The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-17
4 SHY MANS WOOING
BY GEORGE MUNSoN.

|
Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman)
Nobody had believed in William
Merritt. He had been a dreamy. i'm
aginative boy and had lost half q
dozen positions in his native village
An orphan, brought up by a distant
relative who used him badly, he had
shaken the dust OF his feet and gone
to the metropolis to earn a livelihood.
Ten years later. man of thirty
two, he was national character. His
bridge across the Potomac was consid-
cred triumph of American engineer
ing. The tunnel which he had driven
across the Kill van Kull had been
made the model for all such undertak.
ings in America and Europe.
With all his success and wealth he
was still desperately lonely. His sue.
cess had been the result of native
genius and application. To his per
sonality the shy man owed nothing.
And there had come to him a long
| ing to show himself before those who
had jeered him and win their esteem.
He did not long for any personal
triumph over them.
He thought Of Nettie Haines, the lit
tie girl who had lived across the
street from him. They had been child
hood sweethearts. and he had told her
that one day he would marry her.
Doubtless she was married now and
had long ago forgotten him. He
thought Of Saunders, who had dis
missed him from the grocery store;
Boyce, the undertaken. for whom he
had worked during one long week And
he went back.
He registered at the only hotel the
village boosted and made himself
known to Flaxman. the proprietor. The
man shook hands with him coldly
enoVgh.
Glad to see you back again. Mr..
Merritt" he said. "Mr. Boyce? 0 yes,
he's flourishing Saunders does the
same old business"
Merritt had been too shy to ask for
Nettie. He made his way up the street
to Boyce's place. The man did not
recognize him at first.
"Well. I'm glad to see YOU" he said,
when his visitor had explained his
purpose In calling.
Saunders greeting was still more
frosty. He recollected Merritt and
was glad he was doing SO we'll. As
Merritt turned to leave, with a sense
Of establishment in his heart, he saw
a young woman bending Industrious
ly over heap Of bills in Saunders
shop. 1t was Nettie, his old sweet.
heart.
Impulsively he strobe up to her.
why. Nettie-Miss Haines!" he ex-
claimed.
She recognized him and her face
grew red. How do you do. Mr. Mer-
ritt," she said demurely.
Shy as he was, Merritt managed to
get into conversation with her. I'm.
der the watchful glances of Saunders
he succeeded in stammering out re-
quest to visit her that evening.
1T used to be WILL" he said, when
she greeted that night as Mr. Merritt.
well, Will, them" she returned.
laughing II do hope you have had
good luck"
He looked at her in amazement.
Had she not heard of him? He was
not vain man, but It seemed incredi-
BILE. when all the newspapers and
magazines had been full of his sue.
cess.
Eyes. I have done pretty WE'LL" he
answered slowly.
II am so glad to hear It," answered
the girl. "You have no idea how hor-
rid people are. but I suppose I
shouldn't be saying it."
He pressed her to tell him. "You
remember how we used to tell each
other everything" he pleaded.
Nettie colored slightly. WELL" she
continued, "Mr. Boyce said he sup
posed you had come back to try to get
Job In town. and we're dressed up to
make bluff. And he said you'd never
get anything In his place, and Mr..
Saunders agreed that It was the same
as far as he was concerned. felt so
Inundated, and I am SO glad to learn
that 1t isn't SO at all"
Merritt was thunderstruck So these
people had never heard Of him at all.
He had ascribed their GOODNESS to the
natural reserve Of q little community.
instead of which he was, In their eyes.
the same ne'er-do-well. the same In
capable. And Nettie did not know.
"Nettie." he said. taking her hand,
do you remember that time we found
a dime in the road and split 1t In two
and we divided IT."
Perfectly. Mr. Merritt" she replied.
smiling.
And do you remember what I said
to you them"
mo. William. That part has escaped
my memory altogether"
Would you like me to remind you?"
The girls eyes. which had been
downcast. were suddenly raised to his.
Il told you that that made us sweet
hearts. and that some day l should
marry YOU" said the man.
He saw that she was trembling, and
in that moment he knew that he had
always loved her. and that 1t was
providence which had kept him aloof
and uncontamiRated by the world, for
this end only. And she did not know
anything of him, Of his wealth.
"Will you marry me. dear?" he
asked. 81 can support a wife In com.
fort" he continued whimsically
He drew her into his arms and