The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-18


olate She had grown to love the trim
little place; she had made plans for a
long life there. She was going to
raise chickens, she had intended to
grow vegetables and flowers, to bright
en- her dreary existence with books
and music. She felt helpless under
this cataclysm.
Early next morning the four were
back again, wrangllng over the prop
erty. Brother Joel wanted the house,
his wife wanted the furniture; Sister
Bessie insisted on the piano and the
dinng-room set to begin with. They
argued angrily in the parlor, while
Cousin Jane wrung her hands and la
mented Milly's "stuck-upedness."
Well" said Brother Joel's wife
sneeringly, lat any rate we can all
agree on one thing. This young worl-
an here hain't no business here, so we
can begin by saying good-by to her.
Dorothy could bear it no longer She
ran out of the room and down the gar
den path, sobbing desperately. She
never wanted to enter the house again.
She did not see the tall man at the gate
until he caught her Then she gasped
in dismay.
Fred" she exclaimed.
Dorothy! What is the matter?'
They're all in there wept Dorothy,
fighting over Miss Milly's things, and
they've turned me out. and"
In broken words she managed to
give Fred Dane an outline Of the stu
alton. Fred Dane laughed comforta-
bly,. There was the sound Of success
and self-confdence in that laugh.
Dorothy stole a timid look at him.
How big and protecting he seemed.
He had become man during those
five years that he had been away.
Now you come right back with
me- he said. i've got something to
say to that crowd" And he caught
her arm in his and took her back,
right into the parlor again, where the
fight was proceeding with such in
tensity that nobody saw him for quite
a minute. Sister Bessie and Brother
Joel's wife each had hold Of one side
Of the piano and they were trying to
drag it in two separate ways.
Ladies and gentlemen" began
Fred Dane, clearing his throat.
Brother Joel looked up with a snarl.
What, another Of them" he demand
ed.
"Oh, no. am just the lawyer who
was intrusted with Miss Milly's WILL
said Fred. you see, she had a pre-
sentiment OF her approaching illness
and took the trouble to have It wit
messed and signed and placed In my
care last week"
who gets the palmer" shouted
| Sister Bessie.
Miss Milly has left everything to
her daughter" answered Fred Dane.
There was moment Of Mortified 81
lence. Then Sister Bessie shrilled:
What? That brat still living and
come back to trouble us after all these
years? thought it died! What right
| did she have to have child OF sin
And now we're going to lose the house
and the pianner just because Milly-
Poor Milly!" wept Cousin Jane
I'D have stood by her II she'd only
lei me. didn't cast her of when she
was young and beautiful because she
slipped. l wrote to her once a year
for a whole year, only she was too
stuck-up to answer"
so, let me invite you to leave" said
Fred, because, you see, the house and
property, as well as the piano, are al
ready disposed OF"
"Oh, I'll leave," shouted Brother
Joel. "But Their amt no lawyer can
skin me out of my property. I'll have
the law on you"
And I'm going to have my plan
ner." shouted Sister Bessie, as she
moved toward the door; and they
went out clustering and threatening
Dorothy" said Fred, when they
were alone. NOW that I've come bach
I'm not going to let you escape me
again, though you did dismiss me
so cruelty before. | always meant Il
have you, and now that I've made
little money, do you know what | an
going to do? I'm going to buy this
house and start a law practice here
and let my partner run the one a
Ralston. And I'm going to marry you
and I'm going to sign that contrac
like this" And he kissed her.
But, Fred" said Milly, few min
utes later, who is this daughter
Poor little child! | feel as though
had usurped her place! To think Mis-
Milly didn't dare acknowledge her
Who is she?"
"Why, you, dearest" Fred answered
Copyright 1914, by w. G. Chapman.)