The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-03

swell. well, Lucy" the man said
pecincally. "The company was good
TO me that time I had typhoid. ten
wears axo. Didn't get three months
leave Of absence with full pay ana
passes for NJ both 80 We could take .
nice trip?"
.Three months leave In TWENTY-FIVE
vears!" moaned Mrs. Rood. And now
that new managers going to take
away your pension. oh, know you
think I'm awful. Amos. but / just hate
that graspins, greedy old company
that works its men to death just the
way It does its poor horses. sos 70
save Z little more money!"
TT hurts me to hear you talk Ike
that, Lucy" Amos Rood protested 10y
ally. "The company does the best II
can't has troubles Of it, own"
well, I won't say another word II
you don't want I should, Amos" the
little woman promised. brushing the
angry tears from her eyes. Il amt
afraid but we'll get along some way. 1t
Just made me mad to think how
little the company seemed to appre-
ciate how honest and faithful you've
been. Now you come and wash up
and eat your birthday dinner before
it's all spoiled"
But though Amos Rood valiantly
attempted to do justice to the little
feast. It was evident to the anxious
wife who watched him that the dainty
viands that she had prepared with
such care were as dust and ashes to
his palate. He looked stunned and
bewildered by the unexpected blow
which had been dealt him, and as he
pushed back his chair from the table,
he said slowly:
"rd calculated to finish up that Job
Of Browns this afternoon, but when
l got that letter I sent 'em word not
to expect mel didn't feel equal to
tacklin' figures today. But I'll paint
them storm-doors you wanted done,
Lucy. It'll be quiet out there In the
barn, and IL want to think things
over"
Mrs. Rood looked after him visit
fully. II guess maybe he would be bet
ter by himself" she thought humbly.
Il wouldn't wonder II my everlastin'
gable bothered him some when he's
got things he wants to think over.
Well, I'll fly around and straighten up
so't will look pleasant to him when
he comes in, an maybe II was to TX
that chicken into scallop he'd relish
It for supper. He didn't eat scarcely
Q mite O. dinner"
But although Amos Rood had found
the solitude he craved, there was
something terrifying to him In the
emptiness Of the great barn, and a.
he resolutely set himself to the task
Of painting the storm doors" he had
mentioned, he began to wish vaguely
that old Dolly were still alive to stamp
her iron shod feet and to nicker to
him socially from her stall
Then. with . sudden pang, he real
ICED that he was glad that the old
horse who had been his and Lucy's
frfiend and companion for 90 many
years, had died last month, for how
could he have brought himself to sell
her when their little homo was broken
up? The brush dropped from his
nerveless hand Is he muttered, yes. It
would come to that!
Lucy said that they would man
age some way, but Lucy, with all her
CHEEKY common sense and thrift, had
q woman's ignorance Of the grim fact
that two and two always make four.
and never By any chance avo or
six.
Perhaps, by selling their little place
and living on the proceeds they might
manage to keep together for few
years more. but the end was inev.
liable. Sooner or later Lucy would
bs obliged to go to the well-to-do sis
ter who had never attempted to con-
ceA her conviction that the pretty.
energetic girl might have done better
than to marry Amos Rood.
As for him. there would be nothing
left but the shelter Of the county poor
house.
Something seemed to snap in the
mans brain. Why shouldn't he quiet.
ly get out Of It all. while there was
still something to keep Lucy from on
tire dependence on Q woman lihs pros
porous. self-satished Jane Thornf She
would mourn for him he knew, but
death 10 easier to bear than some 9th
Or things.
Suddenly ho paused. arrested In bid
grim preparations for she dsed q
which he was resolved.
Almost Amosi" he wife w. call
iAs.
Ten, ye2 i've moments more ana ID
veuA have been forever deaf 70 TIA,
tsnlsr voice. and Lucy would have
cone Aal found him-As sAuddersd
with . sick rspulsion. He had been
sslAsh-oowardly-maA-! But Lucys
light feet were running along the gar
den paths and she was calling again:
amos! Oh. Amos, DO please
hurryl"
The man stumbled blindly to the
door. The next instant he was stand.
Ing in the warm sunlight he had never