The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-09

his sleep. and Mrs. Blake, hearing him,
smiled secretly.
Il wonder why he was telling An.
gela that the rose garden is haunted"
she thought He knows she is quite
fearless at night and might take to
wandering around the garden to run
our ghost TO earth, Strange. Jim new
er spoke to me about the ghost; but.
Of course, l am not looking for adven-
lures"
! Angela was thinking about the ghost
Of the rose garden, and she decided
that the very next moonlight night she
would watch for 1t. Not from the
window" she told herself courageous
ly, 'but in the garden itself Very
likely 1t Is only Edna's cook getting a
breath OF fresh air after a hard days
work, or 1t might be her sweetheart"
1t rained the next night and the next,
and 1t was not until the third night
that pale moon showed through the
clouds. Nathan appeared at dinner
that evening. and Angela showed such
, a charming embarrassment at meeting
him and Nathan blinked so rapidly be-
hind his glasses that Jim Blake came
to the conclusion that Angelas plea
Of waiting for hero" TO come into
her life was only an excuse.
Nathan only remained few min
utes after the meal was concluded.
Jim followed him into the porch for
quiet word.
"lf you should be skimming around
after dark, old man." he warned his
brother-in-law. "just keep your eye
on Miss Angela. She will be search
Ing the rose garden for a ghost It's
sort Of fad of hers. you know. that
and expecting bold lovers to ride up
on black horses and elope with her.
Just see that no one does 1t, eh?"
"Um-ah!' said Nathan rather vague
ly as he wandered Off toward the fields.
"Done, by lover chuckled Jim Blake
as he lighted cigar.
1t was verging on midnight when
Angela Thornton slipped cautiously
down the front stairs and let herself
into the garden.
their lovely gardens, especially the
rose garden. which was inclosed In
high hedge of Cherokee roses.
The rose garden lay on the other
side of an expanse of rolling lawns.
Angela, wearing her white frock,
with pale blue shawl wrapped
around her slender shoulders. went
slowly down the path aad stepped on
to the springy turf. The moon, drift
Ing In and out Of the scuddng clouds.
made alternate light and shadow on
the grass.
1t was a pleasant night for ghost
hunting.
Presently there came throbblng
sound overhead and a deeper shadow
on the lawn, though now the clouds
had parted to let the moon shine
through quite clearly.
Angela, startled, looked up and saw
great object bearing down upon her
out of the night sky, great black
winged thing. No; 1t was white where
the moonlight touched 1T!
Then it came down, down, reached
the ground, rocked over the turf and
came to a pause within half dozen
feet of Angela Thornton.
"Why, it's an aeroplanew she thought
and clasped her hands In delighted
wonder, for she had never seen one
except in the illustrated papers. 1.-THE
poor man has lost his way"
The aviator. had climbed out of his
seat and was coming toward Angela.
His was tall, thin, STOPPING figure
dressed I'm leather garments and wear
ing close fitting cap and goggles. Over
his arm he carried big leather coat.
Angela" he said deliberately, 1--WE
always wanted to marry you. You re-
member l asked you once years ago,
and you called me simpleton and
Nathan" she quavered. for she had
penetrated his disguise. II sent you
away because l was the simpleton. | |
loved you and wanted to marry you,
but you were not romantic enough for
me. So have waited"-
Waited for mef" he put in eagerly.
"Of course!''
aeroplane. Come with me. then, dear,
and never dare to say that you nave
not had an adventure. Slip into this
coat There! The minister at Woburn
Is waiting for u.s. Oh, I'm hero-quite
an up to date one, sweetheart. And my
motor will take us to Woburn and our
wedding In a manner never dreamed
Of by you"
So he plucked a handful of white
roses for a bridal bouquet, and then
he lifted Angela into the passengers
seat and strapped her In. Then he
look the pilots place, started the motor
Of his own inventing and presently
they were soaring at safe height
above the treetops.
The moonlight shone on the cross of
he steeple of the Woburn church and
guided them straight to the minister
md future happiness.
The moonlight shone on the Blakes'
'ose garden and the deserted lawn.
And Edna Blake and her husband,
Trusting their heads from the win
lows of their adjoining rooms, stared
nto each others surprised faces.
you saw itY' asked Edna at last
Wouldn't have missed it for any
hing" declared Jim brazenly.
Matchmaker she tainted.
why didn't you tell Nathan your
elf" asked Jim chuckling.
He might have suspected me of
she confessed. "As It
), they have revived their old love,
married. and l wonder IL an elopement
y aeroPlane Is romantic enough for
Ingela?"