The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-18

A SERIOUS FAMILY
oy HENRY KIRK.


importance. AS you see. 1t concerns
my entire family. That is why we are
all here to discuss 1t.
Mr.. James Brownson made sweep.
ing gesture with his right arm. The
circle included small group Of men
and women arranged about the room,
half dozen people of varied ages and
descriptions. 1T is the greatest event
in a woman's life-her marriage-so
you must not wonder at our delibera-
ton. You are thirty years of age, I
believer"
Wayne shifted in his chair.
Eyes," he said quietly. He was
rather weary of the proceedings, al.
though, for the sake of the girl, he
was willing to make certain conces-
sions to the claims and prejudices of
her family. Eyes, am thirty"
Thirty! And what have you done
! with yourself?" Mr.. Brownson looked
at the young man sQuarely and aggres.
sively.
"Done?" Wayne laughed little.
"Why, I think the principal thing
yes, the greatest thing-I have done
is to love your daughter"
! He looked at the girl as he said it.
She was sitting very quietly next to
her mother.
Mr.. Brownson went on without not
ing the reply he had made. quite as if
it we're of too trivial a nature.
You are possessed Of large in
come. Fortunately, my daughter does
not require 1t; nor. at the same time,
can we say you have Interior motives
in seeking her hand"
Wayne bowed.
Mr.. Brownson raised a protesting
hand
You love my daughter-good! But
what have you done with your life?
Thirty years of age. and what have
you accomplished"
Wayne looked up frankly.
81 don't know of anything in par
ticular," he said, but suppose shall
do something-perhaps."
"You have occupied your time prin
; cipally with frivolities and idleness!'
Mr.. Brownson came out at last with
his long-suppressed sentiment. He
looked about him. Il have asked my
sisters and brothers, and also Mrs
! Brownson's only living relatives. t.
hear this matter discussed. We are
| a serious family, Mr.. Wayne-simple
serious people-and the marriage o
/ my daughter"
FL Wayne looked squarely into the eye'
! Of his hoped-for father-in-law.
: "May I marry your daughter, MI
Brownson?"
Mr.. Brownson fdgeted.
7 zone moment. please" he said mild
!, ly. "This is a serious question. an,
/, we are. as l said before, serious pee
!, pie. You, as I take it, are not a SER
/, Gus man. You spend your time upo
; your yacht. in travels of useles
! nature, and in this country you rae
/. about in somewhat criminal an
E reckless manner in your automobile
/, Do you think 1t would be wise for
I, parent to trust his child to you?"
I, The relatives nodded their heads an
z looked at their folded hands. Mr.!
I, Brownson raised her handkerchief t
:, her eyes.
< Brownson himself at the head, to tn
!. little fussing individual a nervou
Z aunt, at the end He marveled tha
7, Cicely could have come Of such pc,
( pie.
!, Certainly, she could not follow tn
= bent of her pompous old father nc
i, yet that of her historical mothe
e who was just now, he was certain, re-
I, cling in the thought Of her chill
z crushed under the wheel of his bi
4, white car, or drowned somewhere
& the bottom of the sea. The othel
i, were quite impossible.
+ Mrs. Brownson began to cry an
Z, audibly.
= "Jennie," Mr. Brownson raised h
!, hand. Mrs. Brownson did not see til
. hand; but she knew 1t was there, fl
E she instantly ceased. "Cicely, VIII
: have you to say?"
( The girl had been looking quiet
= at the tips of her fingers. Now, 81
< changed her line of vision until
= reached the eyes of her father.
x 81 love him."
= She said 1t simply and without Il
= slightest trace of emotion or hysteri
= It was something quite settled in h
4 mind, and all the family council
= could not possibly change her. Way
* looked at her gratefully.
= "Cicely," Mrs. Brownson sobb
3, sharply. You wish to leave met"
8 The relatives raised their eyebro'
4 and thought Cicely showed certa
. lack of niceness in her frank avow
I, Mother, you married father"
s what do you mean?"
{, Every one marries, and don't S
why Jacks motor and his vac
:? should be placed between u.s.
!, Mr.. Brownson looked with gaspi
9 establishment at his child. 1t was
= first time she had ever asserted h
g self.
Z. "Cicely." he got out, do you real
{ what you are saying? Do you real
!, that you are questioning me, "
. parent? Are YOU forgetting your fiji
< dutvp NV dear Mr. WaVne | m