The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-04
TIME TO
THINK
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
PreSS)
By Jeanne O. L0izeaux


The girl seemed splendidly oblivi-
Gus to her fellow travellers all DAY.
She had boarded the train at Denver
with very little but super-elegant
baggage. and alone She had been
excited at first. but as the hours
passed her gaze became quieter'
more thoughtful. She leaned her
cloud Of gold-brown hair back against
the seat and idly watched the porter
light up as the dusk fell upon them.
Down the aisle few seats and
facing her sat a youth with his nat
tipped back on his head. He was
playing cards with Kansas farmer.
a travelling man from Chicago. and
an old German woman. A little OLD
lady. perfect in feature and every de-
tail of dress. still beautiful. was
amusedly watching them all The
youth caught the travelling mans
glance as for the thousandth time II
rested on the girl.
Easy to look at. isn't she?" QuOth
the youth. but she wouldn't stand
for any freshness from you. say"
he observed.
The man laughed with uneasy I'M
pudence. III Kansas and lick you
and the lady in this round, III show
you! I'll 60 over and make good
with that girl-my trick" And then
the little old lady slowly rose and
made her way to the girl. whose eyes
were feverishly bright. She smiled.
as anything alive to fneness must
smile, when the old lady took the seat
beside her-not like q protector. but
as one seeking company.
you are alone. my DEAR"
"Quite-Quite alone"
Then they talked. impersonally.
but with friendliness. as strange wOm'
en- OF the same world approach each
other, the older woman wistful at the
freshness OF youth. the girl wishing
for the tranquility of age. The land
scape was quite dark when she spoke
again.
Il was-going TO California" she
said And then. brusquely. did you
ever do anything you were-sorry
for? mean. any really big thing?
Did you ever make decision because
you were blind with ignorance. and
be sorry and scared after you had
time to think" She hurled the
questions AT the old lady. who &C
copied them calmly She had watched
for this chance. feeling something
was wrong
Yes, my dear child You are a
stranger, so I don't mind telling you
Once, because | felt uneasy. I got OIL
ut a station after I had been started
by my father to a girls school.
reached my father Just In time ia
save him from suicide from melan'
choly over my mothers death. and
thinking my education was taking
me also from him. never left him
again-not even when ! married"
Forgive me--but did you marry
the right man." The little old lady
laughed inside. and turned the worn
wedding ring on her finger. She
had known the troubled look was
because OF a man! II nearly always
Is. She reached for the girls hand
which frightened about hers. and
continued
Il went M the altar steps twice :
once TO realize at the last moment
that II was 10 meet the wrong man
I, was the terrible moment Of MY
life. but | held on to my courage
whispered 10 him that could moi
20 with him. and then ! Incredibly
tainted. 4 year after. I married The
right man He lived only two year :
hut I had the two years: all tho rest
before and after was only for that =
and have my son"
Then you would always
your"
Always follow your heart. II YOU
let yourself be quiet. there will In
any great event be III voice hat
will show you the right path r.
choose" The old lady waited.
The girl grew very pale.
But II you had promised youi
father-when he was dying to-
marry somebody. and you liked him
and respected him. And when II
was almost time for you 10 marry
him and you were all ready. and The
whole world knew about II, sgipos
ing some one else came. and lou
knew in one moment that ne va me
right one, And you felt ins'antly
that he knew II, too! And hen
when you were taking the train lest
TO the first mans mothers. whore all
your wedding things were s.tt on
what II the real one forgot himsel'
at the station and-showed yos his
heart?" She was breathless and y hite
but her voice was very low.
The old lady was silent.
What would you do" insstes the
young voice. Cant you help me!
wish there would be wreck
THAT IL very foolish. Better De
quiet and tell me about It. You kno"
II is not right TO marry where you
do not love Nothing can maze II