The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-18


than that" her husband growled
That night at the dinner table
Cameron took letter out of his
pocket and tossed it over to his wife
to read
Il call that something of an impo-
sition." was his statement.
The letter was from Chalmers II
stated that the noise of the automo
bile in his neighbor's garage was try.
ing to his nerves It walked him in
the mornings. He requested that il
be stopped
He might have put it more pleas
antly" Cameron said. 81 never knew
him to be cranky before"
Young Richard looked up. Il guess
it's our auto he said. "and we'll
make all the noise we want"
That's right" said Cameron. and
| will write him to that effect" Out
of the correspondence grew a decided
GOODNESS between the two friends
Even Mrs. Cameron was puzzled to
know If the trouble was a bona fide
one or merely the result of a plot.
Richard, however, had no doubts
Father certainly has a crouch on his
next-door neighbor," he confided to
his mother; but it oughtn't to make
him rude to the girl He snapped out
such gruff Good morning to her
that l felt positively sorry for her"
The climax came when Cameron
chased Dulcie Chalmers white cat
across the lawn. He threw stone at
her. carefully sending 1t in the wrong
direction, for Cameron had soft spot
in his heart for cats Across the
hedge Richard apologized later for his
fathers act.
Il don't know what is coming over
him, Miss Chalmers" he said 81
think he has crouch against your
father"
They were such good friends" the
girl sighed. 1T seems pity, doesn't
it?"
1t is a pity" Dick said But it
needn't make us any less good friends,
need 1t, Miss Dulcie?"
why, of course not" she said.
That was the beginning; but as the
summer went on the two young peo-
pie found themselves involved in
most romantic situation. The two
fathers commanded that their chill
dren give up all intercourse with each
other. This led to delightful clandes-
tine meetings; moonlight and star
light saw them whispering together in
the garage or at the foot of the rose
garden. The summer winds heard
their VOWS. and the birds sang Choir
us to their love song
When they were well out of sight.
and of hearing, Richard, ST., would
shake hands with old man Chalmers
across the hedge and they would
chuckle over the success of their pre-
tended feud. But Mrs Cameron was
worried.
The next thing you know. well
have an elopement, and | want Dick
and Dulcie married decently In
church."
What difference does 1t make, 80
they are married." her husband de-
manded.
1T will make whole lot of differ
ence in their future" said Mrs. Cam
eron. You and | ran away, Richard,
because there was no other way out
of it, but Dulcie has a right to white
satin and wedding veil. | have al.
ways regretted that | didn't have a
chance to wear one. though I've
never regretted my marriage"
We'll, we'll bring things to head
tonight" said Cameron, laughing.
The sundial was pretty place for
from the house SO that, after the
shadows fell, it made safe retreat.
There was stone bench, too, with a
high screen of vines behind 1t, and
here Dulcie and Dick plighted their
VOWS unheard, unseen.
Here the two irate fathers found
them.
"Dulcie," said Chalmers, what
does this mean?"
1T means, sir, said Dick, standing
very stiff and straight, that want
to marry your daughter"
We'll, of all things" said Richard,
Sr.
You ran away with mother" said
the boy stoutly, land | don't think
you have ever repented your bar
gain"
THAT has nothing to do with this
case" said Cameron. why. it is
preposterous that you should expect
10 marry Dulcie Chalmers, Richard.
| when her father and ! are sworn enc
mics"
sworn enemies" echoed Chalmers
1t was at this moment that Mrs.
Cameron crossed the lawn swiftly and
appeared before them.
Richard" she said earnestly, going
W 10 ter son, you love Dulcie, don
your"
Yes"
And Dulcie loves your
She took the girls hand in hers.
1T is very beautiful. but | think the
most beautiful part of it will be that
these two stubborn men will become
friends again.
She turned 10 them. Surely you
will make up for the sake of your
, children"
They were smiling in the darkness,
but Dick and Dulcie did not know
Il shall run away with her If you
don't consent. sir" was Richards
final statement
a chip off the old block" chuck
l.d Cnrnnrnrn .sM-nll r-n.n ~. 4.