The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-24

., reuter- OUT OF his
pochet and tossed it over to his wife
i call that something Of an impo.
si.lon' was his statement.
Inc letter was from Chalmeru 7,
stated that the noise of the automo.
oiie IN his neighbours garage was try-
ing 10 his nerves. 1t walked him IN
.ne mornings. He requested that n
be stopped. -
He might have put it more n,ea.-
sntiy, Cameron said. 81 never knew
MIN to be cranky before"
ioung Richard looked up. 81 guess
us our auto" he said, and wen
make all the noise we want"
Inats right" said Cameron, and
| VIII write him to that effect" Ont
Oh the correspondence grew a decided
cooiness between the two friends
Even Mrs. Cameron was puzzled to
KNOW If the trouble was a bona fide
one or merely the result of plot.
hichard, however, had no doubts.
rather certainly has a crouch on his
next-door neighbor," he confided to
MS mother; but it oughtn't to make
nim rude to the girl. He snapped out
such gruff Good morning to her
tnat felt positively sorry for her"
Inc climax came when Cameron
chased Dulcie Chalmers white cat
across the lawn. He threw a stone at
her, carefully sending it in the wrong
direction. for Cameron had a soft spot
IN his heart for cats. Across the
hedge Richard apologized later for his
fathers act.
L don't know what is coming over
MIN. Miss Chalmers" he said. az
think he has crouch against your
father"
They were such good friends" the
girl sighed. TT seems a pity, doesn't
it,"
II is a pity" Dick said. But it
needn't make US any less good friends.
need it, 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 a
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 a Choir
us to their love song.
When they were well out of sight
and of hearing, Richard, Sr., 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, we'll
have an elopement, and | want Dick
and Dulcie married decently In
church."
What difference does it make so
they are married." her husband de-
manded.
1T will make a 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 1t, but Dulcie has right to white
satin and wedding veil. have al.
ways regretted that l didn't have
chance to wear one, though I've
never regretted my marriage"
We'll, we'll bring things to a head
tonight" said Cameron, laughing.
The sundial was a pretty place for
the lovers to meet. 1t was far enough
from the house SO that, after the
shadows fell, 1t made a 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 l don't think
you have ever repented your bar
gain"
That has nothing to do with this
case" said Cameron. why. 1t is
preposterous that you should expect
to marry Dulcie Chalmers, Richard,
when her father and are sworn enc
mics"
Sworn enemies" echoed Chalmers.
II was at this moment that Mrs.
Cameron crossed the lawn swiftly and
appeared before them.
Richard" she said earnestly going
up to her son, you love Dulcie, don't
your
Yes"
And Dulcie loves you?"
She took the girls hand In hers
ut is very beautiful, but think the
most beautiful part of it will be that
these two stubborn men will become
friends again"
She turned to them. Surely you
will make up for the sake of your
children"
They were smiling in the darkness,
bpt Dick and Dulcie did not know.
81 sbalI run away with her if you
don't consent. sir, was Richards
final statement.
"A chip on the old block" chuck
Iad cameron. We'll. if you put 1t
that way. suppose | shall have TO
say Yes Dick.