The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-13

full lips! They would enjoy q hone!
moon In Europe, while she, the lonei'
old spinster, would stay at nom
alone.
In that moment she hated Jimm!
Vanstone, and her pretty niece. AMI
she mentally censured the cruel SCI
tishness OF youthful love.
You cannot marry anyone wltnou
my consent, Ethel: and | shall no
give it," she said firmly.
Good night, Aunt Felicia wal
Ethels quiet reply as she passed tn'
older woman and went into 'n'
! house.
She read Mr.. Daniel Latmers lettel
to his nephew before she went to oe'
and the tears that wet her lashes wer'
chased away by irrepressible smiles
She tucked the letter under her pillow
and went to sleep with smile on he'
lips. Felicia. pausing in the door
way with lighted candle as was hel
custom, saw the smile and her heart
strings frightened.
She does not care-she does MOI
care for me-" she thought jealousy
as she went away.
Early the next morning Ethel went
out to the near by town for a days
shopping. Felicia was writing let
tiers in her own room when Celia, the
little housemaid, tapped at the door
Come in," said Miss Weeks.
please, Miss Felicia" said Celia
extending folded letter. Il found this
on the door in Miss Ethels room. II
flew from under the pillow when ! was
making the bed"
Put 1t on the table, Celia" said
Felicia and she resumed her writing.
When her letters were finished she
looked up and saw the sheets Of let
ter paper futtering on the table. A
leaf rustled in the breeze from the
open window and her own name
caught her casual glance.
Temptation assailed this impeccably
honest lady. She glanced again-and
again, and then overcome by indigna.
ton and curiosity, she silenced all
Qualms on active conscience and read
the letter from beginning to end.
1t was the epistle Of Mr.. Daniel Lat.
inner to his beloved nephew, James
Vanstone:
My dear boy" it read In part, SO
you think you are the happiest man in
the world because pretty little girl
loves you? Well, l thought the same
way once upon time, but l was
promptly disillusioned-now, this isn't
meant to be wet blanket on the
rosy flame of your engagement to Miss
Ethel; it's merely the plant of a dis
gruntled old bachelor because you
have won the prize that missed. Con-
gratulations, dear Jimmy, and may
you be deserving of the little girl who
Is pretty indeed, my lad, but cant
compare with her aunt, Miss Felicia,
whom ! knew once upon a time. Yes.
you've guessed it, Jimmy. she is the
one who administered the dose of dis.
illusion! Well, Felicia was self.
Willed slip of girl and ! should
never have taken her word of dis.
mlssal. Sometimes when | am very
lonely and am afraid of the solitary
years ahead of me, am tempted to 90
at once to Felicia Weeks and ask her
II It is too late to be happy! But
forgive me, Jimmy, I've turned this
letter Of congratulation into an elogy
upon my own happiness-but it's too
late to amend it, now. hope Felicia
will give her consent to your marrying
Ethel before the 15th-if she won't,
shall certainly run down to Rode.
mead and plead your cause. Kiss my
future niece-in-law for me.
"Afliectionately. Uncle Dam"
AoA ioiio tiluC EClSld Sul III 81"
lence. Although she stared out at the
garden she could see nothing for the
mist Of tears in her fire eyes.
Presently she drew a sheet OF pa.
per toward her and wrote a few lines
to Mr.. Daniel Latimer. This she en-.
closed with his letter in an envelope
and carefully addressed it 10 his club
In town. Then she affixed a special
delivery stamp and sent Celia out to
mail it at once.
Although the letter was gone the
words she had written seemed written
In rosy red across her brain.
This Is what she had written: ~
have given my consent to Ethels mar.
riage on the 15th-but II you wish,
you may come down-soon, Dan-and
plead not their cause-but your own!
Felicia!"
1918. by the Mcclure News.
nlpar GypIicotaN