The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-01
! WHEN DAVID wore AROSE;
rs e1tgi Z c:r.75.
By KEITH KENYON.

Il am sure | should like to know"
said Elizabeth, why David Hinckle
has suddenly grown SO clipper. &C.
tually wearing a rose in his button
hole!"
You know what I'd say" respond
ed Nellie her maid. I'D say that Mr..
Hinckle was thinking of getting mar
ried. That's what it would generally
mean"
Nonsense snapped Elizabeth.
Who ever heard of confirmed old
bachelor marrying and who on earth
would have him anyway"
Elizabeth was thirty-two, and of the
! type of tall brunette that, like the
flowers of late summer. reveals its
true loneliness only after springtime
has passed.
DO you know, Nellie she said
later in the day, addressing her only
/ combination Elizabeth lived alone
in her ramshackle old home as David
/ Hinckle lived in his-"do you know, l
| can't get over that rose that David
was wearing this morning. Nellie,
| suppose you get on your things and
! go down to the florists and get me a
bunch of violets,'
Great Scott, Michael, but our
/ neighbor is starting out with big
1 bunch of violets." David Hinckle was
/ puttering around in his garden-Eliza-
/ beth had taken good pains to time
her exit accordingly-when she went
forth late in the afternoon to make
call on the minister's wife. He
spoke to old Michael his man.
You know what I'd say" said
Michael. I'D say Miss Elizabeth had
a beau, and you needn't look so sur
prised either, Mr. David, for haven't
| often been tellin' you she is a fine
lookin' girl for all she's bit reserved
| like"
The next morning David started out
earlier than usual.
Don't be surprised, Michael he
said, IF I come back with a new hat.
This one is getting pretty shabby"
When Nellies next cleaning day
came around she CHANGED to meet old
Mike at the back fence. For good
ness gracious sake, what's got into
them she asked First | saw your
Mr.. David with a new hat on and
then one day saw my Miss Elizabeth
with her new hat-the milliner told
me it cost fifteen dollars-and then
,, the next day Mr.. David was sporting
a new Overcoat and now Miss Eliza
beth is off this morning having her
self all done up at the hairdressers,
and / took a peek in her wardrobe
and, goodness laws, but she's got a
new Sunday dress and she told me
before she went to come an extra day
this week to help do up the parlor
curtains and things She's got the
pioano open, which it hasn't been for
years"
It was two weeks later that Miss
Elizabeth made the announcement to
Nellie that almost caused that good
woman to upset the pail of hot SOAP
suds she was carrying.
Nellie" she began, I'm not con.
tent. I've decided I've got to do
something, TO be something, and you
are the only soul in this whole place
that l can talk to about it. I've de-
cided to get my life insured and
manage to borrow on that enough
money to study. One thing I've got
to do Elizabeth went on, Il know in
order to be able to borrow on a life
insurance you have to get someone to
vouch for you, and | don't know Of
anyone to ask but Mr.. David"
! When Elizabeth walked down the
central street of the small town that
afternoon more than one passer-by
turned to look
About this time David Hinckle
started out, and omething he said
to Mike almost caused that worthy in.
dividual to snip his own fingers with
the pruning scissors.
Il am going to attend to some i'm.
portant business. I've decided I've
been fool not to keep up my law
practice"
1t was that night that Elizabeth
called on David and for the first time
in four years shook hands with her
neighbor. She explained the object of
her errand. Il would sell my house
and raise the money that way" she
said, "only have fondness for the
old place."
And by the way, Miss Elizabeth,
heard when l was down town today
that you were going to be married"
And l heard the same thing about
you. hear that you were mort.
gaging your house in order to start in
practice again."
Yes, l am, but swear am not
going to be married.
Il swear the same"
But why shouldn't WEI" David was
wondering as he looked at his neigh.
Dor why he had never seen the beauty
of her face before.
But whom" Elizabeth laughed
No one ever marries here
We could marry each other.
couldn't WEE"
Yes, we could DO that" Elizabeth
reflected, "and then you wouldn't
have to mortgage your house for |
could sell mine"
Bless your heart" laughed David.
Copyright, 1916. by Mcclure Newspaper
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