The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-05
COMPANlONSHIP
BY DOROTHY BLACKMORE.


with him. This led them across the
Hudson and up over the bluffs Of the
Palisades. 1t included a country din.
ner at the humble home OF a Jersey
farmer, at which the guests sat down
with the host and his family and the
whole hearty meal from stew to pie,
was put upon the table at once
Since that day Elsie had avoided
him, and he had learned from the
laughing lips of Peggy Arnott-who
knew Elsie well-that the girl was
not yet free from the effects of that
day in the country.
You should have known, George,
that Elsie Cartright is the last girl
who would welcome a sun-kissed
nose. Don't you know that her beau
tiful skin is the JOY of her life?" Peg
gy had asked merriiy. And you know
Elsie was crazy about you-everyone
knows it, she added
George shifted significantly. so
much for my best efforts at compan-
ionship with girls he sighed
Autumn was advancing rapidly and
the wonderful reds and yellows of
wood and meadow were drawing
Keene to Long Island, where he spent
that season. He bought his monthly
ticket and began early to commute
from his office to the country.
On the occasion of his earliest
tramp into the woods he felt unusu-
ally lonely-more so than ever before,
he told himself dismally. And then,
as if to emphasize his solitariness, he
CHANGED upon three happy picnickers
building a fire over which to brew
their own coffee. He observed that
the girl and her mother were dressed
in outing clothes and that they wore
low-heeled boots and looked comfort
able and happy. He thought of those
absurd heels of Elsie and was glad
that all women were not so silly.
That's bunch after my own
heart he commented mentally as he
observed the father comfortably smok.
Ing as he sat on a fallen tree and
watched the women Of his family pre-.
/ pairing the picnic meal
Doesn't this beat dinner dance
all hollow" he heard the father ask.
No more of that regular life for
me- the girl sang merrily as she
poked the fire Then she stopped and
looked at her father and mother. IF
] could find man | could like as we'll
as you like father and who cared for
NJ inc oil =
him, | believe" she said But, alas,
these men I've known have cared
more for ripping foxtrot and good
lobster supper than for this simple
amusement"
Keene heard it all. And as he wan
dered slowly on he heard the girl
scream. "Oh, dad chase this dog
away! l hate strange dogs. He's
after our dinner"
Here was another common interest
her dislike of dogs and his strange
dogs, at least. He had heard of the
companionship of CANNES. but he had
failed to see into it, He had never
yet seen the dog that knew a toad
stool from violet or sunset from a
sunrise, so he had failed to be con-
WINGED o. T. !, Ialuo - human COM
panions.
Nevertheless the incident gave him
an idea. He assured himself that he
must get acquainted with that trio by
fair means or foul.
His neighbor had a horribly vicious
looking dog that was as gentle as a
turtle dove.
Two days later, accompanied by the
demonstrating canine of his neigh
Dor, Keene strolled through the woods
in which he had seen the trio of pic
nickers. The dog had been carefully
starved during the entire day and
was ravenous. All of which was ex-
actly as Keene wished it to be. The
poor beast shifted under every bush
in the hope of unearthing even an an
cient bone
Keene's heart beat fast as he ap.
preached the picnic spot. A juicy
steak was being grilled, and even
Keene's own mouth began to water
at the fragrance of it. And how that
fragrance affected the hungry dog was
almost beyond description, so quickly
did it happen.
The dog dashed. Keene dashed af-
ter him. They both landed in the
midst of a surprised trio. He's as
gentle as lamb" Keene kept crying.
He wouldn't bite anything"
managed to say as the dog made fran
tic efforts to get at the broiling meat.
oh, I'm frightfully sorry" said
Keene. almost as earnestly as If he
had not planned it all and was tickled
immoderately at the success of his
ruse
The mother and daughter stood
aside and laughed long and heartily.
We really can't blame the poor
thing!" said Molly.
And then followed informal intro.
auctions and, after the coveted invi-
tation to dinner, Keene tied the dog
to tree and promised him the tags
and bones of the steak, with Miss
Molly's permission.
After the embers of the fire had
been raked out and the quartet was
strolling aimlessly about the woods.
Molly ventured a remark that pleased
Keene more than any simple words
ne had ever heard
q thought you would manage t.
know u.s. she said.
Trust rae to manage anything |
want as badly as | did your compan-
ionship" he said