The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-12
Miss French;s
High Hopes

dences. might even be willing to &C.
ceW the name OF Smithers In en-
change for hers. for such perfection
and virtue would come with 1t.
Miss French was passing few
weeks at a health resort. There she
had fallen into the company Of Mrs.
Smithers SO much that she felt 1t was
no coincidence when she found Mrs.
Smithers seated in her favorite corner
sewing or when she went for q walk
to the springs and found Mrs. Smith
ers slowly moving thitherward. to be
easily overtaken.
On all such occasions Mrs. Smith
ers reveled in blissful recollectiOns
of beauties Of her sons character or In
golden dreams of his future.
Miss French listened with flutter-
ing bosom. |, was not surprising that
her previously untouched heart thrOb-
bed deliciously when Mrs. Smithers
told OF the chivalry in her son Johns
nature. Did an act of bravery or hero
ism reach her ears, never was she at
loss to recall something in Johns
brief but brilliant career that put
the heroism of others completely in
the shade. John was lover Of all
things noble, OF all good and true and
upright things, and he abhorred all
mean, weak and contemplate natures
as thoroughly as he hated deceit
and sin.
If a child crossed their paths Mrs.
Smilhers saw in it, not her own pleas
ure and love In perfect childhood. but
Johns. John couldn't see a child OIL
the street without stopping to speak
to it. And generous. And kind! And
brave. And handsome. Oh, thoughts
of John brought tears to his mother
eyes.
So when Mrs. Smithers pressed Miss
Frenchs hand tenderly and whispered
in voice trembling with emotion thai
John was coming to see his dear moth
or the following week. and that Mrs
Smlhers looked forward to the 10,
of letting Miss French share the de
lights of his presence. Miss French
pressed Mrs. Smilhers' hand in return
As she did SO she felt thrill q
warmth and happiness cross he
heart.
Il was most exciting and roman
tic to think that she was soon t.
meet a man who was almost, II no
quite, perfect.
The listened with something of tn
mothers own excited intensity for IN
carriage wheels on the day OF John
arrival. The thought even crossed he
mind that she ought to express ne
apprcciaiion of Mrs. Smithcrs for CIV
ing her this great pleasure. She pic
tured herself as she might be in tn
future, as a blooming Mrs. Smithcrs
sheltered and protected by John, tn
envy OF all her friends, the posscsso
of absolute happiness.
Why did she feel SO hopeful? We'll
sGnt Mrs. Shlithers assured her tina
loan was 50 attached to his molhe
t..at IL t,oulGnt dream ii falling 4
love without his mothers sanction!
And hadn't Mrs. Slniihers locke
the world over in vain Tor VII
worthy of John looked until she wa
almost tempted To admit that Their
wasn't a girl in the world capable q
filling that exalted position? But nov
Then Mrs. Smithers had smile
mcaningly at Miss French and ha
pa,ted her hand. Wasn't that reaso
enough for Miss French to anticipat
perfect future?
When the carriage finally arrive
Miss French watched with an intensit
that hurt, as each passenger s'eppe
out of Il. But when il was finally eml
tied she sighed a deep, deep sigh Z
regret.
lie hadn't Gomez
She reached for Mrs. Smither'
hand to comfort the poor mother-bt
il was gone, and SO was Mrs. Smltl
ers.
With outstrefched arms Mrs. Smitl
ers was racing down the walk towar
Il wizened little man with fast In
reasing bald spot and a propensity II
loud talk, who was pickering with III
I driver over his fare and demandln
, his rights in "A high pitched voice tia
reminded Miss French Of Punch an
Judy show. His mother reached job
before his transaction was complete
and she threw herself into his arms b.
fore he was aware OF her presence.
"Oh, hello, ma" he said, CASUAL.
but in a penetrating voice. III wa
sort OF hard to get away-my boob
didn't balance last night, and lthOugf
I'd have to stay over another day
but fixed them. Here, ma. you carr
this satchel, will you? I'll carry IN
other one"
Miss French fed precipitately frol
their path that she might escape IN
promised Introduction. She require
time to clear away the debris OF h
ruined air castles.