The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-19
No Relief
in Sight

When Ledeson's sisters two gig
Cling friends were finally slowed away
on the Pullman and Ledeson had es-
capped from their staccato thanks and
their parting reminders and messages
and general feminine EXPLANATIONS he
heaved his first relieved breath for
two weeks. which was the length Of
their visit
One would not brutally say that
Ledeson hated women-merely that no
particular woman had impressed him
with the marvellous charms Of the sex
a. a whole. The effervescing kind were
particular trial to him. and these
two had been especially effefvescent
The two weeks had indeed been q
nightmare.
Just as reward Of merit and .
bracer Ledeson decided to take the
day of and go out to his golf club.
A whole day tramping the sod. entirely
free from the blight Of woman's
presence. appealed to him as the ulti-
mate Joy.
Then Just as he tried to walk
through the first car to the smoker
Mrs. .Wicketts called him.
"Oh! Are you going out to the club.
too?" she. chortled. How perfectly
lovely! So are we! Stella. dear; let
me present Mr.. Ledeson. My cousin.
Miss Geddit. Mr.. Ledeson. Stella has
never played golf and was bound she
should have a chance to learn even II
the club is deserted at this season.
| That's why I'm 5000 glad we met
you-you know all about golf. can
sit on the veranda and crochet while
you and Stella roam the Inks"
Mrs. Wicketts beamed upon her
victim. Cousin Stella. too. beamed
upon him. She was young thing
and Ledeson saw In his first Mortified
glance that she was even more effer.
vescent than the two who had Just
been removed from the scene by q
Pullman car.
How perfectly lovely!" echoed Cou.
sin Stella. I'm simply crazy to play
golf! Can ! learn In one afternoon
learned a perfectly dreadful EN-.
broidery stitch In only two hours the
other day-and I'm a splendid croquet
player down home!"
Ledeson violently twisted his coun
tenance into the polite smile that had
been so badly overworked of late
What he really wanted TO do was tc
seize Cousin Stella by the yellow
curls on the back Of her head and
give her neck one swift. comprehen
sive twist. Centuries Of conventiona
ancestors. however. enabled him tc
say hoarsely that he would BE- delight
ed to teach Miss Geddit.
| It was worse. much worse. than h
could have dreamed. He had never
known that q girl could be quite &c
idiotically awfsa. The polite smile
was 20 firmly glued to his face thai
It would have staid even had an ole
college chum tried to borrow money
from him. Ina dase Of misery Lede
son walked from the station to thu
club with Cousin Stella trotting aloni
beside him chattering every inch o
the way. and Mrs. Wicketts beaminl
placidly. Bitterness surged in bill
heart as he secured clubs and joined
his tormentors Cousin Stella clappee
her hands babyishly.
"Oh. are these what you play with p
she burbled How much does 1t coun
when you hit the ball? Why dom
they make them bigger? My goodness
Isn't there a net to play over or any
thing?" 70 pe"
Like a man going to execution, Led
. eson stalked to the first tee. With
sigh he turned to give his first In
, structions. Then he stopped.
Cousin Stella was making a nea
little mound Of sand and placing he
, ball upon 1t. Then In q calm, cool
businesslike way she stepped back
. screwed up her eyes and swung he
club twice. There was . crack whicl
, sent the white sphere hurting q mar
velous 200 yards. She turned her in
! nocent blue eyes upon Ledeson an,
there was . deep silence. Then Il
strangled way he seemed to be try
ing to say something.
J Cousin Stella crumpled over he
stick in . spasm Of hysterical laugh
ter. II couldn't help IT," she gasped
mo human girl could II she'd see
that look Of rage and horror on you
face when Mrs. Wickstts thrust m
upon you! She didn't know that we'v
golf club down homo and that nv
won six cups! Now I'll 20 and oroche
With Mrs. Wicketts and leave you 4
peaoe!"
Indeed you won'tl" Ledeson explo<
Cd. It had dawnsd upon him this