The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-13
.1 can think of something better


That night at the dinner table
Cameron took a letter out of his
pocket and tossed it over to his vile
to read.
81 call that something of an impo-
sition." was his statement
The letter was from Chalmers. II
stated that the noise of the automo-
bile in his neighbours garage was try
ing to his nerves. 1t walked MIN III
the mornings. He requested that II
be stopped
He might have put it more pleas
antly." Cameron said. Il never knew
him to be cranky before"
Young Richard looked up. Il guess
it's our auto" he said, land wen
make all the noise we want"
That's right" said Cameron, "and
| will write him to that effect Out
of the correspondence grew decided
GOODNESS between the two friends.
Even Mrs. Cameron was puzzled to
know if the trouble was a bona hde
one or merely the result of plot.
Richard, however, had no doubts.
otHCI Gel hdo a oioNNh
next-door neighbour" he confided to
his mother; but it oughtnt to make
| him rude to the girl. He snapped out
such a gruff Good morning to her
that felt positively sorry for her.
/ The climax came when Cameron
| chased Dulcie Chalmers white cat
across the lawn. He threw stone at
| 10 IN hn
direction, for Cameron had soft spot
in his heart for cats. Across the
hedge Richard apologized later for his
| fathers act
Il don't know what is coming over
him, Miss Chalmers" he said Il
think he has a crouch against your
father"
They were such good friends" the
girl sighed. 1T seems pity doesn't
it,"
1T is a pity" Dick said. But it
needn't make us any less good friends,
need it, Miss Dulcie?'
why, of course not" she said.
That was the beginning; but as the
summer went on the two young peo-
pie found themselves involved in a
most romantic situation. The two
fathers commanded that their chill
dren give up all intercourse with each
other. This led to delightful clandes-
tine meetings; moonlight and star
light saw them whispering together in
the garage or at the foot of the rose
garden. The summer winds heard
their vows, and the birds sang a Choir
us to their love song.
When they were well out of sight,
and of hearing, Richard, Sr.. would
shake hands with old man Chalmers
across the hedge and they would
chuckle over the success of their pre-
tended feud. But Mrs. Cameron was
worried
The next thing you know, Wen
have an elopement, and | want Dick
and Dulcie married decently in
church."
What difference does it make, so
they are. married." her husband de-
manded
1T will make a whole lot of differ
ence in their future" said Mrs. Cam
eron. You and | ran away, Richard,
because there was no other way out
of it, but Dulcie has right to white
satin and a wedding veil. | have al
ways regretted that | didn't have a
chance to wear one, though I've
never regretted my marriage"
We'll, we'll bring things to a head
tonight said Cameron, laughing.
The sundial was a pretty place for
the lovers to meet 1t was far enough
from the house so that, after the
shadows fell, II made a safe retreat.
There was a stone bench, too. with a
high screen of vines behind it, and
here Dulcie' and Dick plighted their
VOWS unheard, unseen.
Here the two irate fathers found
them.
"Dulcie," said Chalmers, what
does this mean ?''
1T means, sir, said Dick standing
, very stiff and straight, that | want
to marry your daughter"
r We'll, of all things" said Richard
: Sr.
t You ran away with mother" said
the boy stoutly, and | don't think
you have ever repented your bar
i, gain"
THAT has nothing to do with this
: case" said Cameron. why, II is
I preposterous that you should expect
r to marry Dulcie Chalmers, Richard
: when her father and are sworn enc
mics"
Sworn enemies" echoed Chalmers
y 1t was at this moment that Mrs
Cameron crossed the lawn swiftly ant
y appeared before them.
u Richard" she said earnestly. coins
o up to her son, you love Dulcie, DON
your"
Yes"
# And Dulcie loves your"
n She took the girls hand in hers.
If 1T is very beautiful. but / think tn,
d most beautiful part of it will be tina
e these two stubborn men will becom,
r friends again"
e She turned to them Surely yo,
will make up for the sake of you
N children"
:, They were smiling in the darkness
but Dick and Dulcie did not know.
r Il shall run away with her if yo
don't consent, sir was Richard
- final statement
r. A chip off the old block" chuck
- led Cameron Well, if you put
4 that way, | suppose l shall have t
saw Yes Dick"