The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-15

camp when I lost my way. and I have
been wandering around In the woods
and fields for hours. Just az I had
given up hope ! saw a CLEAN Of light
from your window and SO l came"
retsy placed the bowl of steamins
porriuCe and milk in his hands.
"YoL had better take OF your cloak
and spread it to dry" suggested Betsy
as htr guest arose and sat down IN
the big chair.
He shoos his head and wrapped the
cloak still more snugly about him. He
had lost his hat. and the wind and
snow had removed the powder from
his hair. so that 1t showed its natural
color-a rich brown.
Betsy watched him with tender.
timid eyes.
Tomorrow he viii ten 10 that he
Is the commander-in-chief." thought
Betsy dreamily. Nov I must run and
ask Uncle Jabez II l may put him in
the spare chamber" She started to
her feet. but the stranger lifted q
shapely hand in protest.
Where are you going, little maid:"
he asked. knitting his handsome
brows.
ITO awaken my uncle and tell him
that you are here-we will then pre-.
pare a bed for you and" she paused
as the stranger rose with rrecipitate
haste and came toward her.
Il pray you do not disturb anyone"
he pleaded in his rich voice. Il am
going now-your kind ministrations
have quite revived me- Some day
when the war Is over-perhaps may
come and thank you again for saving
my life"
Betsy's heart beat unanimously.
and her lovely eyes dropped and as
she stood there mute she could see
strange thing happening to his soaked
cloak Steam from the heat Of the
fire was rising from the cloth and lit.
tie BY little II was drying and wher.
ever It had dried It was-scarlet!
We locked down and saw II 700. and
n rhaDs really ,g that he was discov.
ere' % hn hor enemy. he boldly
tossed aside the scarlet cloak 50 that
she could see the splendor Of his red
and gold uniform.
She had le"n ortorta'-ir~ one Of
his majesty's Oirccrs-onc OF the
wiz II invafers ri her country!
Tears came to Betsv's lovely eyes
tears of disappointment. Who could
make hero out Of despised and
hated Rritisher?
why are you crying!" he asked
gently.
"1-thoueht perhaps you were Gen.
eral Washington" whispered Betsy,
fearful now that her uncle might
wake up and find the intruder.
And II you had known who I was
you would not have let me in out Of
he storm" he queried.
"Ah--yes-I must do that" cried
impulsive Betsy. II would not have
YOU think am sorry for the little
could do am clad-plad-bM am
sorry Uncle 1ohnz doesn't likc--T,rit.
ishors she ended naivclv.
Flo smiled very tcndcrlv unon her
troubled face. 81 am sorry, too: but
some day whom this war Is over
then NAV come riding M to Your
door ard make call upon Mis-.
trcss--?"
"Hetsv Stevens" supplied Rotsv
softly. "Yos You NAV. strand
hone you will 80 through the war
safely"
THANK vcn" ho said az he hort
over hor little hand, and his lirs
bruehod It.
God 70 with Won" wh'encred rctev
rs he stonrod through tho door: ho
hoard hor and his pves sho-c wcrf'n~-
fully. Thrpr~h mnrv loro'v hivCurc
and IN man" 4 toll ,Nmo march he r..
momhorod tho dnren erOwstc~m ord
the lii'a mid strrAirr IL tho door.
way acairet No warm BACKGROUND OF
fire aud csr,''ohrht.
A vcrv "cnacrful thing was 'h,t
neither Uncle Vahnz nor Aunt Ellen
know word about it until long after.
ward.
But thc-o w's something e'ill moro
wonderful Arter pctSv had spent
four anxious wears waiting for the
war to end Worrying about the safety
Of her na"clees hevo, feeling a traitor
because sho had really lost her heart
to the STRANGER there came dav
when tho war was over and EVERYONE
was fce''nc hannv and almost cordial
toward tho varorishcd enemy.
II WIS on that hanrv dav that Rotsv
went into tho woods seeking trailing
arbutus. fer It was May and the
whole world was a.aniver With new
life. A hcrseman came riding down
the mossv path and BETSY turned her
hands full Of the odorous pink bios.
SONS.
A warm color flooded her fair face
as their eves mot. He had do~ed his
scarlet uniform and wore clothes Of |
beautiful e~ov s,tin
mistress Rntsv Stevens" he said
bowirg TO the ground ~ have como
back because I want 10 thank Won for
saving my 'ife-ard have come back