The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-13

thing. More than half the time she
after seeing everything was as good
as 1t could be made. But to one aft
ernoon company rather early In the
game she stayed. What she saw de-
termined her to do several things.
She ordered in haste, from the city.
two frocks quite eclipsing anything
in Highview. Next she waved her
hair. and after that she took her
grandmother's silver and jewelry out
of the bank, filed her house with
flowers, lights and people, and gave
a final party for the advocate OF
suffrage. "A blow out" was her own
phrase for it. she being of the sort
that speaks straight as it thinks. All
this meant, Of course, that she would
be very busy.
Mrs. Austell was charmed at the
thought Of coming. The other wom-
ans name was Vanmere, her home a
true colonial house, full of antiques.
Moreover, Edith Vanmere herself had
appeared very receptive. 1t would be
only less triumph for the cause to
! convert her than to take Harleth cap
tive for life.
1t annoyed her trife to find that
Miss Vanmere laid heavy commands
on Harleth: also, that he obeyed
them meekly, even when obedience
took him from her presence.
ED thinks she owns me-and l
reckon she does come near it," he
explained to the visitor, who did her
best to mask discontinue with an en-
gaging smile. The smile might have
faded had she been able to read the
Vanmere mind. Edith had seen
through her-Edith would have none
of her sort in the family. Moreover
if William Harleth was by way OF
being fool in some things, he was
gentleman, also helpless-being 9
man. Edith must save him. She
was nearly as much interested II
doing it as in the entirely new plum
cake she was evolving for the party.
Many schemes came to her. One
by enc she turned them over in he
mind and dismissed them as imprac
teal Then all in fash the solu
ton came-so simple 1t made he
blush to think she had overlooked II
: Two bodies cannot occupy the sam
" space, not even when the bodies ar
. ringers, the space wedding ring
The only real salvation for William
:. Harleth, now that women were grow
t 80 bold, was wedding ring, set fas
/, by law and gospel upon the RICH
n finger.
e Harleth was hidden to dine wit
I her before the party. Notwlthstant
r ing it's imminence, notwithstandin
o Edith's labors for 1t, the dinner wa
f. as perfect as a dinner could be. A
II the end there were samples OF tn
a delectable plum cake. The respons
d 1t evoked from Harleth was a sui
y cient reward.
n Later when the crowd had gathere
e a crowd that held the best Of q
e Highview, it gasped bit to see Edit
n in trailing cloth Of silver, softent
n with illusion and old lace, jewe
ID cleaning upon neck that was 81
le gularly smooth and white. and nc
n ding above hair pulled in wavy mass
above a smooth brow. She look
at ! what she was, a grande dame.
in underneath the grandeur there W
to the same bubbling good humor. al
le sharp clean.cut speech. Finery "
It. no bar to her special ministratio
he when 1t came to serving supper. s
st made three Of the richest men pr
ry ent wait upon Mrs. Austell under h
ne own direct supervision. When
10. came to the plum cake Mrs. Aust
Ia exclaimed:
he "This is not food-nectar, or may
Sc, ambrosia, rather! Dear Miss VI
on mere, life owes you something Tor
feel you are going to be one OF
Pray, pray tell me, what we shall
mand for you when We come to
own in reward for anything
heavenly"
"Oh. nothing" Edith said. laugh
softly.
"Nothing!" Mrs. Austell echo
"You are unjust to yourself"
81 think not-you see l have my
ward" Edith answered saucily, thou
her color mounted.
you see, l told Billy-Mr. Harl
tonight, l shouldn't ever make
more of this cake until ! made 1t
my husband-and he proposed
opcoo