The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-13

spoiled CKILD'S END
BY MRS. M. A. klDDER.
lCopYrightl

without Wish ungratlhed, 1t is not
strange that, with all her natural
charms of manner, she was supremacy
selfish
She was an only child, heiress in
prospective to considerable property,
so her suitors We're numerous.
To the outer world Mary Sylvester
seemed a pattern for her young com
panions to initiate in all things Only
to her parents or her intimate friends
were her faults known and comment
ed on by them
Mother, do YOU think father will let
me have an extra hundred today -
said Mary us she sat at her IL o'clock
breakfast one morning
A hundred dollars more, Mary?
Why, he gave you two hundred yester-
day, my child
What's two hundred mother Why,
It was all gone before night for knick-
knacks
1T wouldn't be much, 1t Is true,
! daughter, If you had to clothe your
self out of such remittances; but for
| pin money 1t is a great deal for your
| father to spare out of his business SO
often What do you want to purchase
now"
"A pointlace handkerchief at Lord
| & Taylor's, there were but two OF
F., this style and pattern, and Grace Wells
has bought the other. The clerk has
put 1t by for me, so you see must
have the money mama, darling
1 You have always had your way,
Mary, and always will, | suppose said
the foolish, indulgent mother, but you
| have elegant handkerchiefs in abund-
ance; and as for Grace Wells, her ia
Their is a millionaire
! Let me stop your mouth with
kisses sweet mother mine, said the
! amiable Mary. You know papa will
! give me the money, and as much more
II ! want 1t, SO what is the use CT
wasting words about it?'
Sure enough, what was the use Of
wasting words In that weak way? The
money was forthcoming; the handker-
chief bought, duly admired, and then
! put away to swell the pile of light and
airy 'nothlngs that had cost so much
/ cash, as Well as pang of heartache
in the soft-hearted old man who had
pampered his daughter until she hung
/ like weight about his neck
J 1 could not deny my darling child
anything my only one!' he would say
feebly. She might be taken away
from me, and then should never for
, give myself
Mistaken affection, that units the
beloved one to battle with the world
in all it, osreuts, that panders to ap-
! petites that may one day destroy the
4 happiness Of life.
Sylvester 4 Co had. just at the
commencement of our story, taken in
to partnership one James Harding, a
young man Of some property and Of
J fine address Not many months
! elapsed before Harding, frequent
4 visitor at the house OF Sylvester, the
senior member of the tlrm became
cnamorcd of the fair Mary His love
was returned, and, as he was cunsid-
cred a good catch by anxious ma
mas and waiting daughters, the doting
parents gave their consent that the
marriage Of the twain should take
\ place at an early date.
The spring following James Hard
! ing led to the altar the fair blonde;
and finer bridegroom and more
charming bride never graced the
grand old church wherein they were
married
Two years pass, and bring us into
the disastrous year of 1907, when the
country was alarmed by the shock Of
financial failures.
Sylvester q Co went down with the
rest, saving nothing, comparatively,
from the general wreck.
Sylvester a feeble old man at best
did not survive the shock, but within
three months was laid with his ia
theirs
James Harding, who had put his
little all into the firm, came out a
poor man. He had a brave heart,
though, and willing hands. youth, and
a good name, to aid him in his strug
gle to gain a foothold among business
men, but it would take years to rise
to an independent position,
II Mary only kept up" he would
say. with d sigh, Il could be hopeful
and even cheerful; but she mourns so
much over our loss, regrets parting
with her fashionable friends, her ina
bjlity to dress as she has been &C
customed to- and other grievances too
numerous to mention, that it utterly
dlsheartens me-
one look into that miserable home
and the heart sickened,
A brave man struggling with ad-
verse circumstances, and a weak,
spoiled young woman heaping Re
proaches and taunts upon her hus-
bands head
II will not move into that mean cot
,age III the suburbs, and leave ny
beautiful city home! II you carry me