The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-29
LITTLE MISS RIGHT
BY MARY D. ARNOTT.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

'ho io'ely WeduoWS ana Well-kept gar
dens Of his luxurious bachelor home.
AT thirty-five he was rather set in his
own mode of life. 1t would take some
thing Interchangeable to lure him from
his comfortable liberty.
He admitted frankly that he was
missing much in life, yet he refused to
marry merely to be in line with his
friends.
I'm quite willing" he had often said
with one Of his rare smiles. Ito capitu-
late when Miss Right comes along. She
must be an exact fit into my scheme Of
existence, otherwise, am content to
rule my solitary domain"
THE trouble with you Is" said his
sister, that you are waiting for some
superhuman woman who has all the
graces and none Of the dis-graces Of
her sex. You always see all the fruits
first"
I'm afraid l was born too late"
laughed Banty. Il really believe that
| would fancy the old-fashioned type.
There is something SO comfortable
about a woman sitting quietly EN-
broidering-it rests mans nerves.
Girls nowadays are so tidgety; they
lack poise and consider a constant
stream OF small talk to be entertain
ing. Also, | don't like the modern
dressing"
I'm which case" laughed his sister,
Il would advise you to go up into rural
New England. There are lots of Pris-
cillas there-I've no doubt"
1t was not at his sisters suggestion,
nor yet because he was in quest of
Priscilla but simply because fancy
willed it, that Rutherford found him
self few weeks later in a small ham,
let in the White mountains. Two con-
genial friends had come up in the tour
ing car with him.
1t was not until the morning Of the
following day that the three compan-
ions caught sight of the real Priscilla.
Craig and Paterson saw her first
through an aperture in the fence. They
were convulsed with silent mirth.
Hey! Banty! Come and see this
antique!" whispered Craig cautiously.
Rutherford joined the amused men
and stood looking silently at the pic
tlIrp in the next garden
The girl was sitting in low rocker.
Her dress was of ancient cut with
voluminous folds lying about her feet
that were shod in heavy laced brogans.
A high collar swathed her neck, and
her sleeves came down to the wrists.
An oldfashioned fichu was crossed
primly across her breast. Her hair,
of rich bronze tints, was parted softly
yet no single curl escaped its bonds.
The girl was SO engrossed over the
construction of bit Of CHASTITY cOlored
embroidery that she was oblivious to
the three sets of curious eyes.
"Lovelyn murmured Banty, with
out removing his gaze from the pic
ture.
You will have to show u.s." said the
skeptics.
Rutherford, left alone, pondered
deeply A moment later he was max
ing his way through broken board
in the fence.
When Craig and Paterson came In
search OF him they looked blankly
at each other. Voices, one masculine
and suspiciously like Rutherford's,
and musical feminine treble came to
their ears from the direction OF the
adjoining garden. They looked eau.
tiously through the aperture and there
sat Rutherford in second low rocker
that leaned fearsomely close to the one
In which she of the ancient costume
sat.
"Banty Is a gonner!" gasped Craig.
81 can tell it by the look in his eyes.
Great Scott-do you suppose he will
bring that down to our set in town and
expect US to take her seriously?'
In the adjoining garden Banty was
saying with a soft ring in his voice:
Sister has wanted me to meet you
for several months"
"And just because am an actress
you refused to know me-" pouted the
girl"
THAT Is exactly the reason" admit
ted Banty. Your photographs-of
which Sis has a dozen-told me-
WELL" he broke off because he was
suddenly and Unexpectedly weak. The
girls fathomless eyes were looking
straight into his own and her scarlet
lips were haunting him with their
charm.
"Then-you dislike theatrical peo-
ple?" she questioned.
"No-no," Rutherford contradicted
quickly, 81 have had your photograph
the one as Rosalind-on my table for
months. Butt like domestic wUtnen
that isl want a domestic woman
for my wife"
"Oh!" brilliant color leaped into
the girls cheeks, u did not know you
we're talking about wives"
"But am" said Rutherford; land |
knew that if | once met you | would
be forced into loving you'll have
known 1t all along" he added SO rue
fully that the girl laughed merrily