The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-13
ALLIES
BY LOUISE OLIVER

Ii all began the day Eleanor Belle
turned 20 Robin. a casual Onlooker AZ
the tennis court. and said sweetly
Wont you play In this set with me.
Mr.. Deans I'm afraid to ask. I'm a
horr1d player; but"
Robin had not allowed her TO I'm
ish. in his haste to accept. He flushed
consciously as he answered: Thank
you. very much. Miss Belle. I'd be
very much hOn0red indeed to play
with you"
And that IL the way il began. for up
to that minute Robin had regarded
Eleanor Belle as an unapproachable
planet Of the upper heavens. with q
group Of satellites all her own, who
far surpassed him In briIiiance and
age.
Craig Halsted and Mary Lane, on the
other side Of the net nodded under
standingly TO one another. "Nells
caught another FISH" whispered Craig.
But after all that wasn't the real be-
ginning either. That happened years
before one day when Robin was six
years old and Betty Wright was three.
That day a friendly collie dog had
knocked Betty down and in sheer ex-
uberanee Of spirits was kissing her all
over her little face when Robin came
along on roller skates and brayely
gave the tormentor a whack with a
xsSrt- Nwa,-a l.su,
Betty and Robin had grown up
chums, fighting each others battles.
sharing each others joys, triumphing
in each others victories.
Even now, Robin flushed with con-
scious pride as he thought of Betty.
Perhaps Miss Belle win let me walk
home with her and we will pass Bets
home. Won't she be surprised. though,
to see me Cumming with such a
queen"
He did walk home with Eleanor, and
they did pass BETS" house, but so
complete was his infatuation that he
didn't see his old chum waving at him
from a side porch swing.
When he had left Eleanor at her
door he went back to Betty's. stepping
ON clouds instead Of the pavement.
This time he saw his chum on the
swing.
Hello Betr'
Hello, Rob! What's up between
you and Nellie Belle? You looked as
thick as thieves going along a min
ute ago"
"oh, we played tennis together, and
I thought I'd better take her home"
"She's older than you, Robi"
mot muchi Besides II doesn't make
any difference. It's all in the way you
act"
Betty was silent. -'i-.tJ
In the days that followed Robin lived |
in happy haze Of unreality and
dreams. Eleanor was kind, too kind !
for his peace of mind. and she al
lowed him to call. But he found some |
of the satellites around when he went. |
That was no fun and he rather guessed |
they were making sport Of him any
way. So. knowing the power Of ridi- !
cule, he stayed away and had to con-
tent himself with the telephone, notes
and messages In boxes Of candy and |
flowers.
he found a willing ally in Betty, to
whom he took all his troubles. She
managed his campaign to perfection,
and kept him posted as to the goings
and comings of his rivals and planned |
opportunities for him to meet the OBJ
ject Of his dreams.
You're a brick, Beti What on
earth would 1 do without your" de.
clared Robin one day.
"oh, you'll get along all right some !
day when things get settled and you
and Eleanor are married"
Married. he cried. do you think
Bet, do you think she cares
for mel But really I've never actu-
ally told her that loved her."
swell, why don't your You've known
her a good while. and you are rich
enough to support her and you always
say age doesn't make any difference.
Why don't you tell her that you love
herr Faint heart-you know"
Il believe will, Bet, this very night.
II none Of those fools is hanging
around. Say, Betty" in sudden panic,
how do you propose to a girlr
She laughed. 81 can make your candy
and do your shopping and arrange your
meetings, but l can't do your PROOFS
Ing. Everyone seems to have his own
way" deinurely.
How do you known
"oh, knowl"
why, how many proposals have You
had to talk so?" in the tone Of pat
big brother.
Weli-there's one, two. three"
counting on her fingers, -four, five
this summer. Not SO badl"
Betty I didn't dream you were
such a fiirt. When has this been 90
ing on1 This doesn't sound like Won.
My old chuml You" anxious
haven't accepted any Of them, have
your
I'm not saying"
"But-why, Betty, what would l do
4 you got marriedY"
Would 1t make any differencef n
could still help you. Eleanor could
come"
Darn Eleanorl It's you I'm worry
ng about, Betty. l don't want Won
cFfsf a 4