The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
: MOUSE AND THE RING
BY MONA MAEHL.
Observation-Disclosures

X ii never speak 10 MIN! ueCldlcI
{. Cornelia. IF he lives here thousand
* years I'll never speak a single WORD
g to him!"
(, Cornelia's cheeks famed crimson as
2 she announced this fierce and unal
Z terable decision.
Z MY DEAR" said her mother, gently,
3 his mother is my oldest and dearest
Z friend and she would gladly do as
> much for one Of you girls"
, But he isn't a GIRL stormed Cor
:, nelil. And a man shouldn't thrust
( himself upon comparative strangers.
: You'll Just have to write and tell her
) that he can't come. | won't have him.
: I hate men-and | despise boarders, ="
! she concluded, vehemently.
Her mother sighed. Then she said
little guilty, I'm afraid you'll have
to submit to it, my dear, for I've al
Z ready told his mother that he might
come"
Whereupon Cornelia whirled away
like a tornado to her room and wept
!, there.
: In the course Of few weeks young
, Fred Lambert arrived and took up his
, abode with the Trents. Cornelia, true
! to the spirit If not the letter Of her
vow, ignored the young man as far as
her early and thorough training in the
school of courtesy would permit.
At the table she responded to his
! friendly advances with most chilling
hauteur. When he Joined the family
circle in the evening she promptly
made some excuse for leaving it. Mar
) jorie, the younger sister, and Fred soon
became the best of friends Fred, be-
ing happy, genial person, was great
ly troubled by Cornelias treatment OF
him.
| i wonder why your sister dislikes
me so?" he asked Marjorie one day
Il don't think she dislikes you,"
Marjorie fastened to assure him. It's
just-well, she didn't want you to
come, and now she won't give in be-
cause she's the most obstinate thing"
Fred whistled. SO that's it, is it?"
he said
If 1t hadn't been for Tom perhaps
Cornelia never would have given in.
But Tom elected several days later to
catch his annual mouse. Being fat
and overfed feline, he rarely conde-
scended to enter the hunting field for
| himself. and when he did 1t was
tragical event in the family. Cornelia
would rather have had the house
swarming with mice than witness
Toms treatment of one when he had
caught it.
On this occasion Cornelia was alone
at home when the ominous humping
and squeaking that were sure indica-
lions of Toms achievement reached
her ears She rushed down the stairs
and into the living room just in time !
to see Tom release his victim, allow
1t to wabble away few feet and then !
pounce upon 1t once more. Tears of
indignation rolled down Cornelia's
cheeks as she swooped upon Tom.
She was Just about to clasp her hands
about his sleek body when he slid out
from under her fingers and with a
petulant swish of his tail In Cornelia's
direction padded away with the unfor.
tunate mouse in his mouth.
Cornelia followed, swooped again
and again was foiled, Tom trotted up
the stairs and sought refuge under
Cornelfas bed. Cornelia pursued him
with broom handle and rushed him
out. Still clutching his treasure in
his teeth, Tom leaped down the stairs.
with Cornelia close at his heels. Once
more in the living room, he released
MS prey again, gave it farewell slap
with his paw and, unable longer to en-.
dure the nervous strain, gave a yoyl
and went into fit,
This was the final blow to Corneua
Tom in a fit was sight from which
she would flee in abject terror. With
shrek she flew to the front door and
almost fell into the arms of the
boarder!
Like a drowning person, she
clutched him. "O-o-oh!" she sobbed,
Please, please! Toms got a fit and
a mouse and don't dare touch him.
and it's over in the corner and |
know it's suffering, because he treats
them perfectly dreadfully and | can't
bear 1t another minute. Oh, please
put him out and catch it and drown
IT," :
Without word Fred walked into
the living room, secured Tom gently
dropped him from a low " 70
e'0uHu' 'neh PIC y,
half-dead mouse.
Cornelia, sitting on the STAIRS with
her head buried in her hands. said.
Will you please drown it,"
As Fred departed toward the kitchen
she raised her tearstained face. "Wu
Fou please warm the water a littlao"
She sobbed. I'D feel happier if Iknew
I was dying comfortably"
That's good idea, said Fred, so.
)erly.
Now, put it to you" Cornelia said
o her best friend a few u.aals 49,.