The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-03
HIS NEPHEW'S
BRIDE
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS

of lighting his cigar. Some one was
shipping branches from the bush OF
bridal wreath behind the summer
house. Granger was phllanthr0-
mist and it was distasteful to him TO
think that anyone would steal what
he would willingly have given.
He arose cautiously from the ham
mock and peered through the vines.
Surprise checked the stern re-
bike that would have sprung from
his lips. He went softly around un-
til his huge frame filled the grape
hung doorway.
Come here." His voice was toned
TO a soft command.
The girl turned startled head and
clutched the small cluster of bridal
wreath spasmodically to her breast.
She stood poised as If for fight.
Come here-please!" Changers
voice again commanded.
She came slowly toward him. Her
great gray eyes set in a wan little
face held 10 his as If they fain would
drag pardon from him.
"Sit down." he said, when she was
within the summer house. He knee
that her knees were trembling ana
he held forth a wide low chair. She
slipped down among the cushions
still keeping her big eyes on him.
~ would have given YOU al the
flowers you wanted" Granger sa!d
Il didn't know how to ask yon-
for some." the girl faltered. she
went on swiftly. y am going to he
married-to-morrow-and Just could
n't-without few flowers"
Granger depressed his amazemens.
He had supposed the girl to be not
more than fifteen at the Outsice.
"How old are you, child" he
asked her
Twenty" she said simply. Il
haven't any hairpins-for my hair;
that's why I look so Young"
Granger looked closely at her. She
certainly did look young with those
coppery curls shimmer'ng down the
nape Of her neck
Are you very much In love with
the man to whom you are gisins
YOURSELF"
Now that the nervousness had lett
her Granger sat down beside her.
She hesitated and a faint color
stained her skin.
II care for him-yes." she said.
but I am marrying mostly because
It seems as II I couldn't live among
those people any longer"
Upon questioning her Granger
learned that the woman with whom
she lived had taken her In after q
wreck on the railroad. The child
had been miraculously saved and
had grown up without affection or
care among the lower classes Of the
village.
TON says I can have a new dress
after we are married." the girl
said with a wistful glance at the rag.
ged frock.
TON! Tom who?" demanded
Granger.
TON Anson-he drives a grocery
wagon"
Granger had scarcely heard: he
was thinking. This young girl with
her trusting eyes was far too young
to have her confidence In men shat
tered. without running her trust he
must in some way prevent her throw.
Ing her lot with that Of man such
as Arson and yet preserve for her
an unmarried vision into the world.
Can you cook and mend and do
all the things required Of poor
mans wife," he asked finally.
Her startled eyes brought a smile
to Changers lips.
Il can't do anything like that!
shiver all the time am washing
dishes and can't stand DRIFT
makes me sQuirm!"
Granger again plunged into thought
Here was a startling example Of a
soul struggling against the sordid
things Of life yet powerless and drift
Ing with the murky current.
Granger absorbed himself IN con
temptation Of her while she closet
her eyes in momentary fatigue
! There was refinement In her voice
: in her eyes and in her lips. TIT
hopeless little gestures with which
she had punctuated her story o
\ life had in them the grace Of culture
, "Madge." he used her name tina
I he might keep her at her ease.
am going to order tea and while ",
4 are having 1t I have a proposition t
I make to you" He rang the bell a
his side and when his butler appear
: ed Granger ordered tea that woul
4 most appeal to a tired little waif.
4 Nor did the butler mention in tn
= kitchen that the master was enter
J tanning a wonderful beggar-maid 4
the summer house. Changers phi
1 anthropies we're every day occul
! rences.
! Madge showed no embarrassment
I when the tea tray was placed on tn
1 table beside her. instead. she foun
I that her hands had naturally fallen o
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