The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-08
DIBLEY'S
RECKONING
By JOHN CHARLTON

on the Cross highway before and he
had been an ardent admirer Of the
quaint little villages and picturesque
farm houses scattered through this
New England country. Once in a
while he came upon the river and
crossed II through echoing covered
bridges. He had Just passed through
the wood when a tire burst beyond all
repair. Laurence slipped 1t on and
applied the emergency tire he had
carried and had barely gone another
hundred yards when a rear tire ex-
ploded loudly. ruinously.
Talk about disasters at seal"
grumbled Laurence as he pushed the
light roadster into an open space
among the trees beside the road and
gathered branches of autumn leaves
to heap over it until 1t was quite hid
den under October foliage IF ever
a mariner was marooned at sea-this
landlubber is wrecked on dry land! |
wonder how many miles from civiliza-
ton ann"
He pulled out his road map and
studies II closely. -Four miles to
repair shop-whew!" He pocketed
the map and tucked his long dust
coat into a locker with his heavy fur
coat, and with cap tilted on the back
Of his head set forth to tramp the
four miles into the next village, Mel
ton.
At last he emerged from the woods
into a more open country and there,
temptingly on his right hand lay a
long. low, white-painted farm house
whose great square chimneys denoted
hospitality as we'll as did the roomy
front porch furnished with comfort
able chairs and tables. Laurence could
see large barns in the distance and
on rolling meadows in the background
were dotted a dozen cows.
That looks like glasses of butter
milk and hunks of cold Johnny cake,
murmured Laurence wistfully looking
backward as he passed the place.
A quaint signboard swinging from a
tall elm tree near the gate arrested
his attention and sent his feet speed
ing in the opposite direction and up
the path to the inviting front porch.
Refreshments Served to Travellers.
1t stated plainly.
Laurence lifed the polished brass
knocker and made known his pres
ence there.
Light footsteps sounded and there
was the click of high heeled shoes
| on bare polished floors and the door
| swung open revealing a girl clothed
in a chine blue pinafore that envelop
| er her from neck to heels. She was
pretty girl-nay beautiful girl
with mist of fine dark hair breaking
into tendrils around her rose-tinted
| face and with delicately arched blacl
brows above large hazel eyes. There
was a dab OF -four on her nose Of
which she appeared unconscious. Che
looked inquiringly at Laurence, for Sc
absorbed was he in contemplating thu
charming vision OF her that he quite
forgot his errand
He whipped of his cap and stuffeo
II IN his pocket. Good afternoon
-er have had a breakdown with m!
car back here in the woods and an
on my way to Melton for mechanic
happened to be mighty hungry ant
I saw your signboard-so | came RICH
In. IL that right?"
Certainly" said the girl gravely
IF you will sit down in the porch
will bring you whatever you wish. |
IL 10 warm and sunny out there pee
pie seem to prefer II, but II you''
rather we have a room inside"
"Out here by all means" proteste'
Laurence dropping gratefully into
comfortable rocking chair. 81 dream
cd of buttermilk and cold john,
cake" he smiled.
Your dream will be realized. oni
the Johnny cake is hot from tn
oven-I have just made It," Sh
flashed out and in the door agai
leaving in his hand a small card o.
which was set forth a list OF Wand
served at Elm Farm. The handwri
ing was angular and the Ink was G
old-fashioned violet hue.
Laurence ate his hot Johnny oak
and drank glass after glass Of col
buttermilk in addition to various otf
er delectable viands, all served by tn
beautiful girl in the blue pinafore Sh
went about the business of servin
him with a quiet gravity that charme
him. He could have remained hour
and would willingly have eaten u
and down the bill of fare severe
times over IL he had not feared III
grave inquiry of her eyes
she must think I'm glutton," h
thought with chagrin as she carrie
the empty dishes away. 81 never at
so much in all my life at one TIM
and I'd do it all over again just fc
the privilege of watching her trip
and out!" He summed up the cost {
his meal and asked the girl If 1t wa
correct. What is my reckoning" b
smiled
She said it was and he thrust hi
hand into a pocket for his wallet. H
went through one pocket after al
other with growing embarrassment
finally fishing up a solitary dime.
IL must have lost my wallet
he stammered awkwardly. before ID
concern in her eyes. He was col
scious then that his clothes wei
dusty and that his hair must be vi
tidy. What If she thought him an in
poster? He blushed deeply.