The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-12-01

The SILVER CUP
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY N. L. WALKER.


three-roOmed bungalow In a summer
colony of lakeside commuters. Here
she hoped to rest from her labOrs as q
trained nurse for long, healthful sum-
mer and incidentally raise fine gar
den.
She stood on her small front porch
in the midst Of litter Of household
goods and watched the furniture van
tilt up over the hump in the road and
disappear down the hill.
'If three rooms can hold all these
things, it's time to prove it," she de-
clared, and set about her moving In
with energy.
Lights began to twinkle in the little
bungalows around her as she sat down
at last in the tidy little house and
looked about.
But the blowing! Last years mat
ted grass covered the 10000 square
feet" that went with her camp. She
called at the great white farmhouse
on the slope of the hill, to ask advice
the next morning. A workman met
her, evidently a farmland, who was
driving the farm horse out on the
wagon road.
"Why, yes" said he, considering the
blue gray eyes and chestnut locks be-
fore him, II think l can get off to pillow
your little garden tonight after sup
per- It's light till pretty late now"
As the sunset faded the farmland
drove his pillow on to her little field and
soon the burrows, straight and black.
lay open to the night air, enriching its
odOr.
Ever plant beforeT he asked as
he rested the horses at the end Of
row.
"Oh, not big garden like this"
said Louise, noting the well shaped
head and the graceful vigor Of the fig
ure leaning against the horses, bat
tered hat in hand. 1--WE planned fine
one" she continued, and was surprised
to remember later how interesting 1t
had been to explain 1t all to Mr.. Ward,
as he gave his name.
I'll come over tomorrow and harrow
It." he offered as he swung his team
into the road at last.
'Tll be so glad to have YOU" said
Louise, happily, "for can hardly wait
to get my little farm started"
The garden grew apace. The flourish
ing potatoes nodded sea of blossoms,
the corn was blithely green, butterflies
lowered over the tender peas. Already
the posters of the county fair orna.
mented the store windows and bulletin
| boards. All the neighbOrhood was in
cited to greater efforts yet by the Of
fer Of silver cup to the winner of
the most awards at the fair. As the
days went on the vegetables responded
to the jealous care Louise expended
upon them. Mr.. Ward offered to take
i her exhibits to the hall in his wagon,
and he suggested entering the great
purple pansies and the flaming fiss-
| turtiums also.
} She asked the dairy maid at the
farm when she went for the milk If Mr..
Ward was about.
"He's In town today at the Office"
replied the girl.
''The office" thou hit Louise, prob
ably his employers; wonder who the
owner Of the farm is"
But after supper he came and con-
doned about the giant squash leaves
The blight wouldn't hurt the vexe.
tables, and the drought was nearly
over, too, for already the sky was
clouding for tempest.
And Mr.. Ward handled her treas.
ures carefully and appreciated the
beauty of their arrangement.
You can't help getting some prizes
with these Jewels" he assured her.
She went up with the neighbors on
the early train next day to hear the
opening speeches. To her great sur
prise Mr.. Ward was announced as
chairman of the fair committee, and
he gave a dignified and interesting
speech of welcome and then introduced
the others on the platform
When the gay luncheon party of the
neighborhood was over, and the after
noon had begun to wane, and all the
winners of hOnors In the lake commu.
nifty had compared their results. she
saw Mr.. Ward coming toward her as
she stood with group about a won
derful silvery cow with a little calf be-
side her. The others greeted him gayly
with the easy Introduction of country
customs.
$50 you are the owner of the great
farm near our lake." said Mrs. Free
man. 81 always supposed you were
hired man, you attended Miss Nor
tons garden so diligently"
well, there's no disgrace in birinc
out to help the neighbors, I'm sure
Mrs Freeman" he replied.
They went over toward the Office
STARTERS. $50 you are not hired man
at all?' asked Louise.
mo, | have an office in town bnt
this summer | decided. to have a gar
den of my own, so | came IN 10 nv
farm for the summer for change. You
don't mind my telling you about your
mistake in taking me for the hired