The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-14


"Tll take a piece of cherry pie!"
"Pie?" repeated Linda Yes. sir,
and she tripped away.
Billy's eyes we're dreaming over the
roses in the garden when suddenly he
dropped his glance to his plate.
Before him were a cup Of coffee and |
q piece of prune pie!
1t was a rather delectabie looking
piece of pie and the top was piled
with whipped cream.
Billy's face went red; his eyes
flashed angrily. Then a smile ap-
peared at the corners of his well-cut
lips. He tasted the pie. 1t was good
served in this fashion prune pie be-
came a toothsome feast Billy ate 1t
all and then waited for Linda to re.
appear There WAS no bell on the
table and he must perforce wait
patiently until she came again.
When she came and saw Billy's
empty plate he surprised a puzzled
CLEAN in her eyes.
please, may ! have another piece
Of pie?" he pleaded Il never tasted
prune pie before. It's simply great"
I'm glad you like it," fibbed Linda,
as she sped away to bring him Sec
| ond piece.
After that, as she flew about the
kitchen. her pretty eyes flashed
dangerously.
! Il wonder II he really liked that pie
or II he ate it to tease me-" she
thought. We'll he won't get one
crumb of cherry pie while I'm here.
, How cross he was this morning when
| sang! How surprised he was when
I l didn't prove to be servant! He
called me Melissa. suppose he thinks
! it's clever to call all country girls
Melissa or Hannah
After dinner, Billy tried to go on
with his work, but he found it diff
cult. Try as he would that tantaliz
ing, Can she make a cherry pie?'
kept obtruding itself and he could mo-
Danish it. Finally. he brushed his pa
pers into drawer and went out into
the open.
Half an hour later he had startled
blue heron from the PUSHES dow
at the brook and was watching It
awkward flight into the blue.
Green Center isn't half bad" h
admitted, but | wish its presiding
divinity were a trifle more agreeabl
/ to a lone chap like myself Wash
she hateful about the cherry pie
though? I'll bet it was good stuff If
was anything like the prune pie. All
That was dream!"
. Later he strolled slowly toward tn
/, house. Nightfall was at hand, br
the insistent Can she make cherr
pie?" was still ringing mockingly
his ears.
Billy passed the kitchen, but sa
- nothing of Linda. He saw somethin
= else, however, that interested him nj
4 a little. The pantry window was ope
there was sliding shelf and on Thu
shelf in plain relief was three-Qua
4 tiers Of a luscious cherry pie! Besit
. the pie was silver knife. as II
@ make the temptation complete.
q One brief moment he paused. ar
e then-he fell With a swift moveme
d he captured the pie and the knife AZ
bore his booty In triumph to rust
g. bench under nearby apple tree.
le Uncle Ben. on his homeward wa
d saw him thus engaged paused 81
At eyed him humorously:
ID Can she make a cherry pie, Bill
Boy, Billy Boy?" he quavered in
lg cracked voice.
r. She sure can" returned Billy U
lp blushingly, but never for a nome
hating in his work of demolition.
re- Uncle Ben trudged on laughir
ct into the house, and presently Lin
appeared in the kitchen door. Z
supper bell jingling in her har
MS Billy was disposing of the last 81
!" ment of the pie when che discover
he him and stood motionless regard
him with an expression which "
on far from hostile.
Irl Billy, his lips stained cherry n
ne his face perceptibly flushed, return
her gaze defiantly. Little half
cd pressed smiles crinkled her face,
81 presently she broke into cascade
all laughter.
Il don't suppose you will want a
er supper after this" she choked at la
he Never better prepared for squs
ne meal in my life" he declared W
he amazing bravado. But l don't Wa
to eat it in solitary grandeur. II sor
one doesn't come in and eat at
ilk table with me I'll go out into tina.
= tie dining room with you and I'm
on Ben"
70 Really" she returned. You Sc
m, to have what our old teacher used
call the gregarious instinct ratl
Nv largely developed"
nat I'm lonely" he confessed. land
fond of cherry pie"
yn. Il see" said Linda. contrite
Uncle Ben and Aunt Hannah ant
ce, Usually take our meals in the III
dining room when there are board
.ng in the house Perhaps yon will j
as MS tonight
Thank you. If may" he 8
10 umbly
his Alter supper, as they sat on
md veranta, wainwright spoke again
The the pie.
in "l'ri afraid Miss Barnard" he 50
ag. that it will be hard job for me
convince you of my responsibility |
the CT that pie.eating episode"
to Linda flushed charmingly.
oil