The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-16

NO. le, him have the fond dream
that we are able TO surround him WIN
the comforts be so appreciates and en-.
Joys
Fond dream. indeed! To Rufus
Deane there came a period OF ease
and comfort that made life one con-
tinuous round Of satisfaction. Never
were more ardent friends tnan the
bright, happy couple who ninisterec
to his wants as devotedly as though
they were really his children. He
told them uysteriously more than
once tha, they should not lose by
it. but they paid no further heed to
the remark than TO feel that his graft
tude well repaid them for their exer-
tons.
Then came dark days. Ernest Les
lie lost his position. 1t had come
about through the firm employing him
learning Of his negotiations for little
store. These fell through because he
could not arrange for the payments
required.
One month, two months, passed BY
and Ernest found no work. Bravely,
however. the devoted pair saw to It
that their honored guest, the old man
upstairs, never suspected their real
condition. They denied themselves
every luxury. All they had to support
themselves with now was what Rhoda
earned by some fine sewing, and .
baby was coming. too
The old man never surmised how
hard the shoe Of poverty was pinching
until one morning. and then quite acct.
dentally. Under the kind ministra.
tons Of Rhoda and her husband, good
food and sanitary surroundings, Mr..
Deane had got so that he could move
slowly about the room. As he neared
the open doorway that especial morn.
ing be was amazed and then startled
at conversation going on below.
! Rhoda was pleading with the land,
lord Of the place for respite Of an.
other week on rent payment Her
hard-hearted creditor twitted her with
keeping lazy burden. not even q rel
alive. upstairs. Amid her fearful
emotion Rhoda told Of the love and
duty they felt towards her torme,
benetactor.
The rent tomorrow, or out into the
street you co." roared the implacabls
old landlord.
The coarse scoandrel-my poor
little Rhoda!" raved Deane, and hob
bled to a corner Of the room. pulled
open the top Of his old trunk. and aftel
fumhling over its contents, brough
into view vell-worn tin box. Their
with this he stumbled to the head o.
the stairs.
He could hear Rhoda sobbins bitter
ly. he could catch the rough censur
ing words OF the landlord. He startet
forward. A scream rang from Rhoda'l
lips and her creditor gazed agape, a,
Mr.. Deane lost his balance and cam,
rolling down the stairs. The tin 30,
came down with slam and he on to,
OF it. Remarkably active was the oil,
man. Excitement seemed to arous,
his energy He sat up, shaking hi
list at the landlord
You insolent rufian," he shouted
"Rhoda. my dear. pay this man Al
up, and ahead IL he wants 1t, and he'
better keep out Of my way, after b
rating you the way he has"
And Mr.. Deane opened the tin DO
and took out roll OF bills, and beside
these there were a dozen valuabl,
seeming documents.
Yours" be said, rendering Rhod
the box as the landlord retired-"yo
brave, unselfsh dear, never su
pected that you were poor. and ke,
silent about the little fortune I ha,
It Is all yours, now"
And Ernest Leslie got his little stor
and Rufus Deane saw to it that the
shared the Injuries Of life with hir