The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-26
THAT BUNGALOW
BY KEITH KENYON.

esIaoiishment at the age of forty in a
prontable business as a contractor in.
stead OF being public stenographer
or milliner, or schoolteacher, as her
friends had advised. One Monday
morning, as she arrived at her Office
IN her usual stunning tailored clothes
sne found no stenographer at the desk
where competent but comely maiden
mad busted herself for the past year
Miss Candy felt sickening sense Of
things gone awry as she saw on the
desk a letter addressed to her.
When you read this I'll be far
away on my honeymoon" was the first
astounding statement. Miss Canby
scowled and dropped Imply into her
swivel chair, but she shrugged her
shoulders and reached for the tele
phone to ask the typewriter agency tc
send her good stenographer.
Half an hour later her name was
Questioningly pronounced by q slim
saucy-eyed little girl of about twenty
modishly dressed in a rose-colored
linen gown, with a white sports hat and
nigh white shoes. A white-gloved hand
passed the typewriter agency's card
or introduction to Miss Candy, who
felt many misgivings about the appli-
cants capabilities. But her need of a
stenographer was immediate and dire
SO she rose and began to outline the
service she required.
After the first few days of Bessie's
service, Miss Candy began to hope
that she had found a treasure and
after the first few weeks she began
to fear that the treasure she had
found was too good to last. As for Bes
sic, she admired Miss Canbys dignity
and poise so much that she sometimes
felt a fleeting desire to become per
manently settled in the business world
Invariably, though, when Miss Candy
would leave her alone to go on lone
afternoon trip to some building site
Bessie would find herself with little
to do and would turn through a bool
OF bungalow plans, alluringly illus
trated in colors, and would dream o.
some day sitting in a lowered gown
on a bungalow porch while the dear
est boy in the world came up the
walk with smile of loving greeting
for her.
What on earth has happened t.
you, Bessie Elkins?" asked Miss Can
by one morning. as Bessie appeared
with hollow eyes in which no smil,
lurked and with colorless cheeks ant
q dropping mouth. Il suppose you've
quarreled with your sweetheart"
why. how do you known" Bessie'i
surprise broke through her tears.
How could any woman help know
ing?" Miss Candy smiled. But chez
up. It will all blow over in q day o
two"
mot this time-it's a real quarrel.
flood Of tears swept speech tempo
rarily away. but, under Miss Candy
encouragement, the turbulence sub
sided and Bessie explained further
you see, we'd been spatting over III
tie things and just to be pert, said
oh, well, I've decided to be a BIZ
business woman like Miss Candy, any
how. He told me to go and be
carpenter which he pretended =
think you were-since I'd made up m
mind not to live the sort of life ever,
woman ought to live. l told him h
had his nerve to map out a program
for every woman in the world, but h
could understand he wasn't to map GU
any part of my program. SO he wen
off in a hun and haven't seen hin
since, but" here sobs interfered wit
the story-"but l happened to lear
today that he has advertised the 10
he'd bought for sale, the lot we wer
going to have bungalow on"
Bessie's head went down on he
crossed hands upon her desk. Mis-
Candy stood beside her and laid
hand on her shoulder. Then she dre'
chair to Bessie's side and spok
quietly, but determinedly.
This is serious, but it's going I
stop before 1t gets more serious. II
going to see your sweetheart an
straighten out this tangle."
Before Bessie could protest. Mis-
Candy had gone. She moved aboU
slowly, stopping often to stare at not
ing. After she had bathed her fac
and powdered her nose she felt an
looked better. When her desk was q
most in order, the telephone rang.
Put on your hat and meet me
Markham's in ten minutes" said Nil
Canby's voice commapdingly.
Markham's confectionery shop va
favorite downtown rendezvous Il
women. and, Just as Bessie entered
Miss Candy emerged from a telephor
booth in the entry.
Come" she said, with mock 10
mality, my lady's carriage avail
her." Taking Bessie's arm she escor
ed her through the store and OF
through a side entrance opening O
another street. At the curb taxica
stood throbbing, and from the ca
sprang Robert Davis, whose eye
pleaded eloquently as he held out b
hand to Bessie. She extended he
own hand timidly and the next minui
found herself in the cab. with Mis-
Candy speaking to her from the cur
"You and Robert are going to loo
over that lot once more. and II l ca
dispose Of some matters by telephor
I'll follow" A moment later, with
sly smile, she added: But for fei
l shouldn't get out after all today,
want to say that the contractors j.
on the bungalow for that lot is to
NV wedding gift to YOU two bungliI