The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-10-14

the ,:oiut 81 danger with poise and
sr.ciousncss. Il think she resembles
my side of the family, don't you?'
she doe seem more set up than
tie roltors 81 Aunt Polly smiled, and
turned to meet Jacks hearty salute
J.. jae@, tantie. iiow's things
Dc, i h3nt.
&rn. la. % middlin', fair to mid
din. | brought you up some Hub
bi :luashss, and GOOD Peck's Pleas
IN 5. ard uu,s, and ginger cookies
ant forgot when was young.
kar~ the children would enjoy things
right from the old place where their
fa'ter was bor!.'
so kind OF you, Polly" acknowl-
edged Mrs. Potter, sweetly. Betty.
you may remove them to the kitch-
en-
Wait a minute; | amt got good
look at you yet. This is Miles girl,
amt it? She favors Millie. too"
Geraldine smiled shyly.
Call me Gerry, auntie. Jack does. y
She don't handsome bit. does
she. Maggie?" Polly said. Anybody
sitting Study with you, yet, child?"
I'm to be married Easter week"
My, backward, amt yeo" laughed
Polly Run along and take your
walk. Who's she going to marry,
Maegie?"
"A gentleman in Wall street Of
fee"
You don't tell me. Amt that too
bad. But love goes where it will.
Jackie, help your old aunt of with
these pesky tight shoes and get my
old slippers out of that bag on top.
pretty near lost all my religion
wearing them down here"
Jack knelt on the floor, putting on
the slippers.
Mother worries too much"
"Hurries too much?"
Worries She has good many
social engagements"
\ Il didn't know they'd let Potter's
I Pure Pellets into New York society,"
/ chucAled Polly. Land, Jackie, re-
member when Your father used to put
ter around homo over his little dough
and SUGAR pills, and little pepsin.
Ana h. put on the labels they'd cure
, everything on earth excepting chill
blains and hollis seems queer to
tlink ii" made fortune cut Of thrm
before he Gi,d !"
It's unout all gone now $; d
Jack en- iidlly. We're putting on
4 lot Of dog. AUnjo, that we ca t
back up With the real goods. It's in
+ the air down here"
i'rtter cone home with me. You're
a Potter through and through,
Jackie. Sitting stiIdy with any girl?'
Jack grinned, and shook his head.
Out in the hall they could hear Bet
tvs voice singing.
Il want Betty" he said simply.
She sings like an angel
"Umm. BE lot of help to you on
the farm won't she? She was so glad
/ to see me- Aunt Polly warmed her
! toes at the radiator. and thought for a
minute. Then she said, I'm afraid
I'm too old.fashioned for Maggie and
Gerry. They don't take to me, do
they"
She glanced up shrewdly at Jack
Have you asked Betty to have
ye?"
She's only seventeen, Auntie."
Don't you waste time, Sonny.
was In love at sixteen. and we kept
awaitin' and a'waitin' for his folks
to die and my old bcdridden father to
stop needin' me, and by the time
: they'd all passed over the shining
strand, my lad died too, and we'd
missed our way somehow along loves
post road. Sometimes you cant put
much faith in the sign posts along
that road. Now, you brace right up
to the occasion and ask BETTY while
she's sweet as a rosebud"
How long can you stay. Auntie?"
Well. it depends. A day or SO.
come up on little business besides, ="
said Polly placidly gathering her bon.
net and knit muller. and coat and
shawl together "Mebbe III take you
home with me. Jackie
Jack stood where she left him. and
Betty came in. Somehow the old
iady's simple philosophy Of life had
put new courage into him.
Betty" he said, slowly. Betty, lis
ten. Aunt Polly's offered to put me
to work on her woodpile IL marry
you"
Betty dropped the broom and dust.
pan with Il bang and looked at him.
Jack had always been her hero, ever
since the day when somebody had
brought her there TO live, a little pen
sioner on her godmothers bounty.
shes just making fun, | guess"
said BETTY. with a sigh You couldn't
cut wood"
Il could learn. dear" Jacks arms
folded around her somehow as If they
belonged there. Wed chuck all this
city life. and go back home. There's
about hundred and sixty acres there
of land waiting for somebody to wake
1t up. remember dad telling about
1t. Would you 60 with me, Betty"
Betty turned her head to answer.
4