The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Called ON A MAN
BY n. M. EGBERT.


again" said little Miss Simpson, COM
ing up to Lillian Darrell as she sat
sewing upon the stoop. Fancy, after
all these years."
Lillian looked up gravely. Il
heard it too" she said.
1T must be IA years since he was
in Port Smith," continued Miss Simp-
son. And he hasn't showed his face
among the neighbors yet. Weren't
you and he sort Of"
''Engaged?" asked Lillian, conscious
of her heightened color. "Yes-once. !"
Dear me, who would ever think of
you as having been engaged, my
dear" soliloquized the visitor. THAT
isl mean, of course, you and l seem
to be such settled creatures"
That was a bitter word, but it was
a true one. The women who stayed at
home in the little New England town
had just half the opportunity of being
married that those had who went
away. That was matter of statistics.
There were twice as many women as
men in Port Smith. And Lillian had
stayed at home.
Her sister Anna had gone to the
city to be stenographer, and had
married rich lumber merchant She
wrote from time to time, but never
came back. Her other sister, Marian,
had become hospital nurse and mar
ried a rising young doctor. Lillian
was thirty-three. She had stayed at
home because she was the eldest, and
somebody had to care for her mother.
Caleb Trevethan had been the only
son of old Hiram Trevethan, who own
ed the homestead at the top Of Maple
avenue, nearly a half mile distant. He
had left Port Smith, as all the young
men did, and, like all, had left his
sweetheart behind, promising to re-
turn.
Lillian could remember that last
night as wildly as if it had been yes
terday.
Il shall come back for you, dear"
he had said. And l shall write to
you every week, or oftener. Promise
me that you will wait for me till then"
Till when?" asked the girl feeling
utterly lonely and desolate.
Three years" said Caleb, cienching
his fists to emphasize his words. In
three years time shall come back
and take you away with me. Promise
me, dear"
Lillian promised. Then she did some
thing that she had never done before;
she raised her lips to his. And the
night air became suddenly fragrant,
and her heart swelled with happiness.
So Caleb went away, and for two
whole months his letters came. He
was doing well, he said; he had po-
sition with a big mill. 1t might be
less than three years.
Then the letters came less often and
grew more formal. And at last they
ceased
Lillian lived on with her sick moth
er, until her death, year before. Her
sisters left, one after the other, and
married. Lillian heard of Caleb at
times. He had become a partner at
the age Of thirty. Then the big con.
solidation had come and he was
power in Wall street before he was
Then, only six months
before, she had read the news of his
She was amazed to find
herself SO little moved.
The past had become obscure, and
half forgotten. The girl who had
Owed so passionately was not she but
somebody of whom she thought with
! wistful, kindly smile.
And Caleb had been three days in
he old homestead. He was alone, save
or the old housekeeper. He had not
brought his car, but had walked up
rom the station at night, like any
He must have passed her
louse
Lillian! What do you think! ex-
claimed Miss Simpson on the following
lay. Have you seen today's papers?
No? Well, Caleb Trevethan is a
bankrupt He had to run away from
Jew York. They're talking of prose
'uting him. And he's hiding in his