The Lakeland evening telegram., 1919-11-21

|| DICKS DIPLOMACY |
BY ADELAIDE r. KEMP.
%%N%D~~A41&H%41%S<

M0llie stood by the little White sa'o
gazing down the road. grass-grown ana
shaded. II
She was Just about to return to the
house when the figure of small boy
coming up the road, holding small
flag and whlstling yankee Doodle" at
tracted her attention. AS he came
nearer she saw that he belonged to the
new family only recently moved into
the big house on the hill. The strong
feeling Of loneliness and her desire for
human companionship caused her to
smile and say:
"Hello, laddie! What's your name"
"Richard Winthrop Hetherington,
Jr.." was the response.
"Where have you been, Richard, with
your fag?"
The boys face frightened as he an
swered: "Oh down to the station TO
see some Of the soldier boys coming
home. My uncle will be coming home
any day now." He paused moment
for breath, and then continued:
| why dldnt you go uoWHI maven
you got any sweetheart?'
"No, haven't, Richard. guess
YOU will have to find me one."
"Al right, I'll try" answered the
[ lad promptly, and then saluting, ne
shouldered his flag and continued up
the road whistlng martial air. Mol
lie watched him out Of sight. She
! knew he considered himself whole
: band leading a company Of returning
: heroes.
e Two days later with all the fever
! Of spring cleaning in her blood. Mol
lie donned her biggest apron and with
scrubbing brush and broom made an
% attack on the past winters germs and
} dust. Up on the step-ladder In her
bright little kitchen she was scour-
) Ing paint with her usual vigor when
Ia voice from the open doorway startled
20 her 50 that she nearly fell from her
perch.
excuse me! hope haven't fright
~ ened you, but knocked and couldnt
seem to make anyone hear"
Mollie, clambering down as quickly
AS possible, saw a young ohicer In
oliye.drab uniform, overseas cap IN one
Nv hand and battered suitcase IN the
er other. He was bronzed from exposure
and rather careworn, but even at thai
Mollie decided he was very good u
as look at. There was moments pause
no and then he continued:
70; "Could you direct me to the Hetn
OF erington's? l seem to have lost m!
ilk way
= "Oh!" Mollie exclaimed. "You mus
: he Richard Winthrop Hetheringtor
go IRIS uncle" Then she stopped an
blushed scarlet.
"That sure is my number" laughe
the young fellow. my home Is
Michigan, but thought would sta
,all here for a short time before going OF
hu+ You must be acquainted with m
ono young nephew"
II Just met him the other evening
Nc said Mollie, and she smiled remini
Ca Gently. "They live in that big whl
Ing. house on the hill"
her Still jean Hetherington fingered.
not could come down some evening whi
n A am here and tell you some great 81
. uo ries about the war If you would III
! to hear them" he said finally.
- Mollie clasped her hands. oh
wish you would don't know anyo
|
wanted SO much to hear IT direc'
from some one who was In the
battles" After this, John, finding
new excuse to linger, picked up
suitcase and departed.
The weeks flew rapidly by. AS 10
Hetherington explained to his relatlv
" the neace and beauty of the New III
land hills were far better for
,on health than the rush and bustle
Va the busy West. 1t apparently took I
CeSG a good mary evenings to tell all
'Sed adventures "oyer there" to Mollie.
-, also quite often occupied his Sunda
az One evening late In August the
my sat sat rather silently in the rose-cove
It a porch of Mollie's little cottage.
lp- was ras silence meoo nls had rssn in
her glory over the distant purple h
As John looked up the road ne
In his young nephew approachlng,.w WI
,c;co ting as usual. When he reached
white gate he stopped and hung
UNI It to gaze at the pair on the porch
ONE "Well, little scout, where are
going?" asked John as general o.
ing to the conversation.
,;o+a The boy looked grawely at his vi
low . 'Tm going down to the store to
-. some nails for dad. He said ne al
you to get them, but the place W
n the be closed before you ever rea'
TWO there, because you wouldn't eve'
:, ~, ao able to get past Mollie's house."
'most There was moment Of embarra
high silence, and theh 'ohh' " ie''e'e
ID by tension, asked:
nes as "And what did you say to
!, rock Dickie?"
cough "Oh." answered the lad, slowly
Ing from one to the other, Il told
'ppIl ~ ali that / guessed it was all right, {
AZ cold Mollie asked me to get herSa s.
-. | .A - thauoht vnuid doo