The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-12

sweetheart, the enthusiastic way she
goes about helping your cause"
II declare" murmured Mead, you
quite interest me-"
"She is a graceful, reticent young
GIRL" proceeded Matlock. "She has
addressed two or more meetings every
night for a week. She is fast changing
the sentiment of the voters. Mr.. Mead.
/ am going to give you a very good
piece of advice. Get down to Matlock
at once, and follow up the splendid
work this young settlement worker
has started for you with your own elo-
quence and responsiveness as a nat
ural orator"
Thank you, Carter" said Mead in
his quiet reflective way. "I'll think Of
it."
Which Mead decided to do. More
than once on his way to Matlock he
recalled the name Lester. 1t gave no
clue to a real identity. Then that
same night. as on the skirts Of a great
modestly attired young girl press his
claims upon a respectful and attentive
audience. he traced nothing familiar In
the sweet earnest face dawning upon
him as the most beautiful he had ever
seen.
They passed on for a few squares to
come upon a second meeting. A liquor
soaked voice, a campaigner for Mead's
rival, was pouring out abuse upon the
young physician. Mead was about to
move away when the baseless state.
ment Of the speaker that his uncle had
Incorporated large charity fund
when he gave up business, aroused
him.
II am going to answer that falsifier,"
said Mead to his companion.
II wouldn't waste the time." ad-
vised Carter. HE has a lot of tough
heelers around him."
But Mead. was fully reused up. He
neared the platform as the speaker
concluded his TRADE and stepped
promptly forward with the clear, ring.
ing words:
Men, I am Randall Mead, and I am
here to refute the vile aspersions of
this prevaricator."
There was q sudden silence, then
the hirelings of the bafiled orator
seemed to receive their cue. They
drowned out the words Mead tried to
speak with cat-calls and derisive yells.
Take care!" suddenly shouted Car.
ter, but he was too late. A missile
hurtled through the air. It landed on
the face Of Mead cutting a deep cash.
The blood streamed down his face az
he sank to the one chair on the plat
form, weak and half stunned.
"Shame on you!" rang out a new
voice and Mead was half conscious of
q dainty form mounting to the plat
form and shielding him In q wild ap-
peal to the audience. Then as in q
dream he took in her words. She was
telling the now awed and silenced mob
a story, and the floodgates of his mem
ory suddenly opened wide.
It was a brief, simple tale, the re-
cital Of how a young man himself had
rescued a poor. sick woman from
drowning in a steamer stampede at
the risk of his own life.
He had forgotten the incident. Now
its details recalled to him where he
had known the name Lester. The girl
told Of how her mother had babe her
bless the name of Mead, how that
noble act had induced her to turn her
own energies towards living for the
poor, the ignorant, the oppressed.
Strong men tried to conceal their
tears at the pathetic story. Then there
was a great wave of interest in the
hero Of the tale, and then cheers.
Randall Mead carried the river pre-.
cincts. From Matlock, the day after
election, he carried also back to his
uncle the news that he had found a
worthy bride. congenial life partner
in his great life work of giving his
strength and means for the good of
poor humanity.
Copyright. 1914. by W. G. Chapman.)