The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-24


"OLONEL TODHUNTER and
Mrs Todhunter were two of the
~ great throng that attended the
grand reception and ball given
by the Sons Of Confederate Veterans
at the Nineveh hotel.
The hotel dining room, festooned in
bunting for the occasion, was doing
duty as a ballroom, the Nineveh brass
band was stationed upon a temporary
platform at one end, and the members
of the Nineveh Light infantry, ali Sons
of Veterans, were there in full uniform.
Half an hour after the ball began
Tom Strickland came to the colonel
with a troubled face.
Colonel" he said, chat little Lottie
May Doggett is booked for a mighty
unpleasant experience in a few min
utes If somebody don't give her a
friendly warming
whats the matter with Lottie-M May
now, TomP'
sWelI, sir, it's pretty serious. There's
an ugly story about her that's got to
the ears of the ladies tonight, some
thing scanda1ous, in which the name of
the man doesn't seem to be known, and
I've just had tip that she's going to
be asked to leave the ballroom. It'll
shame her beyond redemption, sir"
"Do you know the storyg'
"Only as it's being whispered around.
| colonel, about some man being seen to
leave her house at hours of the night
or early morning that can't mean but
one thing. folks are claiming. I'm
afraid Lottie-May's in a bad fix the
way things look"
You amt mixed up in this trouble,
are you, Tom p
Tom Strickland flushed. IF / was,
colonel" he replied, st reckon I'd be
man enough to try and get Lottie-M May
out of it myself without bothering any
body else. No, sir, / amt mixed up in
it. But, good Lord. colonel, l went to
school with Lottie-May when she
wasn't knee high to a duck, and 1
swear I'd hate to see her publicly dis
| graced. And you know-and know
it would hurt old Rafe Doggett so. 1t
would break his heart. SIR
Colonel Todhunter made no reply.
"I thought, maybe, if you could get
the chance, colonel" resumed Tom anx-
fously, that you might tell her and SO
make it possible for her to slip away
before the ladies can do what they're
threatening to do. sir. She'll take it
from you, knowing that her GRANDPA
Their was in your old regiment and that
you're telling her for her own good,
where she might fare up and kick over
the traces if anybody else limited at
such a thing. Don't you think you
could work it, coloneI?''
eff do, Tom.'' replied Colonel Tod
hunter, ''it'n be for old Rafe Doggett's
sake. Hes too good a man to be
brought face to face with shame in his
old age. Yes, I'll try to do it. Tom.
But I'd like to wiring the neck of the
young rascal that's got old Rates
granddaughter in such mess, subj
In accordance with this promise Colo
mel Todhunter found opportunity to
speak with Lotde-May Doggett. Very
frankly he told her of the danger in
which she stood. The girl, vitality beau
tifuI, apparently as constituencies as
some wild thing Of the woods, flashed
her hot resentment of his words.
'T amt thanktn' you for what you've
just said, Colonel Todhunter,'' she
cried. at strikes me you're in mighty
small business to come to me with this
story"
ST reckon I am, Lottie-May," agreed
Colonel Todhunter in all honesty But
wanted to save you and your old
grandfather from shame, and that's
why done it"