The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-19


~ matter? Didn't
~ you like Cherry
"Oh. l liked the
farm well enough and my relatives
were awfully good to me but-well,
l decided Id rather pass the rest OF
my vacation in town"
You must have had some reason
for changing your mind?"
It's quite story. but you are well
come to it, 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"
II planned a moonlight row on the
river. l thought it would be grand
well, Aubrey had just arrived and
had hardly more than been introduced
to Uncle DAN Aunt Hattie and my
derstorm came up. 1t grew into a
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
4 O. tar tot N cd Inn, until
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 a little while
longer, all right
II couldn't help being glad when
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 was sit
surprised us by coming into the room
with IA lighted lantern.
IL 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 it when he
goes to the creamery in the morning
"nf Anhray ha nh al 4
said good night again He was just
turning the kerosene lamp down a
little-the glare made the room sc
hot. you know--when Cousin Zeb re
turned
guess them patent feathers o
yours would be. about spoiled if yol
tramped in EN- through the mud he
remarked as he handed Aubrey bis
pair of rubber boots You just take
EN- of and wear these You car
carry your shoes and I'll get the boot.
tomorrow at the hotel
You're very kind, said Aubrey
Say went on Zeb, If you'll wal
minute I'll get my rubber coat FOL
you. That's pretty thin-lookinl
suit you've got on
LII wait Aubrey replied
Then he and discussed the wealth
er from distant corners of the room
while Zeb was gone After Zeb ha,
left us again and Aubrey had re
sumed his seat on the sofa and wal
beginning TO tell me how ne hat
wanted to see me so much, he wa
interrupted by the appearance o
Cousin Dan.
1T was awful careless OF us no
to think to offer you an umbrella h
said as he produced huge old cot
ton AFFAIR. ! thought of II just now
Here's one you can take all the wa
to the city II you want to and send i
, back any time
when we were once more alon
Aubrey gave me the funniest loo
and said: I'm going now quick be
fore your aunt comes down in he
wrapper with a chest protector 70
me. ! wanted TO talk TO you abou
, something special, but I'll wait I'll
you get back to the lonesome cit
where there aren't so many interruI
, tions Goodby, little girl
Then he went away with the rut
, Der boots, the rain coat, the umbre
la and the lantern
We'll. the next day ! made up m
mind that it was kind Of dull in III
country ard Ia rather be back Il
town, so came home I'm having
lovely time. Aubrey takes me seine
| where every night and"
Are You and he engaged?" inter
rupted the girl friend cxcitedly.
Il WIS Just going to show you tn
ring, answered Mabel blushing.