The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-10
He Was AWAKENED
Dusty Old Bachelor, Selfish and
Stupid, Made Into a New
Man.
Dy LESLIE oAlRA.

SScS 49,
afternoon paper. Some impulse made
him add an extra coin.
Say. Mister. thanks" stumbled e1t
Aicky. gratefully. Il can git he 10
With it"
The ice?" Mr.. Comstock Stopped.
surprised hating his steps. He IA
not remember ever having seea . 10y
Just like this one. His shirt Wa TO
large. his trousers too short and bic
freckles out Of all proportion 10 his
lace area. but his most surprising to-
ture was his serious expression.
THE Ice fur my sister. she's sick.
The settlement lady. she told me to
30 fur some but didn't have q cent
Oh. she's Just goin' in now! Say Mis-.
ter, couldn't you step down there and
tell her I've gone fur 1t? I'll be back!"
Micky waved toward rickety build
Ing down the street and like q streak
he was gone.
George Peabody Comstock looked
wonderingly around. Disappearing IN.
to doorway was fash Of blue per.
Gale. This was most singular street.
He would not have believed that there
was such q district 30 near the bust.
ness quarter. The road was narrow
and crooked and the house dilapi.
dated. Washing seemed to have bro.
ken out all over like an eruption and
the shops were horrid little holes
with all kinds Of queer signs over
. m.
He hesitated. then some words that
he had read that morning on his desk
calendar came Unexpectedly into his
mind. II shall pass this way but once
let me do what good | cam" he repeat.
ed and turned In after the blue per-
Gale.
Inside the doorway. rose a perilous
looking flight of stairs. Mr.. Comstock
mounted them carefully. gasping in
the close air. At The top an open
door showed box of room a bed
and slender figure In blue bending
over It
IL beg your pardon" hcsitated
George Peabody Comstock.
The blue figure wheeled about.
"Yes" inquired the settlement lady.
with a lift of brown eyebrows.
II came to tell you that a youth
whom I mot below has ahcm hos
gone for some ice"
"Oh. splendid, I'm 90 glad. Addy
needs It drcadfully" She stood aside
to show tiny figure lying lifelessly
IN the bed Il was inst wishing for n
little help. Addv would feel so much
better II could only brush her hair
but she cant sit IN bv herself I won
der II you couldn't brace her for me.
Mr."
"My name is Comstock. George Pea
body Comstock"
"Ycs?" she qucricd, but vaguely. It
was plain that the name &c. p. Com.
stock. Woo!cns." had never entered
her active life surprising fact but
evident A faint color crept up In
Mr.. Comstock's face
"And my name Is Mary Curtis"
said the settlement lady. simply "You
are good to want to help"
George Peabody Comstock looked
wild. He felt wilder but Miss Curtis
apparently was too busy with her III.
tie leather bag to notice his agita.
ton.
III you will lift her. so. and let her
lean against your shoulder. So" She
raised the small invalid tenderly.
Comstock rallied. Something was
expected Of him. Bravely he held out
his arms and gathered in little Addy
Magoon.
There, that's splendid. isn't Il.
dearie? Now ri begin"
With steady even strokes she began
her task. George Peabody Comstock
watched with fascinated eyes her
strong young hands ply back and
forth. Their wilderness held him. His
experience with women was limited to
the memory Of his mother. charming
but vague. and the actually Of bis
middle-aged housekeeper. almost %
vague but not at Oh charming.
After q while. Comstock timidly
raised his glance higher and discov.
cred the thick brown braids which
were cciled neatly on q wen poised
head. When she turned. he could fol.
low eirlish curve IN her cheek up to
her honest eyes. The settlement lady
was surprisingly young though now
when she bent to lift the little wasted
frame there was a soft maternal
yearning IN her face that caused
George Peabody Comstocks heart to
give a most unexpected start.
"Do you live at the settlement down
the street," he demanded. abruptly.
YES. mother and I have a room
there"
Are you happy doing this sort Of
thing?'
YES" she answered. simply. After
YOU see how much you can help. it's
hard TO be happy at anything else.
Don't you find it so?"
"Er-perhaps you are right answer
ed George Peabody Comstock
There. she is ready for a beautiful
nap. Thank you, Mr. Comstock."
She rose as he did and followed