The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-17

can say that l am not i poor. uI..Or-
tunate wayfarer. landed with q dis
abled bicycle 20 miles from hcme?
He is coming"
Yes, away over across the valley.
toiling up hard incline was blue
and maroon colored automobile. vi
was sure it was the Linden machine.
1t held an occupant, its owner, vi felt
confident. She placed her bicycle in a
wrecked looking condition under tree
near at hand and seated herself on a
rock at the roadside. She would put
on her most doleful expression. and
then laugh outright, realizing the role
she thought clever she was about to
play.
VI glanced at her watch. She esti-
mated that it would be about half an
hour before the automobile would
reach the spot. She smiled as she
viewed just sufficient dust on her neat
jacket to indicate fall She was sure
she could without practicing portray
the frightened. timid maiden. ma
rooned in an unfriendly heath and APP
pealing to manliness and chivalry for
assistance.
Mercy"
1t was all Of sudden. Is minutes
later. that vi uttered the sharp. fear
compelling cry. Something all unfore-
seen had arisen to disturb her we'll
seasoned plans. One of those sud-
den furious storm outbursts that
wreaked vital fury on the district had
come up. The wind was a hurricane,
the pouring torrent drenched her.
while she, brave as she believed her
self, shrank from the binding glare
and the harsh reverberating crashes
Of thunder
Thus 1t was that. breasting the tenn
pest valorously, but with due caution
on that dangerous roadway, Mr.. Lin
den drew his machine to violent halt
| at the sight Of a white-faced, terrified
| girl, forgetful of all her dark plot,
pleading only for companionship and
| protection.
She indeed quavered forth frag-
ments of sentences concerning q
stranded bicycle, but incoherently.
Never did more courteous gentle
man assist an affrighted maiden from
an overpowering dilemma.
I'VE must proceed rapidly" he said,
as she crouched down beside him in
the cushioned seat. Il suppose you
belong townwards. but the nearest
shelter is my lodge"
They made for 1t. The storm In
creased in violence. the mountain tops
were wreathed in fog and darkness.
Then, nearing the anticipated haven
of refuge, the machine ran into q
tree.
Roth were thrown out VI was al
most stunned. She felt herself lifted
in strong protecting arms. She waf
carried into toy Of a bungalow. dc
posted on a couch. and noticed thai
her host was bleeding at one hant
and was limping painfully.
You are injured" she gasped, hel
soul awakening to true selfreproacf
and womanly pity, but he only smiled
hurried from the room and returned
with a dry wrap and a glass of cor
dial
1T is nothing" said Linden briefly
II hope you will get over your frigh
and discomfort"
She saw him go out to the dis
mantled machine, inspect 1t and re
turn to the house. Then he stood OF
the porch for long time. She nc
ticed that he held one injured han'
inside his coat and that he rested OF
one foot.
"All my foolishness!" she almos
sobbed, land he SO courteous, actual,
staying out in the storm for fear hi
presence may embarrass me! He Il
a handsome man. too. and-oh, dear
. I wish l was home"
The worst of the storm passed over
but the deluge continued. Mr.. Lin
den came into the room where vi sat
or rather huddled.
, Gas soon as the rain let's up a III
tle," he remarked, II shall walk t
the nearest farmhouse and send owe
some women folks to keep you CON
pany."
| "Oh, but want to get home befor
3 dark" burst forth vi impetuously.
: He glanced at her as he would hav
done at a spoiled child. The situa
! ton, herself, began to interest him.
3 1T will be no pleasant trip ridin
3 home in the only conveyance I ca
secure. an old farm wagon" he sui
A mitted.
ooh, but had rather. indeed, yes!
: fluttered vi, and he allowed her t
\ have her willful way.
l It was a strangely subdued vi VIII
l appeared before her chums the mex
l day. Twice during the week Mr.. Liz
3 den called to inquire after her health
. Many times, with a crushed, change
3 look in her face. vi evaded her friend
!. when they asked her as to the resul
!, OF their dare" Then one day she ar
r swered to Nellie.
/ "Mr. Linden has proposed to me
have won the wager"
Q "And?" insinuated Nellie.
8 "And I have accepted him." al
I swered vi blushingly.
? Copyright 1914. by w. G. Chapman)