The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-10

sitting on a garden bench making 6
mental picture of the ruined garden
He looked up a tinge of annoyance
on his face.
"O!" said Celia and dropped back
The young man was her companion
of the train. He stood up, his hat il
his hand.
But Celia was not going to miss
this great opportunity to advertise
her work. She gathered courage and
a great amount of aloofness into hel
voice.
81 beg your pardon, but will it in
terfere with you in any way if decor
ate the interior of this house?" A
high color had mounted her cheeks
and it angered her to see this man
smilingly appreciate it.
mot in the least" he told her, ge
nially. I'm fact, was regretting the
dilapidated condition of the house. II
would be fearful center for my beau
tiful gardens"
Celia repressed smile and inward
ly admired his confidence.
Thank you," she said, trifie less
coldly. II wish you success" she add.
ed, and turned toward the rouse.
THE same to you," he called after
her and turned to his plans.
Weeks sped swiftly by. Out of the
ruins and neglect Of years a house
that promised we'll for the agent was
In rapid development Already PEG.
pie passing in great motor cars slowed
up as they drew near, and many got
out to investigate the artistic prop.
erty.
The spirit of antagonism that had
sprung up between them on the sub
urban train seemed only to grow in
proportion as Tom Gaynor made of
the gardens a coming show place OF
Kew, and Celia Roane made of the
interior a home that many prospec-
tive buyers inspected.
Celia, from behind the soft art
blinds in the windows, looked out at
the big man in the gardens. Each
day she spent many hours looking at
the beautiful flower kingdom that he
mad created, and always she tried to
carry out a sense of harmony in her
own work to match his.
Prospective buyers came daily to in.
spect the property, and as each one
left Celia heaved a sigh of relief. It
mad begun to hurt her-this showing
OF people through the house that had
become a part of her life. She won.
dered If the landscape gardener felt
the same jealousy regarding the place.
once she could have sworn that she
saw him turn away an aristocratic
couple who stopped at the great en-.
trance. Celia exulted in her heart and
resolved to go down in person and
ask Tom Gaynor to come in and look
at her work. He had not so much as
cast glance in her direction during
the long weeks of close proximity.
AT least" thought Celia, "he hasn't
while was looking"
She approached her subject in a
roundabout way.
1 beg your pardon, Mr.. Gaynor-
are you busy?" She flushed slightly
when he smiled into her eyes. 81
nave been wondering for a long time
Just what objection people have to this
beautiful house-hundreds have look.
ed at 1t but none of them buy"
The peculiar expression in Tom
Gaynor's eyes held Celia's attention.
IF you promise not to be angry 7
Will tell you why" Gaynor's ewes
were serious, pleading. Celia caught
her breath sharply and something hap.
py sang within her. Gaynor drew a
step nearer and spoke in deem
voice that told Celia many things. 81
bought the house the day | saw Won
on the train"
"O!" gasped Celia, perhaps Won
won't like the inside Of"
4 already more than like every.
thing In the house." Gaynor said.
And Celia succumbed.