The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-02
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END CT The SCLIL0QUY
BY IDA N. MUNSON.

The hours of the short winters day
were drawing to close. The tall, old
fashioned clock in the dark front hall
Of the Crawford mansion had already
struck five, and out of doors the early
twilight was ushering in a cold, dreary
night. The wind blew the snow in al!
directions and whistled down chin.
neys with mournful cadence.
By the open fireplace in her sitting
room sat Mary Crawford. No matter
how imposing the exterior of the Craw-
ford mansion, SO called because its ap-
pearance was superior to that of the
surrounding houses in the town, no
matter >how large and grand all the
other rooms in the house might be
there was one cozy apartment on the
second floor, just over the conserva-
tory, where the sunlight seemed to lin
ger longest and where, even though
the rest Of the house might be cold
and cheerless, there was always the
Temperature of a soft Indian summer,
Even now, when the darkness was fast
approaching, one could almost see to
read by the faint light that came in
through the western window and the
cheerful fire threw such radiance
over everything in the room that the
thought of cold and hunger seemed
very remote from this woman recln-
Ing in a soft, easy chair by the glowing
hearth. Yet there was hardly poor
family in Crawford who could not tell
OF her gentle ministrations of love in
times Of sickness or misfortune.
The little woman by the fire stirred
ureasily and opened her eyes She
could hardly have been asleep, for
there was tear on her check and she
raised one hand to press her forehead
as though it ached
On the small stand near by lay vel
vet case and, drawing the table toward
her, She opened the article disclosing
neat pair Of kid gloves and several
handkerchiefs.
"barbara's gift" she said softly.
she remembered that this is my
birthday, She always remembers ey-
erything that she thinks will please
me, dear girl"
For a while the woman moved her
hand back and forth over the top OF
the velvet cover with a caressing
touch.
Il am old, barbara" she said to her
self, as ii talking TO the girl, Il am
thlrty-line years old today. You are
young, and above all things, want
you to be happy, 1t does not matter
about ne, dear, and although you have
been Tie s.me rs m, own little daugh-
ter for ten TIA y years, happy Just be-
cause had You, | viii let you 60 and
leave me now. Yes, barbara, | will be
brave ard not = L. you unhappy. You
shall never know how my heart aches
when you so. | Wul bear it ali in sill
ence because OF ~ promise"
Suddenly she arose and, stopping to
the door softly locked it. then knelt
before a cabinet In the room contain.
ing several drawers From chain
her neck she drew '.-y and
inserted ii in the lock Of o.a of the
draw RS. iier face WAS very yale and
her hard trcmblri so that She CIutcbaJ
the side Of the cabinet as il for sup
port After opening it she took oui
the only thing / contained; Il sheet Of
yellow letter pa4er. The writing was
obscured In some places where
tears lid talleA on it. Ciaspipg it
tightly With both hands srp ryseated
herself in the armchair aud read:
London, Eaeland, Nov. 25, 1898.
My deal irirld:
"Bcins falsely locused of a crime
for which | have received sentence
OF life Imprisonment, write 70 a. |, OF
you great favor. | know Lot why
my ttouAoua tutn to YOU in my trouble
Inlay be because you once cared for
me-nCvertLll. IS. for the sake of ne
only on left me in this world to love.
and for the sake OF Ler mother, who is
now IN heaven, | ask you to keep nv
little daughter, Barbara, and try to
make her happy. She and our faith
Iul servant, Judy, viii come to yeu
with this letter and if YOU Csnnot keen
my daughter send a message directed
% Castle Count, London. at once. 9th.
erwise | shall trust that she is safe
with YOU
Money will be soat you regularly
rom my banker. and il is my desire
that Barbara ROW nothing # my i'm
prisonment a. q that her life be all
sunshine if possible
Nov may God reward you and bless
YOU both until that great day when all
wrongs shall be for yer richted
GILBERT ARNOLD"
Here were written tie following
words in feminile ha, d:
Il, Mary Craw.crl. promise to do all
n my power to make Barbara Arnold
happy, and do this for your .Wn dear
sake, Gilbert"
Gently the woman pressed her lips
o the paper where Gilbert Arnold had
signed his name and then leaned back
\ her chair With tired sigh.
She remembered the day lie went
way never to return, because of
Misunderstanding that She in bar