
e show and get acquainted right"
Mr.. Livingston and howea
larlie jumped up H
Here, Sis. you sit here and talk
Jimmy. | want you to like hin,
'Iuiiy well you know There.
lat's the ticket. Say. that's a rim.
ng get-up you've got. Never saw
u look so fine see Jimmy had
ore brains than l had and got Won
me violets
so | sat beside Jimmy and talkao 4
him and he gave me the yiolets