The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-29
FEuD AND FINISH
By CATHERINE cRANMER.


IF you really need me, Aunt VIZ
ginia, I'd gladly abandon my plans, but |
it does seem such a dreadful waste to
spend ones whole life in Granny. |
Virgie's voice was caressing.
But I dislike the thought of your
having an office just as man would
and depending upon that for your very
living" Miss Carlisle followed this
remark by careful scrutiny of the
tiny stitches in the monogram she
had embroidered on Virgie's rough
linen artists apron.
by the way, Aunt Virginia, tell me
the cause of that old feud between our
family and the Pollards."
"Now what made you think Of that?"
"The news that Stanley Pollard Ill.
has bought back the old family place,
and, according to the gossips, Is over
there now instructing his tenant and
sizing up his bargain"
Bargain, indeed" shifted Miss Car
Isle, "a rundown farm with tumble
down house"
f, But tell me, Auntie. what was the
cause of that quarrel?"
"Oh, a mere matter Of disputed
boundary line between lands in the
first place. Old Mr.. Pollard was
adamant. Grandfather Carlisle would
not bulge from his position either"
ooh, really, wasn't it too funny?"
Virgie laughed.
Funny? How can you say such a
! thing?" Miss Carlisle was stern.
Don't you see that it was a clear
| case of two adamant bodies vainly
| trying to make a dent in each other?
I've no doubt if they had united their
efforts instead they would have
/ achieved wealth and fame
"Why, last week. when | went up to
/ the office building 20 inspect the Of
fee I'd rented, | got out of the ele-
vator and went down the corridor to
the corner room facing the river.
After | had left orders for my office
walls to be tinted buff" she continued,
Imagine my rage when | walked into
that room and saw workmen doing
those walls in bilious yellow A tall
young man who stood there as if he
had all sorts of authority, scarcely
deigned to notice me, but swept into
the room, exclaiming: Stop work at
once until I've seen the manager!
These walls are to be buff, not yellow
The young mans eyes blazed bit, but
he said, quite icily: Pardon me if I'm
surprised at your criticism of my
taste; but it really isn't my taste, for
all specified was that the office was
to be cleaned and ready for occupancy
by noon today. I'm going up now to
give that manager a round because
it isn't ready
while l stood there accommodating
rage enough to blow up battleship
one of the decorators turned and
dryly remarked: Both of we seem to
be on false trail, for this Office hap
pens to be used by an old gentleman
for his law library. and them's his
books there under that tarpaulin.'
Virgie paused to laugh at her aunt's
Mortified expression.
That workman's GOODNESS seemed
to be sort of wet blanket on our an
; ger" she continued, land when We
turned and looked at his number or
the door it was 1S43 instead of 1743
which had rented, or 1943 which the
man had rented"
! A maid entered the room and pre-
r sented visitors card to Miss Carlisle
whose lips frightened into disapprova
as she read the name of Stanley Cor
:, don Pollard" The maid stood await
ing instructions, but without a wore
$ Miss Carlisle rose and walked past he
and down the stairs.
= The young man who rose at her en-
t trance smilingly advanced a ste
t toward her and then paused, LOOKING
= at her expectantly.
"Mr. Pollard?" she began icily, bu
d Mr. Pollard twice removed from tn
d family feud was coming nearer, wit
g boyishly frank smile on his homes
n face.
YES, Miss Carlisle, and I'm goin
Y to be your neighbor part of each veal
May l hope that we shall be neigl
bors in truth and forget the unhapp
l. relations of our forefathers? Will yo
It accept my apology for whatever foil
e was on my family's side and my TO
" giveness for any folly that may hav
is been on your family's side?"
% Looking into those smiling eye
m Miss Carlisle found it impossible I
s. give anything but an affirmative al
-e swer, although she felt that it was nj
is she, but some strange woman, VIII
d. replied.
in Just then Virgie came through til
m hall and, catching a glimpse of ii
lie visitor, surprised her aunt by greetir
is him in the most cordial fashion.
'" why, what an unexpected plea
A ure!" Virgie exclaimed.
j. "Virgie,' frigidly rebuked her aun
r. 81 was not aware that you were a
quainted with Mr.. Pollard
Mr. Pollard? Indeed! Isn't tn
surprising? Why, auntie, this is Il
as same gentleman of whom | told "
ce Just now-the one with whom I b,
lie. that foolish quarrel about the Off
walls"
Ut You see, Miss Carlisle" explain,
us Stanley Pollard, I'VE didn't learn ca,
er' others names, and perhaps that W
'se lucky, or we might have formed
rat supplementary feud to that old fe,
vi that I'm asking you to forget
na Yes. auntie!" said virgie. appe
.s ingly "see how easy it is to avoid
az :. feud when each comedies somethi
=, to the other"