The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-06

4 am afraid papa would not favor
that" replied Alicia, and as she start
ed to accompany her friend down the
steps she noticed that the men were
now putting up the avenue signs. She
wondered what they would label the
street on which the house fronted,
when Madge suddenly exclaimed:
"oh, there is Mr.. Stuart coming this
way now, Look your prettiest, Alicia.
for he's a great catch. II | wasn't en-
gagged l would set my cap for him my
SELF
'oh, no, no-rm not dressed up a
bit!' declared Alicia and started to
run up the steps and into the house,
but Madge with gay laugh held her
tight. Alicia, shyly, but admiringly,
glanced at the young man from under
dropping lashes. The newspaper por-
trait had not fiattered him.
He spoke OF the town and its pros
poets in an enthusiastic way that
charmed her. She saw that his whole
heart and soul was in his work, and
liked him for 1t.
"oh. say, look! lookl" cried the vol
atile, irrepressible Madge.
The man had finished his labor on
the standard. The signs of both
streets were now resplendently Wis
ible, glittering in blue and gold.
Alicia Avenue, Stuart Street."
cried Madge. Why, that reads Alicia
Stuart"
And then, aghast. impetuous and
audacious as was her natural temper,
at the bad break" she had made she
drew back, embarrassed quite.
Alicia flushed crimson, Mr.. Stuart's
eye frightened.
Il am fortunate man to have my
plain Stuart garnished and beauti-
fed with what | have always consid-
cred to be the sweetest name in the
world he said. "Ah, there is Mr..
Martin. l have come particularly to
consult him on some business" and
he relieved the tension of the occa-
sion by lifting his hat courteously and
passing into the yard. where Alicia's
father was giving the gardener some
orders.
How dare you!" flared forth Alicia
holly to her mirth-convulsed friend.
Il never thought" declared
Madge- and I'm glad l didn't" she
added audaciously. why, you two
make the finest couple in Blairsville!"
My father will never think So"
murmured Alicia, and the information
was positively regretful.
Alicia Stuart" whispered Madge,
as II to herself. "Oh. something is
fated to come out of this!"
Alicia was athrill with strange sen.
sations as she went into the house.
She could just catch the echoes of
voices in the garden. The conference
there was lengthy. At last Mr.. Mar
tin came into the house. He was rub
bling his hands together In a gleeful,
satisfied way. His eyes were bright.
For a rarity he was smiling-in fact,
quite jovial.
We'll, daughter" he said briskly, 81
must say that young Stuart is a smart,
practical fellow. You know about the
park"
Yes, papa" replied Alicia.
And you know that forty acres on
the edge of town I've always held on
to at a loss"
Alicia nodded interestedly.
We'll, Mr.. Stuart has induced the
town to buy 1t from me for park pur.
poses at a splendid figure, and they
are going to call it-what do you
think? Martin Park!' and the old
man chuckled and pulled out and
strutted and, as he told his friends
later, was pleased all over"
There was no objection to "the in.
terloper now, and one moonlit eve.
ming two months later, as he and
Alicia came home from stroll, Stuart
glanced up at the sign.
Happy omen-'Alicia Stuart" he
read.
She chung closer to his loving arm
and gave a little gasp of delight, for
they were engaged, and 1t was to come
true.