The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-24
BETSEY'S
NAME
By NJ. DIBBELL
Copyright. 1919. BY Associated Literary Prssl

| A'SNoSS' oStoSs
| "Yes, father. I'm coming" She
stepped round the curve Of the We
randa as she spoke.
Where have you been all these
Eours?" grumbled Mr.. Whlttlesey.
"Hours!" laughed Betsey in re-
Spouse. why it is barely twenty
minutes since ! went in to give Sally
her instructions for the day. and We
have been rushing things at great
rate. Now am at at your service
again-but just think how you would
feel If really should leave you for
a long time" she ended teasingly.
Il suppose that Is all have TO look
forward to now" Her father gave a
dismal groan. Just take fancy to
some young limb you happen TO meet,
and then-presto-my baby Is turned
into lovesick maiden with her poor
old dad utterly forgotten"
His daughter assured him that fall.
ing in love was altogether outside Of
her plan of life and the last thing he
need worry about
Richard Whittlesey had had to play
the part Of father and mother both.
ever since Betsey was three years
old. Now she was entering her TWEEN
tieth year, and her father was more
than grateful that so far her interest
In the masculine had been wholly cen
tered on himself.
She laughed again as she asked,
What young man Of this present gen
Grafton do you suppose would want a
wife with such an old-fashioned name
as Betsey?' How you could ever
have given 1: to me Just because it
was my grandmother's is more
than can understand. But at least
has marked me out of the matrimonial
market"
Il only wish 1t had" declared her
father. II would have called you Hip.
popotamus' II 1t might have had any
such effect"
AT least l can be thankful that you
did not have that awful thought In
time to do any harm. But really I
think that such good father and
such poor name as mine. between
them. should make voluntary old
maid out Of anyone"
And yet that statement from one
CT your advanced years does not give
cofa onA f,n1iuU hot
you intend 1t to-"
Every year that passes will make
you feel a little surer anyhow" con.
sOled I,etsey. nov let's go for ride. :"
An hour later, as they were speed.
Ing smoothly along the lake road, they
noticed ahead Of them saddled horse
nibblng the grass at the roadside
Richard Whittlesey was driving. and
stopped his car beside the horse.
Must be something wrong" said
Mr. Whittltsey, Il never saw this
horse before" He reached across to
smooth the horses nose, then secured
his bride and passed 1t to Betscy.
See II he will let YOU hold him while
| start the car" lie returned to his
seat, and they slowly moved ahead.
The horse followed without resist
ancc After travelling a few rods they
came to sharp curve in the road.
As they turned this they came upon
Il man clad in riding clothes. lie was
hitching painfully along on foot and
a stout staff
Az soon as he saw the horse he
cried, You old rascal, what do YOU
mean by deserving ne this way ."
The animal. AiyiHg little whinny
PULLED away from hetsoy and tro'loi
to his master
"lIad IA accident" aslt"l Richard
Whi'tlescy. as he stopped the ear.
yes, and mighty silly one. too.
answered the stranger II elimhtd
on top of the blum at that stocp.s,
place 10 GET Il view across the lake
and coming down stepped on thi'
edge of rock. which gave way Will
me. SO came the rest of the way IN
about half second" He smiled
chCcrfully as he added. Guess hrok,
the small bone of my left leg. Cam
use II at all"
Then the sooner you get in viii
us and let me take you TO surgeon
tho better of YOU will be" .Iumpins
; down. Mr. Whittlcscy bundled thi,
unexpected passenger into the ton
neau as gently as possible.
"You are very kind" The stranc
er's lips looked blue from the pain o
his broken bone. but his voice wa,
still cheerful Though doubt i
such stupidity rs mine Is deservin,
Of SO much consideration"
Folks have TO get used 10 on
crumbly style Of rocks" Mr. Whittle
sey said.
Come along. Colonel. called IN,
stranger to his horse. and that ohedl
ent animal followed after them lik
q well-trained dog.
They were not far from the lax
village, and inside Of short time
surgeon was setting the broken bone
Broken in two places" he informe
them when his task was completed
good, square breaks both Of them
only means keeping quiet with n
foot in a chair for five or six weeks.
But where am 10 spend all tha
time" questioned his patier: y