The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-21

! Neveg mluO, u
! Their" interrupte,
The smiling girl. III It has ono dia
lhond less that you wished. m surviv'
the shock"
III Il were only that! Paula,
have always respected your common
sense too highly to deceive you abou
business matters. 30 I will not con
ceal from you that the Caster dea
went against me. and I am penniless
Every newspaper In town will have
the details within . few days. I an
IN old man and do not care, but natu
rally my keenest regret Is for you
though nobody can say that your OLD
daddy didn't give up every cent h(
possessed for what he knew to b.
right and just"
Paula covered her eyes with he,
hand. while the father watched hel
anxiously.
Don't take It hard. dearie." he
begged. We'll not starve. though II
/ will be = struggle for q while"
Father" she said calmly, II am
not taking It hard: I was only won
dering how much we could scrape to
gether to continue fighting. Men like
Caster have no right on this earth
I'm ashamed to admit It. but az far al
I am concerned. I'm glad. truly glad.
It's q blow for you. but don't worry
about me. You know I always desired
to make my own way. but It's next ia
impossible for rich mans daughters.
Then when l had to take mothers
place. my hands were too full. All
care about Is that we get enough ia
60 after Caster. There's a Christmas
party at Barham's tonight. but I'd
rather stay here and talk things over
with YOU"
"Pollie girl. you have no idea how
you have lightened my worry" said
Mr.. Mercer huskily. II know you'd
rather not. but by oil means 90 to
your party. It's most important that
the true state Of affairs is not sus.
pected until absolutely necessary. III
spend the evening across the street
with Judge Simms. When your moth.
or was alive. the Judge and his wife
and she and I never failed to cele.
brate Christmas eve together. and
they'd be hurt II I stayed away"
Paula kissed him absently and ran
upstairs to dress. She was far from
Understanding the disaster. and the
suddenness Of 1t startled her.
ITS one thing to talk about earn
ing your living and another thing to
do it," she told herself. "You are a
success so far because you are your
fathers daughter. It'll mean hard
work. Still, work overcomes heart.
aches and teaches one to forget!"
She brushed the powder-puff across
her nose. and descended. At the door
of the library stood Mr.. Mercer.
II forgot to tell you. Paula. that I
found It necessary to put Dr. Grant
in possession Of the facts"
Paula turned away at mention Of
the young physician. and started tow.
ards the door.
Goodnight, dearie-have q folly
time!" called her father.
Paula swept into the waiting auto
mobile and settling down for the long
drive into the suburbs, rapidly evolved
numerous plans, meanwhile noting the
Christmas gayety on all sides. The
air rang with the excited chatter Of
children returning from belated shop.
ping or sightseeing tours. and min.
gled with their merry voices were the
subdued conversations Of their elders.
The sparkling snow. sleighbells,
bright lights and holiday decorations
struck q sympathetic note in her
heart. The huge motor purred softly.
and ~ Paula reached up to arrange
the rich red ribbons which held holly.
wreaths against the glass doors and
Window. her conscience smote her
because Of her real gladness.
I'm forgetting what It means 70
poor father" she soliloquized. TITS
no nun tor . man Of his age 70 start
oil over again."
A quick stop threw her on the floor.
and By the time she had regained her
feet and Jumped out to investigate.
the chauffeur was lifting a PROSTATE
body from beneath the wheels. An
awed crowd gathered swiftly. The
chauffeur was exonerated from blame. |
as several men had seen the little
run in front Of the automo- |
bile and slip and fall on the snowy |
street.
That's Tim Brown-he live. IN
Rose alley-just over there, ma'am."
volunteered another white.faced
nswsy. STOPPING to pick up the scat. !
tered papers. /
III take him home" announced
Paula bravely.