The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-05
LOVE III A FOG
By FRANK M. BlCKNEll.

always wished his honor good aHo
plenty, and then a power more OF IL
atop of that Maxwell was lucky in
being we'll born, in having his share
of good looks. and in being able to
spare from his prosperous business
enough leisure to follow Prudence
Hale across the Atlantic. But he had
not yet been lucky enough to per-
suade her to be his wife.
In the person of Albert Pierce, Max.
well had a formidable rival. AS a
fair-minded man Maxwell would have
freely admitted that Pierce was quite
as desirable match for Prudence as
he himself was; but as the young
lady had steadily refrained from
showing preference for either sutton
the two were now in London for the
purpose of further urging their re-
spective suits. All efforts at viva
voce declaration having been adroitly
baffled by the still noncommittal fair
one, they had finally come to the fol
lowing gentlemans agreement:
Each was to lay his heart, hand and
fortune at Prudences feet by letter
and the two sealed proposals were to
be mailed in the same box at the same
time, namely, nine o'clock p. m. Mon
day, November 25.
/ Now as matter of fact Miss Pru-
dence was honestly in doubt as to
i whether she cared more for Maxwell
than she did for Pierce. She rather
though t-indeed, she felt reasonably
sure-she would eventually find her
life's happiness in becoming the wife
/ Of one of them, but which? Twice,
thrice, she re-read each letter and
strove heroically with her indecison-
quite in vain. BY and by, however,
as the fog without thickened, there
came to her-curiously enough-the
glimmering of an idea.
i The Hales had taken apartments in
Sackvile street. Maxwell was stay
ing at big new hostelry in Northum-
berland avenue and Pierce at ia
nous old one in Brook street 1t thus
happened that the routes the two
young men would have to traverse in
ICdCilluB HtI lIcul Iutll hotCio WV -
about equally long and also about
equally devious. In pursuance OF her
idea-an idea which might or might
not lead to satisfactory results she
called up Maxwell on the telephone.
Il have your letter, Jud, she told
him, yours and Bert's. Listen care
fully You will please leave your
hotel this afternoon at three O'Clock
precisely, and start for this house on
foot Walk the entire distance.
shall telephone similar instructions to
Bert You are to find your way to me
through the fog, and the one who ar
rivcs first well, | won't promise any
thing now. but leave that for this
afternoon-if you don't both get lost
in the fog.
The fog had thickencd to a pea
soup" consistency, and vehicular traf
fc was practically at standstill wher
at 1927 p. M, the Hale's parlor mait
brought Prudence card, and an
nOunced:
"A gentleman to see you, miss.
Prudence drew a long breath ant
her heart began to beat with rathc
more than normal rapidity as she tool
the card and glanced at its inscrip
ton. Was she glad or sorry to reat
the name of Judson Maxwell? StraIgt
| though it may seem, she was not We
sure Of herself She was conscious
however, of wondering that he hat
been able to get to her so soon
through fog of almost midnigh
darkness, and also of dimly fancyinl
! that his greater love had served hin
as guide.
"Prudence!" He appeared at tn
q door evidently in fever of suspense
b thea, seeing her alone, he came fol
J. ward eagerly and took her hands il
Q his. Prudence" he repeated, Il an
i first?"
d Yes" she replied. you are first;
Q and now her unruly heart certainl
t was humping at scandalous rate
q Out OF the dark fog light seemed sue
denly to have broken.
Q "Aro you-arent you-glad?" h
n asked breathlessly.
r, -perhaps-I-am," sh
r answered rather haltingly.
Q Aren't you sure?" he demanded RI
proachfully.
a Gently she withdrew her hands fror
r his clasp, and raising them. put theI
about his neck. then shyly drew hi
q face down toward her own. now erin
soning with a color that appeared
him of divine loneliness. She didn
!, say she was sure, but-she didn't nee
to.
. Pierce came about two hours later
he had gone badly astray in the fog
but he arrived in time to offer hi
-. congratulations, and to add, handsome
ly, that as the best man had won tn
bride he hoped to be best man" 6
the wedding.
N well, Barney, you brought me tn
finest kind of luck; you were frien
81 in need that time II ever there wa
one"
Sure, yer honor. tbs proud an gla
re ! am | could help We, though 'twa
nothing at all | done worth mention
H. With me goin' over the route an rigl
past the young leddy's house twice
as day, gettin' here an back ag'in to N
IS own home, twas as easy as winkin''
* Yes. Maxwell always gave som
or thing to the blind matchseller ft
luck and long had Barney reason |
II remember the most profitable mate