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

a moment. pulling her up by the
hands, drawing her after them
through a gap in the hedge into a
sunken garden, exquisitely Japanese,
with pool where fioated mandarins
with clipped wings. Everything was
delicately perfect-even the brown
bungalow off to the left was de-
lirr'
The children threw themselves
upCr her hugging her.
What's your name?" they asked,
and she answered,
"Kittie. because I love soft places. 4"
and she threw of her big plumed hat.
David rose and began to stick the
pink hollyhocks into her crown Of
sunny hair. and time passed. Peace
came into Katharine's mind Pres
emily the boy announced, with mas.
culine force, that he was hungry. She
saw that the noon hour had passed,
and rose. They pulled her back
through the hedge toward their own
cottage. She would have gone any
where
| chSio Dcc HAS only DeeT III MS
ice-box, and he borrows lemons from
u.s. said the girl quantity HE don't
keep house-and he hasn't a wife at
all It's lonesome for him.
] ITS too bad" replied Katharine
"He might get one"
He was going to. but she was too
spensive," sighed the girl.
Kit thought of David Robertson,
and the humor died out OF her eyes.
Had she condemned him to life Of
loneliness? The boy rambled on ex-
planning.
Spensive means what you can't
afford to buy, like a wife. or a pony"
he sighed ecstatically.
AT the door of the cottage they met
Aunt Bess. She stared, and then she
and Katharine few into each others
arms
Elizabeth Norton, Where did you
spring FROM"
MAY and Tom imported me to
guard the Riddles while they 20 round
the obe-thought you were going.
too? Haven't seen you in years!
Heaven must have sent you today.
The nurse was called away. and Mrs.
Scott next door, is ILL., must 90 back
and help. viii you go in and feed
yourself and the babies and prom.
Use to stay all night with me?" Kath-
arine promised. go in and get into
one Of Mays house dresses and keep
house-though I'll wager you never
lifted cup! I must 60"
Katharine entered her old friends
room. and presently came out radiant
In pale blue wash-dress to play
with her friends children. She re-
membered wistfully that she might
have married their uncle and been
their real aunt Where was David
now? She did not even know-prob-
ably gone Ito the end of the world"
also.
Then she lost herself in simple ser
vice. luxury she had never known,
the sweetness Of feeding little chill.
dren. Her past society life seemed
suddenly futile. empty And while
the babes slept away the late after
noon she came to her real, sweet, true
self. She knew where happiness was
to be found. and II David Robertson
had been in her world she would
have swallowed her pride and sent
for him.
Presently 1t was after 6. and she
was eating bread and milk with the
Riddles when she heard a whistle.
The children ran like wild things.
and came back dragging in a big.
deep-voiced. handsome man with
young eyes and dark hair gray at
the temples.
Here's Uncle Dee. Kittie!" they
shrieked Here he Isl" She stood
white and overcome before David
Robertson. Her eyes burned like blue
flame, and then fell before his de-
vouring glance.
20 David" she faltered. 20 David!
i am sO-sOrry-"
In that second she had seen all his
hurt and loneliness; and something
melted the hardness of her heart. She
flung her arm up around her eyes
with childlike movement Then she
began to cry in his arms while he
kissed her. The children. overawed,
held tightly to one another. 1t was
long before they even remembered
the children. Then Uncle Dee
stopped and gathered them into his
arms.
Now I'm going to have a wife," he
explained grandly. waving hand at
Katherine.
Little David looked her over doubt
fully. Amt you. too-'spensive"
he queried.
"Not-any more!" she declared
joyously. ut costs me too much to
live without the only things really
want"