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

nave AAdue HySell happy, anu tilcu "
make others I'm sure everyone who
has ever been on my yacht has pleas
ant memories of it, and anyone who
has ever ridden in my car. I've taken
out all sorts of people, from newsboys
to bishops.
Il don't know of any special DAM
age I've ever done. Certainly, I've
never run over any one-not that I
know Of. I've done my best general
ly. These are probably negative vir-
tues. but they're the best I have, all
but the biggest and the greatest Of
them all. loving Cicely"
The relatives looked at each other
gingerly. The maiden aunt felt some
what shocked. Mr.. Brownson felt the
responsiveness of the circle.
That is very WE'LL" he breathed
heavily, but We are a serious family,
and negative virtue is towel, too
negative-quite too much in the abb
stract to satisfy"
"Then, what l need is seriousness
Of purpose?"
Exactly"
Mr.. Brownson Joined his finger-tips.
/ Two of the relatives coughed. Mrs.
Brownson gurgled. The girl looked at
Wayne and smiled. The man instant
! ly forgot the others and quickly start
ed to his feet. Cicely alone was there,
and she was smiling at him. She was
his love and his hearts desire. She
j was the most that the world might
/ give to him.
He loved her, and that was enough
for him to know. She loved him, and
there was nothing else for him to
know. He started to the center of
the room. The girl rose and met him.
Mr.. Brownson shot up from his seat
in amazement. Mrs. Brownson pre-.
pared for further tears. The relatives
leaned back and waited.
What does this mean?" Mr.. Brown
sons voice hit the note of tragedy
do you intend to steal her from
me?" Indignation mingled with the
tragic. This is too much. We are a
serious family You are simply an
idle man of the world. We have moth
ing In common. The conference is
over"
| Mrs. Brownson decided there were
to be no tears. The relatives rose
with her.
'The conference Is decidedly overt
Mr.. Brownson loftily repeated.
"Father!" The girl gave a littl,
cry. Father"
Mr.. Brownson paused at the agony
in his child's cry. Mrs. Brownsor
again raised her handkerchief. TIL,
others made way for a scene.
II don't see why you are all THU
way!" The girl choked little. "
love him, and he is worthy Of NOR
than | can give him. Yes, he is. Hei
better than any Of US. He's Away
/. doing something for people-poor pee
] pie. know. Jack, you know low
b. you, and my father can never chang
mel"
4 Mr.. Brownson coughed. From tn
8 resultant sound it would seem that tn
Q cough was uncallcd for.
"That will do. Cicely; that will dc
J. A last word, perhaps. may be neces
a sary, and would suggest that 1t b
made In private. Jennie, all Of us
We shall go up to the library. w
!. shall discuss Mr.. Wayne's-philar
o thropy alone.
"Cicely, you will go to your room
n Mr.. Wayne, you may remain here. O
9 return in half an hour for our fina
s decision"
t With this, the head of the ella
J. Brownson gathered his forces and LEI
the room.
e Half an hour later he returne
r again. leading the line. Wayne wa
r. there awaiting them. Cicely was b.
p side him. From all appearances
d they had never left the room. Nj
G Brownson looked at the girl in som
n establishment.
8 "Cicely, what does this mean?
thought sent you to your room. M
d Wayne, have you taken undue adval
tage?"
Is Wanye spoke very quickly.
e ''1t means. Mr. Brownson, that al
n serious man myself. should say
II perhaps l am. rather thought m
love for Cicely was serious enoug
y She agrees with me in the matter.
10 won't apologize for my thirty year
II even if haven't done anything sp
cial for my country. I haven't but
bridges, nor have I operated sire
le railways But I have done one b
a. thing in loving your daughter.
CT at has taken up so much of n
10 time that couldn't reasonably do an
10 thing else. But"
He paused and went nearer to Il
- girl and took her hand. Mr.. Brow
son shook as if a spasm had sudde
70 ly seized him. Mrs. Brownson al
:, the others took their cue and INN
-" diately entered upon a wild constern
ton.
Enough of this. Enough-enough
ee Mr.. Rrownson was livid. You ha
mt no purpose in life. no"
Serious, Mr.. Brownson? l am
ng frightfully! To show you how real
he in earnest | am-how much in cal
er- est I have been, about Cicely, wi
when YOU were some, / took her c
ze and married her!"
iZe
,ur
ial
lst -------
m. -.;. n.loI oS Prauerv