The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-22
LONELY mr.. HODGE
BY cLARissA MAcKlE.

Selected School for Girls opened for
the fall term. Robina Judd, the new
est girl Of all, walked about the spa
cious grounds with her roommate.
Let US go through this cunning
gate and see what 10 on the other
side!" suggested Robina, when they
had come to the end Of the evergreen
path.
Grace Barney glanced up at the for
bidding stone wall and shook her
sunny head.
"Out Of bounds. Robina.' she said
regretfully. Besides. it's private
property perfect ogre Of an old
man lives there all alone. asked
Miss .Lumpkin about him and she
sighed and called him poor. lonely
Mr.. Hodge-only, you see, Robina, he
happens to be rich"
Here comes Miss Gerald" said Ro-
bina-"isn't she dear?"
my favorite teacher! She has
only been here three days and yet I
love her better than any Of the 9TH
ers. Sweet and sad and lovely-she--
she looks as though she might have
suffered, Robina!"
The thought of lonely Mr.. Hodge
wandering about his perfectly kept
grounds haunted the careless mo-
ments of Robina Judd. Some day
shall go in" she threatened to her
roommate.
"You will have to prove It by
bringing me one Of those weirdly
colored Japanese chrysanthemums
from his garden" Grace replied
"Wait and sect" retorted Robina,
and that very afternoon came oppor-
tunity.
Most of the girls had gone for a
long walk in the woods, but Robina,
who had slightly twisted her ankle
in the gymnasium that morning pre-
ferred to hobble around the garden.
Finally she came to the door in the
wall-the high wall beyond which
, lived lonely Mr.. Hodge.
: 1.-THE time and the place-and l
hope the mani" .giggled Robina. as she
. turned the knob Of the little green
door. 1t creaked dismally. opened, and
in the distance she could see the mel
lowed walls of red brick house
bathed in the afternoon sunshine
A gardener was working somewhere
there was the clicking sound OF a
hoe against stones.
ITS jolly here" commented Ro'
bina, and she rounded little sum-
mer house and came upon the gar
dener; who ives vigorously stirring up
the soil in the bed Of gorgeous chrys
anthemums.
He turned a pair Of surprised blue
eyes upon her-twinkling blue eyes
set in . sunburned face. close-shaveu
and square-jawed.
"Well!" he exclaimed.
WELT" gasped Robina, for she had
nothing else to say. Then. with sud
den Inspiration, she added. "Tht
chrysanthemums are lovely!"
think so7,, Then you must have
some." he DECIDED promptly, and
taking a knife from his pocket, HI
proceeded to- .cut . huge bunch o
white and yellaw and crimson chrys
anthemums. r.
"You-you wouldn't mind giving M
lust one Of the variegated ones?" hes
. itated Robina.
"Sure!" he smiled down at her.
81 hope Mr.. Hodge doesn't mind m!
coming in here" went on Robina, will
a glance at the house. you see, be
long to the school next door. and w
! girls know about Mr.. Hodge; and w
! have felt sorry about his being 81
lonely, and l said that I was cominl
! in some day to see him, and Grac
! dared me to come. I'm afraid mus
+ 60 now"
! $50 you are sorry for Mr.. Hodge?
laughed the gardener. why"
Because he lives here alone-an
I because some of the girls say that h
had been disappointed-oh, I shout
not talk to you so!" Robina suddenl
remembered the prophecies. Sh
thought the gardeners blue eye
clouded,. but he was still smiling.
7 wouldn't 1t add to the romance {
the occasion to 6fscover that a
= Mr.. Hodge?" asked the gardene
. calmly.
Z "oh! OH" moaued Robina. "Ho
3 the girls will laugh 1t met"
Z Don't you believe that"
3 grinned cheerfulU. They'll be cate
Z up with envy at your romantic advs
; ture."
u "Robina!"
: The clear sweet call came from Il
4 other side of the nigh wall.
I who 10 thatr' asked Mr.. Hodg
: looking very pale.
I 1T 10 Miss Gerald-our drawn
Z teacher-she 10 looking for me-goo
Z by-and thank youa"
( Just az Robina reached the door
= opened and Pauline Gerald sto,
there. Robina rushed past her in
= the school grounds, but Pauiil
. paused within the grounds Of n
Z Hodge, looking With glad. bewilder
: eyes at the man who stood there vi
Z outstretched hands.
I "Pauline!" he was saying. "Wh
Ri bought this old place new
B dreamed that you-why, Pauline, d
Z ling, you would not look that way I
! less you loved mel"
Z "And when l peeked through t
: gate" said Robina to her scho
& mates, "she was in his arms-and-
Z She paused dramatically.
Z; And breathed her companio
Z tensely.
y They were kissing each othel
and so guess it's all right" end