The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-06
By Way The
of Proof Conquerers

Yes said one of the three women
no sat on the summer hotel porch. Il
can hardly wait now 10 see Mr.. l'as-
crlA. Hos coming tonight to take me
Aome. hardly know how I've ever
ged to remain away from James
all this tine. Really, James and are
a ridicpilously devoted couple
A little self-conscious laugh rippled
over the full face and gently shook her
pl;unp shoulders. I'm awfully depend.
cnt upon Mr.. Rascom," she went on.
"ludcrd, he quite makes baby OF
me. It's really beautiful. isn't it, how a
great. strong man loves to pet the lit
tie woman who belongs to him."
/ She glanced at Miss Winters. the
only unmarried woman in the group.
Wa. being thus appealed to, said:
"Ycs. | suppose it is beautiful Her
tone VAS not one Of conviction.
Dear me, Mrs. Bascom, you should
Mt complain of your brief separation
from Mr.. Buscom," remarked the wom-
an i ilh a ,c girl IN her lap You've
horn here only two weeks, and I've
been away from nom" nearly all sum
MGR. never wugd have done il if
Mr. Collins hadn't Just insisted that
baby and needed tie country air. l,ut,
thank Goadncss, hes coming tonight.
too.
Edwards the most unscllish man
that ever lived, ! do believe. know
he's been absolutely desolat" this SUN
mor | really think the loneliness of
our apartment has affected his health.
j lie expected to take a vacation and
Gene up in August. but he simply
couldn't gel away. He's a remarkable
business man. No one in the Office
can take his place"
She Rugged her little girl and turn.
ed to Miss Winters with a smile.
"Isn't it wonderful how some men will
work for their wives and children?"
1T certainly is." responded Miss
Winters mechanically.
II often say to Edward that | can't
untle, stand why some rich girl didn't
marry him for his good looks. He's
the handsomest man. Miss Winters!
Some times wonder how he ever hap
pened to pick out poor little me-"
MY husband Is extremely fine look.
ing. too" said Mrs. Bascom, and he
has a brilliant mind. Indeed bis In.
telligence overshadows mine. and. to
tell you the truth. he's a bit master
full In his way now and then. But
we women need some one to lean on.
We realize that our husbands know
better than we do about many impOr-
tant matters. SO we ought to defer to
them. Don't you think SO, Miss Win.
ters?"
81 do" agreed Mrs. Collins. before
Miss Winters had come to frame an
answer. Il say to Edward that he
must decide everything for baby and
ne. He's the captain Of our little
family craft. Dear me. Miss Winters.
it must be hard for you sometimes
not to have Il man to assume respOn.
sibilities. But, Of course. girls--un.
married wOmen-are quite indenendent
nowadays she added, with patroniz.
ing kindness.
"Oh. manage to rub along" return.
ed Miss Winters, but she rose from
her seat and strolled away. Although
she knew herself to be a busy and
happy woman, she could not help feel.
ing solitary In the presence of such en-.
thusiastic wives.
A brisk tramp around the lake
brought back her usual good spirits.
and it was only with mild envy that
she saw, as she neared the hotel at
dusk. one of her companions Of an
hour or two earlier hurrying down the
driveway to meet the village buss She
paused In the shadow of tree in or.
der not to intrudc upon what she felt
would be a tender reunion between
husband and wife.
She was startled To see Il 1at. paid
headed man alight from the bus and
give Mrs. Collins most casual kiss.
We'll. | got here at last" he said
jovially. Il thought Id run up and
see il you'd like to stay during the
autumn. You can just as well as not
I'm getting along tiptop."
Was this the devoted husband who
was pining away in the city for the
wife Of his bosom9 Miss Winters
asked herself this question with in
ward laughter
) Then she saw Mrs Bascom stridine
down the path with a red headed man
following her as meekly as a pet lamb
Could that be the intellectual gian,
on whose wisdom his wife depended
, for her guidance? Miss Winters sanl
, upon the grass and rolled about in q
paroxysm Of mirth
And ! was almost sorry for my
state of single blessedness." she said
to herself as she rose and went to
. ward the hotel i'm joy and thankfulness