The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-16
THEIR SECOND GUEST

D MAY Oh vRiGa

composing room in the big PUBLISHING
house was an unassuming man. but
he stopped to speak to Miss Latham.
Mr.. Angels Stenographer - he made
his way upstairs with . bundle OF
proofs under his arm.
Nov I'll tell you how It u. Miss
Latham" pursued the foreman. de-
posting the proofs. which were
marked hurry" upon her desk. I'VE
know your people live upstate. and
We thought you mightn't take 1t amiss
II We asked you to come in and eat
your Sunday dinner with VI, day
after tomorrow. We've got . turkey,
and-and there's NO one to help ~ eat
It," he said disconsolately. so. -
you live in the next block. We
thought"
"Why, I'll come with real pleasure.
Mr.. Rafferty," answered Miss Latham.
grasping the foreman's inky hand
AT two o'clock" said Rafferty,. evi.
IDENTIFY relieved. do you like sage
stunning. Miss Latham?"
81 dote on It," the girl replied. And
Rafferty,. reminding her Of the time
again, took up his bundle and made
his way upstairs.
It was cosy little apartment into
which Miss Latham penetrated on
next Sunday. There was scrupulous
cleanliness. and that evidence Of q
harmonious family of two which can
be sensed the moment one opens q
door. And as the girl entered, she
saw Mrs. Rafferty, struggling under
the weight of q huge platter which
must have contained giant among
turkeys.
Two minutes later Rafferty, was
carving as tender and luscious bird
as ever grew to maturity, while Mrs.
Rafferty,, looking . little self-eonseious,
was apologizing for the Rafferty, home
But it's q home. my dear" she
said, ''and that's better than q hoard
ing house. And 1t wasn't any more
for your sake than for ours I wanted
you to come. Since we lost Michael
1t hasn't been any home to u.s."
"Michael?" inquired the girl. "That'i
an unusual name"
"Yes," said Mrs. Rafferty,. HE wal
mine and my Arst husbands. but wher
Tim wanted me to marry him and
showed him the boy, and asked how
he'd like to start in with ready-madt
family, he took such fancy to him Il
broke his heart when Michael turnet
Wild"
II am 30 sorry" murmured the girl
watching her hostess with flushed
cheeks.
i We'll. the boy and Tim had rov
about one thing and another. and ANAL
ly Michael put on his hat and kisse,
me. 'Good-by, mother. III never CONF
back he said. I didn't believe him
but he kept his word. That was tw'
years ago and Tim would have cut GU
his tongue sooner than have spokel
the words heodid."
The plum pudding came in and the,
fell to. But Miss Latham seemed Il
have lost her appetite. -.
Now Fhet's the matter. honey.
demanded motherIy Mrs. Rafferty, q.
she drew the girl aside while Tin
washed the dishes. ''it's some fellow
that isn't worth troubling your prett.
head about. isn't It? rye been through
1t myself. Come, now, tell me-"
"Oh, Mrs. Rafferty," sobbed the girl
II know I'm dreadful impostor. bu
I couldn't tsak them ut the ONCE, ant
It was only last month, and he's travel
ing for Arthur Buckle q Co. and won
be back till tomorrow and"
Married" gasped Mrs. Rafferty, II
! wonder.
The girl nodded and brushed ava,
fugitive tear that was trickling dowl
her cheek.
GLORY bel" cried Mrs. Rafferty,
Tim! Como here! May I tell him
dearie?"
YES" whispered the girl. She knew
that at the once Rafferty,. with hi
innate loyalty. would be- - mute - ,
clam. So Mr.. Rafferty, told him.
Next instant Tim was executing {
war dance round the girl. "Ant
what1l BE- your real name?" he asked
Just Miss LAthsm-please-
spring. and then We shall start house
keeping" sobbed the girl. so not {
word. Of course"
"Oh. Tim" sobbed Mrs. Rafferty,
} I'm 80 glad. II only we had our MI
ohasl with - now!"
} III only Miss-Miss Latham could
have brought her young man with her,
J cried Rafferty,. That would have
been"
A sharp peal at the bell interrupted
him. He pressed the button that
opened the front door and, with par
donable curiosity, the two opened the
door Of the apartment and peered ovel
the banisters.
Il believe that's-that's-" gasped
the girl. Il left word at the boarding
house that was here in case he could
come back. Oh, excuse mel" And
amid cries to bring him upstairs, the
girl flew down to meet the newcomer
whose firm steps resounded In the sec
ond passage below.
Mrs. Rafferty, slipped her hand into
her husbands and felt his kiss on her
cheek
The girl and the man were comins
up the stairs. His arm was round her
and she was looking mp into his face
which was bent down toward hers
And neither OF them saw the watchers
above until they reached their floor
iii Then Mrs Rafferty, screamed.