The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-30

NlC"'
Madse the willful meekly obeyed,
gazing in awed silence until the snip
| of the sky" had sailed far into the dis
lance, its throbbing engines sending
back no sound Then with It's disap-
pearance her strange excitement SEEM
ed to vanish. She turned, half dazed-
". to look into the eyes of her compan-
| ion.
"Where are WEI" she asked slowly.
The Young man in turn regarded his
surroundings with a puzzled air.
~ don't know" he stanmered. Then
his dark eyes twinkled. Looks ike
somebody's flower garden"
It was indeed a flower garden.
Blooming geraniums bordered the
hedge. and roses clambered riotously
up their trelNses.
1--WE are trespassing," the girl said
severely. "You should not nave
brought me here"
brought your the young man ex-
claimed responsibility. "Why, you
were so keen on seeing that aeroplane
I Just had to help you along"
Madge studied her escort with inter-
est. He had evidently started out
upon this chase as Unexpectedly as
she. for he was both hatless and coat
less. She put up her hand to smooth
her disheveled locks, flushing with
embarrassment that her sudden inter-
est in aeroplanes should have led her
into this peculiar position.
"Never mind" the young man said
kindly "Give me permission and
will see you safely home. The streets
will be filed with the returning crowd
at this time"
AS Madge fingered irresolutely a
heavy rumbling overhead caused both
to look up in apprehension; then with
out further warning down came
heavy shower Great sheets OF rain
swept the garden; 1t blew In their
faces; it soaked their rumpled hair;
1t lay in little pools across the drive
way. The man caught her hand, draw
Ing her compellingly toward the house
In the background.
: "Place seems to have been vacated
for the summer" he said as they
found shelter beneath veranda roof
otherwise you might ask for protec
ton inside. The best thing under the
circumstances for you to do is to wal
: here while go for an umbrella"
4 Madge looked up at him Indignantly
I "Do you think I would be as selfist
as that?" she said. "Why, you woult
). be drenched before you could reach thu
gate"
The man smiled.
"Then we both had better sta,
where we are for the present. Thi
shower cannot last long,"
She flashed a glance at him as h
dropped easily into seat at her side
then, as their eyes met, her laughte
. rippled merrily.
y do you KNOW" she said, 81 thin
u that in some unaccountable way
l have slipped back to my childhoo
days. Surely it is an unusual pre-
ceeding for a grownup to go racin
IL about chasing big balloon with
} "a big boy" the man finished laugh
d ingly. He bent over her. "Let u
keep up the game for awhile" he sal
L impulsively. Zone is not often pri'
y ileged to return to the happy hours {
e childhood. Now, when I was Xxi
e we became acquainted by simply asI
J ing two questions-'What is vol
ID name. and where do you liver"
y every WE'LL" Madge agreed demur
II ly. "What is your name, little boy, an
T. where do you live?"
s. my name.' the young man answere
Is gravely, "is Thomas Westinghous
to Chalmers, generally known as Tomm
and live on Beechwood avenue"
n The girls eyes widened. "Why, !
do II" she exclaimed.
Y. "Your NUMBER" Tommy asked e
tn gerly.
he 1.-TWO hundred forty-four. Al
TX yours?'
10 1--WE are neighbors-near neighbors
- the young man answered delighted
ut Mother and moved recently into Il
W house directly across from yours"
Really" said Madge. How We
ns strange that we should meet in this
II er-informal manner"
ns isn't it?" said Thomas Washington
Chalmers. His eager eyes sought he
ON 1T will not be our last meeting If
RS can help it." he added fervently
ed The sun had removed all trace of t
vn shower when he finally stood at t
Ter entrance of Madge's home bidding /
rb reluctant goodby. Then as he reat
Ter ed the gateway he slowly retraced
vii steps.
he 81 have confession to make"
,re began diffidently. please pardon
lie. poor, lonely sinner. You see, KIN,
INT that you lived in this house all alol
Fact is l spend most of my time j.
looking over here-and-and it was l
ice overwhelming desire to know y
which prompted me to deliberately
pa low you this afternoon"
Madge looked up at him, gently
Ter cusing. Then her lips curved into
inscrutable little smile. 81 knew ii
tell you followed me-" she replied.
ed, hoped you would when l started"