The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-10


Yes. father, I'm coming" she
stepped round the curve of the We
randa ss she spoke.
Where have you been all these
hoursi" grumbled Mr.. Whittlesey.
Hoursl" 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 a great
rate. Now am at at your service
again-but just think how you would
feel II really should leave you for
long time, she ended teasingiy.
4 suppose that is ali have to look
forward to now" Her father gave
dismal groan. "Just take fancy to
some young limb you happen to meet,
and them presto--my baby lie turned
into a loyesiek 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 vas entering her tgRen.
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 gem
Grafton do you suppose would want
wife with such an old-fashioned name
as 'Betsey?' How you could ever
have given It to me Just because It
was my great-grandmother's is more
than / can understand But at least I
has marked me out Of the matrimonial
market"
4 only wish It had. declared her
father. z would have called YOU Hip
popotamus il It might have had any
such effect"
AT least can be thankful that YOU
did not have that awful thought in
time to do any harm. But really |
think that such good father and
such a poor name as mine, between
them, should make voluntary old
maid out of anyone"
And yet that statement from one
Of your advanced years does not give
me the safe and secure feeling that
YOU intend it to-"
Every year that passes will make
you feel little surers anyhow" con.
soled Betsey, now let's 60 for a ride.
An hour later. as they were speed.
ing smoothly along the lake road, they
noticed ahead Of them saddled horse
nibbling the grass at the roadside
Richard Whittlesey was driving, and
stopped his car beside the horse
Must be something wrong" said
MI. Whittlesey. II never saw this
horse before" He reached across 4
smooth the horses nose, then secured
his bride and passed It to Betsey
"See If he will let You hold him While
/ start the car" He returned to hi
seat, and they slowly moved ahead.
The horse followed without resist
ance. After travelling few rods the1
came to a sharp curve ia the road
AS they turned this they came upoi
q man clad in riding clothes. He waI
hitching painfully along on foot AM
a stout staff.
AS soon as he saw the horse b
cried, You old rascal what do yoi
mean By deserving me this way 2"
The animal, giving little whinny
pulled away from Betsey and trottel
to his master
Had an accident7" asked Richarl
Whittlegey. as he stopped the car
Yes, and mighty silly one, too,
answered the stranger II climbe
on top Of the blur at that steepes
place to get view across the lake
and coming down stepped on thiI
edge Of rock, which gave way wit
me, SO / came the rest Of the way 4
about half second" He smile
cheerfully as he added. Guess / brok
the small bone Of my left les Can
use It at all"
"Then the sooner you get Ia wit
Us and let me take. you to a surgeon
the better of you win be. Jumpin
down, Mr.. Whittlesey bundled thi
unexpected passenger into the Ton
neau as gently IS p0ssible
"You are very kind" The stFanl
er'a lips looked blue from the pain Z
bis broken bone, but bis voice wa
still cheerful. Though doubt
such stupidity as minc Is dsseryin
81 50 much consideration"
Folks have TO get used to on
crumbIy style of rocks Mr. Whittl'
aey said
"cone along, Colonel, called III
stranger to bis horse, and that obed
ent animal followed after them I'll.
welltrained dog
They were not far from the lax
village. and inside Of short time
surgeon was setting The broken BON
Broken IN two places" he informe
them when mis- task WIS completed
good, square breaks both Of then
only means keeping quiet with th
foot ii a chair for FIVE OF six weeks
but where am ! TO spend all tbs