The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-24
SEEMED TO BE ENOUGH
BY NELLIE cRAVEY GILMORE.

She had long yellow curls that look
ed like glistening columns of gold
bobbing in the sunlight when she walk
ed, or lying In rich satin abundance
all over her little flWfy shoulders
when she was still. Her eyes were
big and round and peculiarly blue
like twin cornflowers-and there were
perpetual discs of pink in the small
oval cheeks.
The day was hot to sultrfness, the
sun beating upon the lake with fierce
intensity and Transforming 1t into a
great sparkling pool Of melted metal
Winifred hurried down the road az
fast as her long, white-stockinged legs
would carry her, the big sun hat
scarlet with poppies-fying back from
her head by its muslin ribbons. She
found tempting tuft of grass in the
shadow Of a giant water oak, and sat
down to eat her lunch. When she
had finished, she crossed her hands in
her lap, and sat gazing out across
the lake with suddenly tired, absent
eyes. She heard the village clock
strike two-then three-and all at
once, the water began to dance and
simmer and grow black before her
eyes. A horrible dizziness settled
over her. and she flung herself down
on the cool, grateful grass and closed
her eyes. Then came oblivion.
When the little girl came back to
earth again she was lying in her own
bed with the pretty canopy of blue
satin, and the cloudy white draperies
all around. She felt numb and stir
and listless, and when she opened her
lips to speak, her voice sounded so
tiny and far away. Many days pass.
ed before she was allowed to sit up,
and hear all about herself and the
grave, kind man who had rescued
her.
II should like SO much to see him
and TOTO thank him." said Wini-
fred one day-the first she spent out
of bed.
You may" replied her aunt, for
he is here right now. He was very
i'll himself that day. The heat played
him an even more serious trick than
it did you
So the little girl was wheeled into
the sick mans room, where he lay
pale and Frustrated against his pill
low.
y can never thank you enough"
she began, the pink in her cheeks
deepening to vivid scarlet What
in the world would have become Of
me if you had not happened upon
me?"
The invalid laughed and shook his
head. I'm glad, indeed, that l did,"
he answered quickly, "but-what on
earth would have become of me If
your kind aunt had not taken me in?"
Then l suppose we must be
'quits?'" She laughed merrily show.
ing all her dimples at once
The other nodded. do you know"
he asked presently, why II was /
wanted so much to see you az soon a.
l could?"
Wont you tell me?"
1T was because once I had a little
girl with long yellow curls just like
yours, and big blue eyes. You-you
reminded me a lot of her that day
found you unconscious by the lake.
Do you mind my telling you ths7"
''No-oh, no. And your little girl
where is she now? She Is not-is
She"
"She is not dead. But"
Winifred looked at him suddenly,
with wide, bewildered eyes.
IL lost her." the man explained
after q pause. and the little girl did
not question him further.
my mamma will be home tomor.
row." she remarked, In a change Of
tone, land I want you to meet her.
She-oh, you don't know how CRATE
full she will be to you. J--she hasn't
any one but me-" she added quickly.
Have you no father?" he question.
ed gently.
Winifred shook her pretty gold head
slowly back and forth. mot now,"
she said.
Never mind. l oughtn't to have
asked you. Won't you tell me some
thing about that-Mamma?"
"She is the dearest, best and most
beautiful creature in all the world!"
Winifred broke out, an uplifted smile
on her dainty, flushed face, Every
body loves mamma. She Is so good
and kind and true.
The sick man nodded, not trusting
himself to speak. He watched her
In silence as she unfastened the lock.
ct from long gold chain and hsla It
out to him.
$50 this is-your mother!" hs ask.
ed. after . long. long pause.
There was q long silence. during
which, the door opened and closed on
noiseless hinges and some ono came
softly into the room
Mammal"
MY little sweetheart" The wom-
an clasped her arms about the child
and held her in long. fervent EN-.
brace. When she looked up, pair
Of dark, eager eyes were fixed upon
her.