The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-16

| you mean to say you did not know
that Wallace was in love with Matte
Adams"
Il surely did not have any suspicion
of it. why | have never thought oi
Matte as anything but child ana
actually her coming into fortune
has parted them?"
Yes for Wallace is such a cnump
that he thinks the man should do all
the providing. and unless he can dupll-
cate her cash. he has no right to mar
~ woman with money.
NIollie had long period of medita-
ton after Russell's departure. To her
diso,lietude she found that she was not
so certain as to preferring to die IN
modest silence rather than speak the
word for happiness, as when she
preached that doctrine to Matte Sup
pose I.ussell-but Mollie hastily
changed her line of thought. and be-
gan TO ponder on how she could help
the two who were in such an unfor'
tunate predicament
At last a smile came to her lips
81 am sure that will bring matters to
a crisis mean to try anyhow"
Next evening she said to Russell,
"Will YOU tell Wallace that would
like to see him tomorrow when he
comes from the office-there is some.
thing important have to tell him."
Late the following afternoon Wal
lace Kendall stopped at Mollie's door,
and the maid who admitted him in
formed him that Miss Bennett was ex.
pecting him and would come at once.
As Wallace seated himself. he be-
came conscious that some one was
sobbing in the adjoining room. and no
ticed that its door stood ajar. Before
he could determine whether or not 1t
were best to make his presence
known, he heard Mollie Bennett speak.
ing in soothing. but remarkably dis
tinct tones:
Don't cry, Matte. assure you that
Wallace is not worthy Of one Of those
tears-l am positive Of what say.
that he has been paying attention to
Clara Royce for several months; in
fact they are reported engaged. and
| thought It only right that you should
know"
White with wrath Wallace strobe to
the partly open door and threw 1t
wide 1T is a lie!" he fairly shouted.
81 hardly know Miss Royce by sight,
and never loved anyone in the world
but you, Nattie-I think Miss Bennett
might be up to better business than
telling you deliberate falsehoods"
Mollie gave an amused laugh and
said pleasantly. "Now. will you use
the common sense with which Provi.
dence provided you. and tell Matte
like man that you want her for your
wife?"
Without awaiting an answer she
passed swiftly through the door Wal.
lace had just entered, closing It tight.
ly behind her, and leaving two very
blank looking young people confront.
ing each other. But they soon forgot
everything else In the Joy Of being to.
gether. and Wallace followed the ad.
vice he had received.
Goodness" thought Mollie. with q
sigh of relief. as she sank into chair
in the outer room. II hope ! may be
preserved from going through such an
experience as that again. should
never have dared attempt It II l had
not known that Wallace was like clock
work in his movements, so that I
could time him to the minute, and
even then my hair fairly stood on end
until heard the door bell. Now
hope the two little geese will be hap.
ry-and properly grateful to their
benefactress"
Later she whispered to Matte. who
clung to her lovingly, "You see. ! pre-.
served the dignity Of woman after all
leap year did not have thing to do
with bringing Wallace to his Senses