The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-18
The PEAFONL
By KEITH KENYON.

AOh safes lnal were the ell
trance to Frogmore, the handsome es-
tate OF the Cullens. at East Orange.
Miss Cullen was within the gates
feeding a handful of grain to a pair
OF peacocks that were spreading their
tail feathers for her admiration. Miss
Cullen was no less lovely than the
peacocks and quite as vain.
Il wonder Conrad said, raising his
hat respectfully, If there is a vacancy
OF any sort on the estate. ! am anx-
ious to get position in the country
for few months"
The girl within the gates cut him
short with naughty stare.
We are not in the habit of employ
ing tramps. Only people we'll recon-
mended need apply for work" She
turned away, as if the interview was
over.
But | do not happen to be tramp.
| am stranger looking for light EN-
ployment, having lost my energy in
the city, and desiring to find it again.
! am sorry to have troubled you"
There is lot Of work on the place
extra work-on account of spring
planting -transplanting from the con-
servatories-roses and shrubbery. Are
you familiar with such work."
Il have done nothing beyond anna
teur flower cultivation. but, being a
lover of such work. have had great
success at it,"
Miss Cullen's eyes were appraising
him from head to foot, disparagement
in her glance.
Conrad added quickly: But | sup
pose, l have sufficient intelligence to
look after your roses, and if you hap
pen to have an orchid house"
Orchids" she exclaimed and a new
light came into her eyes. Il have
some rare ones that the head gardener
knows nothing whatever about. It's
breaking my heart-to see them fad
ing day by day"
Not doing well, eh?" he asked. y
spent year down in South America,
where they abound"
1t turned out that Conrads familiar
ity with orchids gained him a po-
sition on the estate. He was delight
ed when he found that he might oc-
cupy small cottage adjoining the
plant houses.
From day to day Barbara kept her
eye on him. In fact, daily contact with
Conrad was teaching the mistress OF
Frogmore to forget that her new gar
dener was but a hireling. His Opt
mism and deep knowledge on many
subjects amazed her
Thus he compelled her to listen to
a chord in her own heart which she
had striven for years to stile. She
had been trying to live according tC
convention and false ideals of happi
ness.
One day she woke TO the knowledge
that through what she regarded as
some strange perversity of her nature
she had fallen in love with her gar
dener.
The horror of it," she gasped.
There followed a speedy return o
her old-time self-esteem, and she re
solved to put an end to the disquiet
ing thing without delay.
So, with the intention of burnin;
her bridges so that she might neve
be tempted to cross them again, sh'
went swiftly down through the loni
gardens toward Conrad's cottage. A
she drew near, she heard the clicl
, of typewriter. The easement wa
open and through it she saw her neN
gardener seated at the machine an
: so intent upon his work that he di
not even raise his eyes as she stoo
before him at the window
!, Conrad" she spoke firmly.
Hello! Who is it," He rose quicl
" and in a moment was by her sid'
You want me for something, Mis-
Cullen?" he asked deferentially.
only to say that since the sprin
\ work is about over | shan't need yo
any more" she said constrainedly.
2I There was silence for a moment.
I'm glad" Conrad said then, wit
evident relief in his tone. Il ha
planned to tell you that | must r
I turn to the city in the morning.
Greatly to her discontinue, h
e prompt acquiescence irritated Barbar
That anyone should be so resigned
leave her service hurt her self-esteer
The loftiness OF manner that had bee
absent for several weeks returned In
mediately. Indeed! May | ask
- YOU have bettered your position?' 81
y said. with a perfectly audible snih.
Yes" admitted Conrad briskly.
o have gained my end at last. See!' +
nointed to a mass of half sheets thi
we're scattered over the scant furr
&, ture of the cottage and some OF the
= on the floor. That is the script OF
. novel which was accepted by a pu
: Usher a year ago. | couldn't get
: fnished-for the pot had TO boil, yc
know-but there it is" He threw o.
i his chest and breathed sigh OF sati
:, fed achievement. His eyes were fair
q a-glitter.
{ so" Barbara flashed angrify, 9TH
: is Il, You simply have been using n
3 as medium to further your own Sc
q ish ends"
e Miss Cullen" he calculate
J. amazed at her attitude. when ha7
i 7 failed to give full value for faTot
- received"
e How should know you we're 9TH
i than you seemed
< Il don't see that it matters.
, well. have been treating you as
common servant. and no doubt yc