The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-12
mock and had overheard their CONVEX.

mock and had overheard their CONVEX
sation.
mo, it's all right" announced Mr..
out upon the porch he saw Rover. the
old house dog, just settling himself
down in the roomy hammock for a
snooze, and manlike, shrewd as he
was, failed to lean far enough out
to discover Paula, a strange smile
upon her lips, tiptoeing out Of view
down the side steps.
Walter Brooks worked harder than
ever after that to gain the approba'
ton of his partner-landlord. He was
on deck early and late. He tried a
new and efficacious fertilizer at his
own expense, and gained great results
Then, evenings, he dreamed of Paula
of the dazzling hope that some day
even II far ahead. he might see heI
fitting about the rooms Of the little
house, singing, helpful and happy.
And this, in turn, led him to q prac
teal result. He began to devote his
spare time to making the house more
inviting, externally. He patched W
neglected places, he laid out pretty
baden. He then began on the in
tarior. Every room was paperet
rrettily. AS he had money to spare
he purchased rugs and furniture. One
day Paula and her father, passing by
dropped in upon him.
why, Rrooks!" exclaimed Mr.
Lane as he stepped into the coy
neat and tastefully decorated living
room, what a transformation! YOU
have actually made perfect little
palace out of the old place. Anyone
would think you were getting read!
for long siege of housekeeping"
Il am" admitted Walter. ''It''
pretty nice evenings to sit down in I
pretty, comfortable home, even If 1
| is lonely"
Papa, Mr.. Brooks deserves en-
| couragement," observed Miss Lam
shyly, as they left the house. SOM
simple curtains and a few little knick
nacks would finish up the place rea
homelike."
Then began a season of rare de
light for Walter. A dozen time
within the next year Paula and Mrs
Lane visited the South farm regular
ly. Always they brought piece o
| ribbon for a chair, bow, tidy,
picture-in fact, in time they had civ
en- that perfect womanly touch t
things that; indeed, made the hous
little palace.
On the day that the two years ties
was up, Paula, with her mother, wen
to Mr.. Lane and disclosed the fac
that all along Paula had known Of tn
lover in suspense, and pointed on
that in an earnest but non-committs
way she had been quietly assistin
Walter ito make home" And Low
showed in her bright eyes, and Gideo
Lane knew that Walter Brooks woul
be, as he deserved to be, happ
man.
And then, almost boylike in tn
glee of a vast surprise, he let tn
women into his scheme" and ser
a messenger for Walter, and met hill
at the porch steps.
Brooks" he observed, grasping hi
hand, the two years term is up. 70
can speak to Paula now. First, though
go round to the side porch. I'm goin
to give you my best oleander. It
all covered up with paper and read
to move"
Walter walked round to the deser
ed porch. There, sure enough, shove
the great tub and the outlines Of tt
Towering tree. He pushed apart or
of the obscuring sheets to view tt
radiant blosscms-and the rarest or
of all met his eyes!
It was Paula, blushing, smilin
holding up the tree, and she sa
softly:
This is papa's present"
And Paula goes with it," shoutt
old Gideon, poking his head arour
. the edge of the porch, and then ma
ing himself invisible as those two gls
faces came nearer and nearer a.
! nearer together.
!, Copyright, 1916. by w. G. Chapman.