The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-08-02
UNEXPECTED THING
In Fact, There Happened Several
Surprising Incidents, But
All for Best.
BY clARlssA MAcKlE.

BY cLARlssA MAcklE.
oenA looked wistfully after tho
limousine that was carrying her aunt
and cousins to the house party at
Southbridge.
Il feel like Cinderella" sighed Gena
with q whimsical smile at her charm
ing reflection in the hall mirror. "Only
there will be nothing SO delightful as
. benevolent fairy godmother and q
handsome prince to rescue me- Well.
poor relations-must be poor relations.
know should be thankful that Uncle
Silas has employed me AZ his secre'
taEy. All, there Is his bell had quite
forgotten him."
She fastened to the somber brown
library where Silas Bonds dome
shaped head was bent over his treas
ured volumes Of genealogical refer
snca He glanced up % his niece took
her seat on tho opposite side Of the
long table
II missed you. 0ena." he said -
proachfully.
Il am sorry. uncle-I was saying
'Sood-by' to the girls and I forgot 70
como back"
-Ha! Where are they OF to now!"
que-ied Mr.. Bond, Just a. II his daugh-
ters had not dinned their plans into
his ears every day at table.
"They have gone to Southbridge-
the Dellains have country place
there. There Is to be ball tomorrow
night" Gena could not keep the eeser
ness out Of her voice.
II Silas Bond noticed It he made no
sign. He picked up q penciled memo.
randum and compared It with the
printed page Of his book.
i've found 1t. Gena," he cried *.
citedly.
Found what, Uncle Silas-not tho
missing link in the Freemer line?"
asked the girl with excitement almost
equal to his own.
1.-THE very thing my dear. Now, liz
ten carefully. We have always argued
that Abel Freemer died bachelor
while his brother Adam married Su.
sauna Rice Of Bolton and their"
Mr.. Bonds voice droned on while he
explained the matter to Gena. To
gether they pored over note books and
ponderous volumes until the waning
light brought their laboN to q close.
When q servant entered the room
with q telegram for Mr.. Bond. Coma
switched on the lights.
my dear a most unexpected thing
has happened. Here Is message
from Ralph--he has been called to San
Francisco and wants me to meet him
In Chicago to talk over the Colgan
matter. cannot lose the opportunity
Of seeing him and yet" he smiled anx-
iously at her, land yet do not like to
Leave you alone hero with the SER
vants."
TT can't be helped, Uncle Silas,"
said 0sna oheerfully. though her heart
sank ct the very thought Of the loneli-
nAD0. -.
why wore you not invited to the
Dsllain's party" inquired Mr.. Bond.
suddenly voicing his latent curiosity.
Z am sure you are much prettier than
Faith or Sadie"
Thank you, uncle. DEAR" and Coma
swept him q Laughing bow. She had
never seen Uncle Silas In the role Of
Aatterer and 1t was very sweet In one
% unbending and grave.
T shall take q royal holiday" she
went on gaily a. she tucked the val.
liable documents into the great steel
safe. n shah not even touch one Of
these tedious books--I shall read nov.
els all day long"
SilaS Bond smiled indulgently. He
had grown very fond Of this orphan
niece who so faithfully and efficiently
assisted him in his researches. He re-
gretted the careless. good-natured in
difference to Gena's welfare that
marked the attitude of his society.lov.
ing wife and daughters.
When Gena had superintended the
packing Of his bag and had ordered the
car 80 that he might leisurely catch
the evening train for town, he bent
and gave her an unexpected kiss.
you are good girl. Gena. Good
By. little Cinderella"
"Good-by," cried Gena cheerily and
when the motor had disappeared down
the long drive she went in to eat
lonely dinner.
"A Cinderella without . fairy god.
mother or princely suitor." she
smiled the next morning when she
looked out at the steadily falling rain.
It was a gray lonely day. Gena sat
b. the pleasant wood fire and alter
nately dreamed over q book and over
her future. She wondered II all the
coming years would bring sadness and
loneliness such as she had felt since
the sudden death Of both her parents.
As the afternoon closed In It seemed
that the quiet old house was shut from
the world by wall of silver rain.
After dinner she sat by the glowing
hre. q charming sight in her pale gray
gown with soft lace rufles at throat
and dimpled elbows. Her pale gold
hair was smoothly tucked behind her |
little pink ears and the curve Of her
fOsv cheek Was most allurinc |