The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-15

mock ami had overheard their CONVEX
sation.
mo. it's all right" announced Mr..
Lane in a relieved tone. as glancing
out upon the porch he saw Rover, the
old house dog, Just settling himself
down in the roomy hammock for
snooze, and manlike, shrewd as he
was. failed to lean far enough out
to discover Paula, a strange smile
upon her lips. tiptoeing out Of view
down the side steps.
Walter Brooks worked harder than
ever after that to gain the approba-
ton Of his partner-landlord. He was
on deck early and late. He tried q
new and eficacious fertilizer at his
own expense. and gained great results.
Then, evenings, he dreamed Of Paula,
of the dazzling hope that some day,
even IL far ahead, he might see her
fitting about the rooms of the little
house, singing, helpful and happy.
And this, in turn, led him to a prac-
tical result. He began to devote his
spare time to making the house more
inviting, externally. He patched up
neglected places, he laid out a pretty
garden. He then began on the in
terror. Every room was papered
prettily. AS he had money to spare
he purchased rugs and furniture. One
day Paula and her father, passing by,
dropped in upon him.
"UThy RrocEci" ovc1oimad Mr.
Lane as he stepped into the cozy,
neat and tastefully decorated living
room, what a transformation! You
have actually made a perfect little
palace out of the old place. Anyone
would think you were getting ready
for long siege of housekeeping"
Il am,'' admitted Walter. ITS
pretty nice evenings to sit down in a
pretty, comfortable home, even if 1t
is lonely"
Papa, Mr.. Brooks deserves en-
couragement," observed Miss Lane
shyly, as they left the house. Some
simple curtains and few little knick-
nacks would finish up the place real
homelike"
Then began a season of rare de-
light for Walter. A dozen times
within the next year Paula and Mrs.
Lane visited the South farm regular.
,, ly. Always they brought piece of
ribbon for chair, bow, tidy, a
picture-in fact, in time they had Civ
en- that perfect womanly touch to
things that, indeed, made the house
, little palace.
On the day that the two years test
was up, Paula, with her mother, went
| to Mr.. Lane and disclosed the fact
that all along Paula had known of the
| lover in suspense, and pointed out
that in an earnest but non-committal
way she had been quietly assisting
Walter ito make a home" And love
showed in her bright eyes, and Gideon
Lane knew that Walter Brooks would
be, as he deserved to be, a happy
man.
And then, almost boylike in the
glee Of a vast surprise, he let the
women into his scheme" and sent
a messenger for Walter, and met him
at the porch steps.
] Brooks" he observed, grasping his
hand, the two years term is up. You
can speak to Paula now. First, though
go round to the side porch. I'm going
to give you my best oleander. IT.
all covered up with paper and ready
to move"
Walter walked round to the desert
ed porch. There, sure enough, showed
the great tub and the outlines Of thu
Towering tree. He pushed apart ont
of the obscuring sheets to view thu
radiant blosscms-and the rarest on
of all met his eyes!
1t was Paula, blushing, smiling
holding up the tree, and she sait
softly:
This is papa's present"
And Paula goes with it," shoute'
old Gideon, poking his head aroun'
the edge of the porch, and then maxi
ing himself invisible as those two gla'
faces came nearer and nearer al
nearer together.
Copyright. 1916. by w. G. Chapman)
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