The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-31

Humphrey Found
His Heart
Nv VIRGINIA BLAIR

Humphrey Dodd was plain mar
He had been the eldest son and ha
assumed heavy responsibilities whe
bis father died Now that the young
or children were wage earners. ant
his mother had married again. Hum
phrey was free for the first time II
his life.
lie intended to get married! Hi
choice lay between two village beau
ties. As yet he had not paid marked
attention To either of them, but a.
he rammed his ha, down on his head
one Susty September night and start
ed for walk. he knew that he must
make his decision.
lie did not ask himself whether he
loved Rose or Mary. They were coed
girls. and would make good wives. His
mother had married his father In her
young years of romance, and the mar
riage had turned out badly. She had
impressed il on Humphrey that love
was an unstable thing and that he
would be happier without 1t.
yet something stirred In Humphrey
as he left the village street and came
Out upon long stretch of road. which
showed white for little way and
was then hidden by the blackness Of
the grove beyond. Overhead the moon
raced through the ragged clouds.
Humphrey brought his mind back
sternly TO the subject in hand. Which
should it he, Rose or Mary? The fair
one or the dark, the short one or the
tall?
The wind blew strongly. and as
Humphrey entered the shadows Of the
wood thousand voices seemed to
mock him. but above all the tumult
came a human note. a little cry. "Oh,
please-help!"
Humphrey stopped who Is it,"
he asked sharply
\ white shape seemed to dctach
Itself from the sable background II
i have lost my way 4" quivercd
woman's voice. and and am
afraid"
Humphrey struck match. a face
appeared within the circle of light r
child's face. except for the maturity
of the troubled brow.
Humphrey struck another match.
You are wet" he said. abruptly
Were YOU in the storm this after
noon"
Yes" Tho match had gone out
and they were again In darkness
Yes. ! walked from the car am
from the city | heard they needed
girls ur here 10 pick grapes and SOL
came
tie could read extreme fatigue in
the dragging vuice
Come he said suddenly, you
must 20 TO the village You need
To eat-a hot drink"
Il can't walk another step" She
was crying softly I've hurt my |
loot"
Are you afraid TO stay here?"
Humphrey asked. "l'll go back and
get my horse"
i hate to hear the owls" she
'obbed. when they hoot-and the
rogs"
In the darkness Humphrey smiled.
What child she was-with q WON.
ms eyes. They cant hurt YOU" he
laid. good naturally. "lll he back
n a minute"
When he returned to the girl he
ound her curlcd up against fallen
og. I've brought robe" he said.
Wrap yourself in It."
When che was safe In the seat he
eRan TO think where he should take
er There was no hotel and the
qnalid boarding house where the
rape-hands boarded was no place for
bis little slender thing. His own
ONE was presided over by his mar
led sister grim young woman who
'onld look askance at the city stray.
s they reached the crossroads he
irned his horses head away from
Is own house Il am going to take
on, he said. ito my great annt's.
hos seventy and she lives hy her
aif. aud she's as good as gold"
But can't ! 70 on to The farm
her" ihey want help" she qucs
onod. J
You can rest at my aunt to-
Irht," he said, ovasivcly
When few minutes later ho had /
ade his explanations 10 Auut Bet
y, and had nshcred his liulo stray b
TO her presence, he was silent for a Z
oment before the revelation 81 the 4
rl's beauty a
by the light OF the match he had Il
zen only her face. But now all the p
ace and charm of her dclicate Il
anne were revealed. p
I've got some cold baked beans" {.
I'D Aunt Betsey. busting. and III e
arm them up. and you shall have u
Up of tea"
Humphrey blushed as she s,uke os
lked beans. He could not have. de-
led his feelings. but this divinity b.
as worthy of-ambrosia u
D,,k