The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-28
AMTTER Of BUSINESS
(Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndfcate.)
BY OLIVE MABlE.

tCOpyr1BnI, l5fo. Dy tile VhCSiuio A~cWSbo
per Syndtcate)
The three girls looked at the law
yer in frightened unbelief.
It could not be possible that their
fathers fortune had been such hol-
low mockery. How had they lived all
these years in such quiet comfort?
TT was the nature of his business"
explained Mr.. Ames; - broker never
really knows whether he is a rich
man or q pauper. Your father was
undertaking a big coup when his Ill
ness and death put a finish to every
thing. He was on the wrong side OF
the market when he was stricken.
There will be nothing left for you ex-
cept the place in the country-your
mothers old home"
But that is only q house and fur
niture How can we earn our bread
and butterv' asked Kitty.
I'VE might take summer boarders,
suggested Dorothy gravely.
That isn't bad ideal" said Mr..
Ames. 'I'n send you all the people l
can. Can any of you cook?"
II can" said Dorothy proudly. Il
have taken a prize at cooking school"
+
June found the Henderson girls set
tied In the old house In which they
had been born.
Old village friends called upon
them, and, to Cousin Keziah's great
satisfaction, several young men we're
| attracted to the Henderson house.
Tom Bixby, Walter Mott and Paul
GARRISON had all been to the village
school with the Henderson girls.
! Lillian Henderson, the eldest sis
ter, was ambitious She had deter
mined that her sisters, as well as
herself, should improve their fortunes
by good marriages. And with that
| end in view she discouraged the atten-
lions Of the village doctor and his two
friends, who we're law partners.
II thought you liked Doctor Mott.
observed Kitty when Lillian delivered
her ultimatum.
| II do. dear, but we must think about
practical matters. We should marry
WE'LL" she returned decidedly.
Il wouldn't mind working hard for
a man I liked" declared Kitty stout
ly, and Dorothy added. II don't sup
pose real man would mind our hands
II they were red and coarsened, by
honest TOLL"
81 didn't mean that, dears," cried
Lillian sharply, but I am afraid you
will miss all the things we have been
accustomed to. You know, Derry,
dear, that since Harry Blake has fol
lowed you hereof course it would
be perfectly fine If you could love him
well enough with all his money
my world" Knocked Kitty Docs
that mean that you are going to &C
cept old Mr. Alison?"
Lillian whitened, but she nodded
From the lawn tennis courts came, q
mans jolly laugh.
Kitty looked embarrassed. She
knew that her sisters wondered If she
was going to accept Lester Marshall
whose sister. had been their frs,
guest.
Marshall was young and handsome
and rich. and he made no, secret d
his devotion to charming Kitty.
II suppose ! would be- foolish, to, le,
such an, opportunity, pass. laughed
Kitty, oddly. Well girls. we. might
have a triple wedding In, October anf
announce to our friends, that our. bust
ness had been very profitable ven
ture!"' As she ran from. the, room hel
sisters caught the fash, Of tears In hei
brave eyes.
There. was g. strained look: in Ell
lian's, face as the days went by. Mr.
Alison was becoming more, marked IL
his devotion; any day, now, the Oh
f1nancier~ might make, q declaration o
his love.
Doctor Mott and his friends tactfal
~ eliminated themselves from tn
company Of the busy old house PEI
haps they had heard Of the three cit.
men who were wooing the Henderson,
girls.
| Summer waned and Labor da,
passed. and with its passing went tn
last summer guest. For the first tim
in three months the girls were alone
They sat in the great living room an
regarded each other with furtiv
glances.
On the left hand Of each sparkle
q ming. Lillian's was . solitaire dis
mond. Dorothy's = great pearl an
Kitty's sapphire, like her own eyer
We'll" began Kitty. with q ner,
out laugh, Il suppose you are goin
to announce your engagement, Do
othy? Harry Blake"
II am not engaged to Harry Blake
retosted Derry. blushing hotly. Ill
Han may do a. she pleases-but I al
going 10 marry the man I love-Pa,
Ciarkson!'
"Brave!" cried Kitty. "Now hes
ny little declaration Of independence
, l refused Mr.. Marshall because l pr
, fer Tom Bixby. Yes, he gave me TIL
pearl. 1t was his mothers engag
ment ring. and It IL also mine"
Tho two younger girls looked d
nantly at Lillian. Her lovely face VI
,, crimson with embarrassment as st
! fingered the glittering diamond.
Doctor Northumberland that
.. Lillian faltered
Doctor Mott? Lillian dear. didn