The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-09-09

~, "a t-lllle ''AN'
l.. ap.dly il. jerks. We've Ga.o
10 ,oo socn. Wo should have search
cd the chest .Acrc carefully. rue
notes might have slipped, you know.
| went over TO the chest, found the
catches and threw up the lid.
She bent down, TRUSTING her niue
hand in,o the hollow from which the
draw had risen.
| heard her draw a noisy, shudder-
ing breath. From the hole she drag
ged a bundle something wrapped IN
yellow. dust-stained paper, tied with
a piece of rotten string. CobweOs
and dirt fell in a shower as she tore
away the covering. Then she threw
back her head with cry OF delight
Of huge relief, laughing unsteadily.
trembling violently.
God bless you, look. You don't
':now all you've done for me. feel
can breathe again ! feel clean now
felt dishonest. Now-now every.
'llings glorious. How much is there,
Mr. Oakleyo'
Five hundred pounds" told her
III was. Yes. you told me so.' she
answered, and she seemed all on
wires. lists splendid. I've been
longing to pay Mrs. Pelham for ages
owe her rent. and she will buy
little extra things for me. was
thinking of her mostly, which made
me understand"
Then she told me the story l had
already heard from John King. Mrs.
Pelham-foreve dissolying into tears
came upstairs soon after. We sat,
all three rejoicing
Il knew | could trust him." she
declared. Il knew it by his face. A
good face plain maybe. A face to be
trusted"
Jan said quite angrily: Sarah"
And it was then that | first allowed
myself to hope that Jan didn't think
me plain
In month, then, it became a set
tied thing. for her to return and md
M waiting for her
I,ut one day Jan did not offer her
hand
Il received a letter this morning.
she said. her angry eyes on mine. 1T
came from firm of lawyers. This
was inclosed.
Madam" it ran
Some years ago | purchased a
chest from you. When repairing the
base OF it | discovered a secret draw.
er. which contained the sum Of $500.
Rightly or wrongly, considered the
sum mine. Now. on my deathbci. !
feel a little uncertain. I have nei her
kith nor kin, and I have decided to
leave you, should you survive me, a
legacy OF the same amount.
Your obedlent servant.
JACOB SIDNEY"
why do this Why" she cried pas
sionately. adding with cruel illogical.
ness: You must have known should
find out. I'm alone in the world; I'm
poor. You've-yoU've cheated me into
spending money which isn't mine.
How dared you--how could you? l
thought you my friend. You meant
to be kind. Yes. you've been cruel"
"Your trouble came about through
me-" said quietly. after a pause. II
let you In for It It was my optimism
which made you 80 eager to buy the
chest. apologize.
She echoed the word In derisi0n.
Il can do no MORE" said.
"Except-go." she said rudely: yet
she choked.
And then did the only wise thing
I had done that afternoon. went to
her and stood behind her and said
sternly.
Il have an excuse. The best I
love you. | won't bear your cruelty
any longer won't hear your re.
proaches. I'll only hear your answer
to my question Jan, will you marry
me? And I'll not hear your No to
that; only your Yes"
She had grown stiff, rigid, as first
spoke. Then little by little her head
had fallen forward. She suddenly col.
lapsed as her hands went forward,
upward to her face. She was crying
as my arms went round her. crying
as dragged her fingers from her
tear-wet cheeks, crying as bent her
head back and stared into her eyes.
But it was her lips-framing no
word, but something infinitely sweet
pr-whicb answered mo at last