The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-12
Desperate Duke
By CLARISSA MACKE
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press)

Press)
To think that should come bacl
to Montana again." Rose Carson
sighed blissfully as Mr. Riddle drove
into the yard of the ranch and skill!
fully turned the spirited horses aroun(
by the side door.
II We hope to keep you here this
time. my dear" he said as she sprans
to the ground and rushed into the am
pie embrace of his wife
My dear child. It's delightful Il
thin; that your foolish mother de
cided to go away again, and that yol
are sent back to us so soon an
glad that your mother decided to &c
abroad-otherwise we would have had
a lonely winter. Tell me. is Agatha
going to marry that goodlooking Eng
lishman?"
Rose Carson laughed merrily al
Aunt Ruth's eager questioning To
both Of them. Mrs. Carson's numerous
love affairs were q never.ceasing topic
of interest. Roses mother was young
and ridiculOusly pretty for widow
with a grown up daughter She was
Indeed frivolous, rather selfish per.
son, but withal SO charming In her
/ self.interest that one could not be en-
tirely vexed with her. This was the
second time she had sent her daughter
out to spend the winter with the Rid.
dies In MOntana-Mrs Carson had
been Riddle-while the little widow
calmly appropriated her comfortable
income to purposes of pleasure.
DO you believe your mother will
marry that Englishman?" repeated
Mrs. Riddle. sitting down in Roses
room while the girl removed the dust
Of the long ride from the railroad sta
| ton.
Dear Aunt Ruth. I really believe
that mother will marry Mr.. Chicester
! before she returns to New York. |
confidently expect to receive from her
. perfectly charming little letter an.
n0uncing that she has decided that It
would be best for her future happiness
and hoping that will not feel too bad.
" about IT," Roses eyes were very
bright - she brushed her brown hair
into shiny coils around her head.
Mrs. Riddle was perturbed. Il hope
you-you really would feel badly.
wouldn't you. dsar!"
YES. and no." answered the girl
slowly. Mother and I are SO very
different. you know. We don't care for
the same person or the same things. I
could be perfectly happy here with you
and Uncle Rob the rest OF my life
while mother would be miserable II she
had to stop here one night There's
the whole description OF our charac'
ters In a nutshell"
And you don't care for New York
1T does seem a. though people had
such a good time there!" sighed Mrs.
Riddle.
They do and they get bored with It
ALL The people who really have a
good time in New York are the Wis.
itors. would rather live out here
and be one Of the visitors sometimes"
Really. Rose"
Gross my heart" She smiled sun.
nily at Mrs. Riddle.
II am so glad. dear. because II your
mother does marry her Englishman
why Ralph and l want you to come
out here and make your home with us
for the rest Of your days II you wish.
but I hope you will marry one Of our
splendid men and make home for
yourself"
Rose threw her arms around her
aunt and kissed her tenderly.
Il shall be so happy II you really
want me--somehow seem to be a
misfit in New York Out here. | fool
as though had cone back home. thai
I am breathing my native air, that |
have come into my own"
Then II you marry one of our
neighbors you will belong to us on
iliCis. lt't't Nhtic 1911 t'Ns
back In the east"
Rose laughed light hcartcdly NO
body there or anywhere else auntie."
Then that's all right" declared
Mrs Riddle SO empha,ically that the
| girl laughed once more
Two months PASSED and October
came with crisp mornings. sunny
Moons. and long golden and purple at.
ternoons. Rose Carson rode every day
day. sometimes alone and occasional.
ly accompanied by her uncle or one
/ Of his trusted men.
1 Ono Of these men from the Riddle
ranch was long. lean. sandy haired
individual. named Phinny. who usual.
/ ly wore dissatisfied frown as though
the escorting Of lovely young women
along meandering trails bored him ex.
tremely. On the contrary he was i'm.
mensely hattered that Mr. Riddle had
chosen him a. body guard 10 his niece
Mr. Phinney was fond Of Joke
A. sy~