The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-23
BY JUNE GAHAN.
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|
Estania looked over at her sister re
proachfully.
"Chester's own bedroom and study.
Tan. don't you dare worry mothe
about this. now. 1t was my doings
| You're all out of touch with the wa,
things go here at home. and you dom
understand how every last dollal
counts. You trot of to town when 20,
feel like it. and paint in a studio al
winter, and give lessons, and go to thu
opera, and haven't thing to do bu
keep Tan Shapin in a good humor
And Chester's just like you"
You might leave poor old Ches out
OF It," interposed Estania, distantly.
He's right in It," Vic laughed. I'll
he had come home this summer anG
helped as he should have done, we
would not have had to insult the fam
lily self-respect by taking in ten dol
lars a week regularly"
Where's mother?"
Gone boating with Mr.. Pomeroy.'
very demurely. He has been Just
dear, Tan, with mother. He's got a
motor boat, perfectly water-tight,
tame one that he keeps down at the
club dock, and he takes her out every
day for trip down the bay"
Dear, no-the boat; but mother
does go often and so do |. He's a
friend of the Barclays and wanted to
be near them for the summer. We
think it's Margaret so far"
Estania turned with her travelling
cloak and suitcase, almost colliding at
the bend Of the staircase with young
man who was hurrying down three
steps at time. He was tall and dark,
thoroughly shabby.
Pardon me. Awfully clumsy and
unlucky l am. anyway. Say, Vic, your
mother wants her gray veil to tie
around her hair-and her coat" He
stood out on the broad veranda wait
ing while Vic hunted for the things.
Estania could not explain her feel
ngs. Somehow the summer boarder
grew to represent to her all the fallen
fortunes Of the little home, and she re-
sented his very existence. II Chester
had been there, 1t could never have
happened. But Chester was one of the
smooth-faced lieutenants facing his
first battle smoke on one Of the big
gray ships in the gulf.
Then came fateful day. Mr.. Pome-
roy had gone for shore tramp with
VIC. Mrs. Chaplin was taking a nap.
1t was a golden day out Of doors, and
Tan had decided to paint water color
Of the garden. She wanted a certain
camp stool that Vic had handed over
with anything else he wanted, to the
summer boarder. Estania ventured
into his room to recover her property.
Inside the door she stopped. Facing
her on the bureau was very good
Of herself, one that she
had sent to Chester Just before his sail
Ing south. Yet 1t confronted her now.
and 1t was enshrined on Bruce Pome-
roy's dresser.
She went down quietly without the
camp stool. and waited determinedly
for the return of Mr.. Pomeroy. He
came with Vic along the beach.
strolling leisurely. Vic ran into the
house to help with dinner, and Bruce
threw himself down on the grass In
front Of the angry goddess.
He heard her In silence, merely nod
ding assent to every accusation she
made. Yes, he had known Chester
very we'll indeed; chums at Annapolis
He himself had given up the navy
when his father had died, and now sub
sisted most comfortably on an income
derived from shoe manufacture.
"Awfully unpoetic, isn't IT." he
smiled at this confession.
And you gained possession OF nv
picture from Ches?''
Il did," he acQuiesced cordially. T
saw 1t when he was packing, and It in
terested me. Then knew Peggie Bar
clay and she coaxed your blessed
mother into taking pity on lone bach
elor. and letting me stay here for the
l had an idea at that time.
you know, that you'd come home. and
I'd see you"
Slowly Estanias dignity began to
ebb away. She stared out at vagrant
sea gull that swept in narrowing cir
cles over the little boat dock below
hem.
I'm afraid I've been a perfect cat"
she said slowly. Il had no idea that
you were chum Of Chester's."
Tn going to be more than that"
Bruce answered, rather soberfy. I'm
going to be his brotherin-law. Vic tust
promised me that Joy"
Copyright 1914. by the Mcclure Nevxna-
per Syndicate.)
The Slow Hired Man.
~ have 4A.A