The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-30

20. please do-if the nice gentle
man will come and talk to.me!"
And so Billy's mother rather reluct
antly donned coat and hat and wen'
down on the piazza TO wait for Ut
Steel
When the stranger came in, Billy
was propped up on snowy pillows. MS
eager. flushed face turned eXpectant'
ly toward the door.
We'll. well, little man, this won't
do al all What-a broken arm: Ano
wkat do you think is the best cure for
thing like that. eho' He fished a
square white box from his pocket az
/ he spoke and displayed II to Billy'e
| curious gaze "MarshmallOws. But
only dozen at a time. you know,
| he cautioned.
You're going 10 tell me the story
now. aren't you" he questioned anx'
iOusly,
The other sat down by the cot, drew
a deep breath, nodded and began:
Once upon a time there was the
most beautiful little home you ever
could dream of-all green and white
and pink and gold with roses, In sum-
mer There were great velvet lawns
reaching down to hedge in front. and
great broad fields at the back, full OF
big, pnarled old trees that boys love
to climb and little amber creek run.
ming through for boys to go swimming
in There We're COWS and horses and
cats and dogs
Eilly's steady glance gave a flicker
o. Sudden delight. And a Shetland
pony like Jim Bailey's?" he interrupt
ed byeathlessly.
YES; a little spotted pOny-for my
boy The words slipped out unguard.
eddy, but he bit his lip and went on:
But one day something happened-it
was little and trivial 1t wasn't really
anything-but It broke up everything
The little boys mamma went away
to live with her people-and his papa
went away by himself"
I'm so sorry" The moisture
gathered In Billy's eyes and ran in
crystal tracks down his cheeks. All
at once he looked up and said earnest.
ly: Il wish ! was your little boy"
The stranger laughed heartily and
reached over and patted his chubby
hand DO you really?" he asked.
Billy nodded. Tell me another
story he begged. That one didn't
have the right ending"
The other took out his watch. Il
wish had the time, but I'm afraid
it's getting too late. You see I must
catch that downcoming train; I hear
the doctor and your mamma coming
now, and I'll run across the hall and
pack my grips"
Wait till they come, please. want
you to-Mamma!" he interrupted him.
self. hurry up and come see the nice
gentleman. He's going away on the
train and you might not get another
chance"
Mrs. Harcourt entered the room
with cheeks glowing from her brisk
walk In the biting morning air: her
eyes shone as they rested on Billy's
beaming face. She turned a smiling
glance to greet Billy's nice gentle.
man." She half expected to see a bat.
tered old hero of two wars with apple
cheeks and silver hair. What she
really saw was man Just verging on
the prime OF life-tall. broad-shoul.
dered. strikingly goOd-looking.
WIN" The name broke in a little
culver from her white, trembling lips.
The stranger took a quick step for.
ward: his own face had grown white.
But the old smile. vivid and compel.
ling. leapt to his lips. In silence he
held out his arms. In silence she
went TO him and he held her there,
rs though he would never let her 20.
Suddenly they remembered and turned
to BILLY But only the outlines OF q
tiny form appeared beneath the close.
ly-drawn sheets