The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-07

sitting on a garden bench making a
mental picture of the ruined garden.
He looked up, tinge of annoyance
on his face.
"O!" said Celia and dropped back.
The young man was her companion
of the train. He stood up, his hat in
his hand
But Celia was not going to miss
this great opportunity to advertise
her work. She gathered courage and
a great amount of aloofness into her
voice.
Il beg your pardon, but will it in.
terfere with you in any way if decor
ate the interior of this house?" A
high color had mounted her cheeks,
and 1t angered her to see this man
smilingly appreciate it.
Not in the least" he told her, ge-
nially. In fact, I was regretting the
dilapidated condition of the house. 1t
would be fearful center for my beau
tiful gardens"
Celia repressed smile and inward
ly admired his confidence.
Thank you," she said, trifle less
coldly. II wish you success" she add
ed, and turned toward the rouse.
"The same to you," he called after
her and turned to his plans.
Weeks sped swiftly by. Out of the
ruins and neglect of years a house
that promised well for the agent was
in rapid development. Already peo-
pie passing in great motor cars slowed
up as they drew near, and many got
out to investigate the artistic prop
erty.
The spirit of antagonism that had
sprung up between them on the sub
urban train seemed only to grow in
proportion as Tom Gaynor made of
the gardens a coming show place of
Kew, and Celia Roane made of the
interior a home that many prospec.
tive buyers inspected
Celia, from behind the soft arr
blinds in the windows, looked out al
the big man in the gardens Each
day she spent many hours looking al
the beautiful flower kingdom that he
had created, and always she tried tC
carry out a sense of harmony in hel
own work to match his.
Prospective buyers came daily to in
spect the property, and as each one
left Celia heaved a sigh of relief II
had begun to hurt her-this showine
of people through the house that had
become part of her life. She won
dered If the landscape gardener fell
the same jealousy regarding the place
Once she could have sworn that sht
saw him turn away an aristocratit
couple who stopped at the great en-
trance. Celia exulted in her heart ant
resolved to go down in person ant
ask Tom Gaynor to come in and lool
at her work. He had not so much al
cast glance In her direction during
the long weeks of close proximity.
"At least" thought Celia, "he hasn'
while was looking"
She approached her subject in i.
roundabout way.
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Gaynor-
are you busy" She flushed slight.
when he smiled into her eyes. "
have been wondering for a long tim,
just what objection people have to THU
beautiful house-hundreds have look
ed at 1t but none of them buy"
The peculiar expression in Ton
Gaynor's eyes held Celia's attention.
III you promise not to be angry
will tell you why" Gaynor's eye
! were serious, pleading. Celia caugh
her breath sharply and something har
py sang within her. Gaynor drew
step nearer and spoke in dee
voice that told Celia many things.
bought the house the day I saw 20
on the train"
"O!" gasped Celia, perhaps 20
won't like the inside Of"
II already more than like ever
thing in the house." Gaynor said.
And Celia succumbed.