The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-14

Bang!!!!
The slam Of the big front door shOol
the house.
Aunt Hetty. sitting at her sum!
window. started at the noise. and
glancing out. saw Jack Maynard rur
down the steps and hurry away-ange'
and decision in every movement.
A few moments later q step on the
stairs announced the arrival Of hel
niece. Mabel. a sweet. lovable girl, hui
somewhat spoiled by the constant at
tention Of the whole household to
every within of its youngest member.
As the door opened. a flushed. tear
stained face appeared. and Mabel was
soon EMBODIED in Aunt Hetty's com
forting arms. while the soft. white
hands caressingly smoothed the tum
bled hair.
AS far back as Mabel could remem
Der Aunt lletty had always been her
refuge-her haven in all of childhood 5
storms. and, even now. a young WON
an, with a sparkling engagement ring,
the sweet. old lady was still her con
fdant.
Day after day she might be found
IN the same rocker. in the same win
dow. occupied with dainty bit OF sew.
Ing. which. when finished. invariably
found Its way into Mabel's wardrobe;
and nobody knew Of the dreams and
memories woven into the sheer gar
ments. Happy days passed IN review.
as some girlish confidence would re
call similar occurrence In her own
history, and though years had passed,
a tear would fall for the lad who had
died 10 save others
After the burst OF grief had sub
sided Mabel raised her head and
cravcly announced.
Jack and | are through, Auntic
~ the question in the gentle look he
added Well il is Just his way. dear,
II he cannot trust me now. he never
vii, and viii not stand being order.
ed like child !, sob interrupted
then SHE went on
lon know those beautiful roses
papa brought homo for me Yesterday
are in thc library. When Jack noticed
them. 20 tease him, asked him II he
did not think they were nice pros
ent' He asked whom they were from,
OF course, and | said, "A gentleman
Then, instead Of joking. as | was do
ing, he got angry. and ordered me to
tell him who sent them At that. nat
orally. would not, when he was so
cross. and he said such mean things
was willing to believe that had been
playing with him all the time. When
was wearing his ring. too. auntie' |
tried to give 1t back. but he threw II
on the floor and rushed ont. without
giving me a chance to explain Now
he can stay, II he doesn't care any
more than that" A fresh burst Of
tears and the curly head went deep
into The comforting LAP.
Aunt. Hetty thoughtfully contem.
plated the sOrrowful figure.
do you think that you were just
right yourself, dear? Remember that
the forbearance and forgiveness OF
true love cannot always be IN one
side. True hearts should be above
causing another pain for simple
Joke
u know IL wasn't right. was the
faint response hut ! meant 10 tell
him il. 4 nloniclt, and never thought
o. him doing that way IIc ought to
have had more Saith in me than that"
Mabel wiped her Dyes d"iianily.
Aunt ilel'y signed, and a mist came
before her as She replied gently:
Little Girl people can live Years In
a inmate countries aud lives be de-
stroycd hui an angry word lives for
ever Would YOU like to hear story
"a true one about a girl, Just as low
ing. impulsivc. and thouehtlcss as
you?"
Mabel assen,ed eagerly. her own
woes forgotten for the tim". at the
prospect OF one OF her aunt's stories.
Years ago." began the swee, voice,
"a girl lived In beautiful southern
town. She had everything 10 make her
happy-father. mother, brother. and a
home, Of which she loved every nook
and corner. She was very popular In
the younger Get, and many we're the
hattering proposals OF marriage that
she received. But in her open hearted
manner. she liked them all me same.
and after repeated refusals contrary
to the usual rule) they were all like
big brothers to her-ever wat,hful for
her pleasure and comfort. without riv-
airy and Jealousy.
Matters went on this way for sew
eral seasons. Gossips wondered
talked, and finally doomed her to a
solitary spinsterhood, as one after an
other Joined the ranks o. he big
brothers,
But one day came t..a'se. The
girls brother brought horae riend-
a former college roomIHat' 1913 home
was far away, and on a t1:i Tor the
business interests of his fs.e he had
combined duty with tie re Of
visit to his friend.
we read Of love q. Gey. hit and
tbink that is what il l- e been |