The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-24


itea Us before your wedding. l sup
pose should get acquainted With
the young chap before he comes into
tbs family" He heaved a sigh as lie
thought of some new books that were
still unread. Yes, il is clearly my
duty. is he fond of outdoor sports"
Uncle Emmett had visions OF trailing
dismal'y in the wake of an enthusias-
tic golfer.
Twill see if he can come" she
answered, "but DO net think he will
trouble you with athletics" With
that he was content.
However. it was not so easy to sat.
isfy Mrs. Tompkins. their old house
keeper, who had overheard the ques-
ton and answer.
Seems to me your young man
would be comm OF his own accord
before the weddin' day" she remark
ed later with the familiarity of an old
servant.
'lie has been very busy expect
letter today" evade.l Dorothy.
Mrs. Tompkins shifted. I'm my day
young men were more keen. They
always managed to see their sweet
hearts pretty often, business or no
business"
4 must dress and 60 down for the
mail" said Dorothy.
Il feel almost as il it were true"
she thought. as she fastened her
linen dress with shaking fingers.
Then the full force of the case rushed
over her. "Oh. I'm so tired Of subter-
fuges and lies-iies-yes. that is what
they have been. |, who have always
prided myself on my truthfulness! I
began it all in fun. never dreaming It
would go SO far. can't explain now
without making myself laughing
stock. Oh, If It were true and was
going to be happy like other WON.
EN-"
She was descending the stairs when
a knock sounded at the front door.
On opening it she found tall, keen.
eyed young man standing on the porch.
"Is this Miss Dorothy Rowers?" he
asked, as he took of his broad.
brimmcd straw hat.
Wondcringly. she asscnted.
81 am T. NJ. Morton, of Dluc Mound.
Nebraska"
"T. NJ. Norton" she repeated
"Yes" Seeing the puzzled look In
the big brown eyes, he added, MAY
come in and EXPLAIN"
She led the way into the living
room. which he seemed to fill with his
yirlc personality.
lie drew from his pocket a pack.
ago of letters whose addresses DorO'
thy saw with flush of recognition.
I'm afraid I've gotten hold OF
some letters that were meant for an
other fellow" he began with a glance
at the diamond on her finger. III
may have caused you trouble. II so
I'm sorry.
, 81 was honest in thinking 1t mine
when opened the first. There was
a bunch of them addressed to r. NJ
Morton. advertised in tho Chicago
papers. When I went there with q
carload Of cattle was expecting
some mail through the general delv
cry, SO naturally thought these were
mine"
She did not speak, and he cOntin
ucd: 81 know was a cad to read the
others-but the temptation was toe
strong. You sec have dreamed sc
often of a little girl who would write
letters like those to me. have beer
alone so much with no one to know ol
care since I bought my ranch, and the
thought took pretty strong grip on
mo, Strangely enough, my dream
sweetheart had brown eyes like yours
"Rut it all came over me the Other
night what I'd done in keeping these
letters from some one else--thc lucky
chap to whom they belong. And re
solved to return them to yo'.."
Dorothy claspcd her slim hands
tightly. "There-tlcre is no othel
man" she said.
"No other man."
mo, mine was only a fancy, too
Then. briefly she told him OF the
whole AFFAIR, from the sudden impulse
10 play joke on the club girls unit
before she was aware of the fact She
had been caught in maze of her owr
making from which she couldn't ex
tricate herself without ridculc ant
modification. "Tt's a wonderful relic
to tell the truth at last: had no idea
OF letting the joke go so far-and now
I'm not brave enough to own to the
facts. so I've decided TO have my
fiance die" she concluded. with &
tremulous little laugh.
Into his keen eyes came a new light
He crossed tho room and took the
nervous little hands.
II have a better idea, Dorothy. lie,
1t be true about the dream chap. Lei
me take his place. There are stir
eleven days In which we can get ac
quainted before the date of the wed
ding. And We can say a lot in that
time. I'll furnish references about my
character and business prospects ia
your uncle. I know I'm unpolished