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

II It were only . faint. something
must be done for her, so he found {
basin and. pouring some water into
1t, knelt down by the bed and awk
head. So troubled was he that he
forgot to wonder why he had been
sent for, until his eyes fell on pic
ture that hung by the bed. To his
utter establishment, Willy Ben found
his own image staring at him from
an ornate gilt frame. Then he looked
about the room and saw that he was
| everywhere. When he won the big
| tennis match from the champion OF
,, the Enderby Athletic association every
paper In New York had printed his
photograph. and here they all were.
| on walls and tables and dresser, the
only pictures in the room.
His address was printed under one
Of them and Willy Ben could now cas-
lily understand why the landlady had
sent for him. But he had never seen
the girl on the bed, he was sure OF
that. and why had she lined her walls
with his photograph? There could be
only one explanation. Willy Ben was
q strong, well-built, six-footer, but he
was not handsome, and to find that his
rough-hewn, freckled countenance had
appealed to one feminine heart was
wonderful thing. A deep crimson
dyed his tanned cheeks.
The stairs began to creak and
wheeling sounded regularly from be-
low. Mrs. Lorgey and the doctor, he
supposed 1t must be. They puffed into
the room. q large oily woman and
large untidy man. While the doctor
examined the girl. Mrs. Lorgey sank
into a chair, oozing over the sides and
began grumbling explanation.
"She came yesterday, and twas bad
luck took her in. gave her the
room most reasonable, and this morn
ing she goes and gifts run into by q
cab"
"A concussion," murmured the doc
tor, soothingly, ''only slight concus-
sion"
The landlady pointed to the picture
OF the young man. Il didn't know
where she come from nor anything
about her. but I seen you was friend
Of hern, SO l sent for you on a guess"
Willy Ben was about to admit his |
ignorance, but he looked at the pic |
lures of himself and then at the
pretty little girl on the bed. Beneath
Ills tailor-made New York clothes his
Bologee heart swelIed with
pride.
she Is very dear friend of mine,"
le answered tenderly. land l intend
o have her moved to the hospital at
NICE"
AT the hospital. Emily Walton came
'ack to consciousness to find a clean.
ooking, red-headed young man sit
ing patiently beside her. For a long
line she regarded him in silence. then
he spoke wonderingly.
William Benjamin Bibb. the tennis
however, did you come
ere?"
Never mind" answered Willy Ben,
Or the doctor had said she must not
ak. I'll tell you tomorrow. We're
laying that I'm your big brother"
She was asleep when he left. and
Ike big brother, he kissed her-a
'iendly. respectful kiss--Just as II
ne were Bess or Evelyn. But all the
me he knew that she was not; he
new she was the ideal come to life.
tomorrow came, and for the two !,
great many tomorrows. She told
I'm all her sorry story. how she had
IN away from her home to go on the |
age, and how, though she could
'oK and sew and recite Hamlet's So X
oquy better than any girl in board. |!
6 school. she could not act. Hay. II
g a stubborn kind Of pride which
OK the place Of courage, she had
me on trying and trying. And h
hen the cab struck me-" she told Il
m, I was glad to think the fight Il
Is over" X
He IN turn told her about his home. Il
mother. his brothers and sisters. IL
w ne used to steal away from school lie
visit the swimming pool, how a is
ID dog came through town and he IE
d to kill his faithful hound. how a IL
bit him in the leg one Il
,. He told 1t all so ferventIy that Il
ne Emily. who was born in a board II
mouse and brought up in hotels. IL
Nv homesick,
Wnen the wound on her forehead s
8 well and the time came for her lis
leave the hospital the young man lis
de q brilliant suggestion. |E
Why 60 back to that horrid placer E
t,s go right out and be married." III
And spend the honeymoon In Bolo, /, |H
>" she added. lE
20 1t was settled, and Willy Ben H.
o knew that marriages are made |E
heaven. fell to wondering. "ro |P|
Ak" he cried rapturously that E
fell In love with my picture be-. Isl
you ever saw mel" Isl
tut the little Emily was truthfu, H
practical. Il didn't" she an. e
red. leaning fondly against him =
cut your picture out Of the paner
ause you looked like a man used
% In love with out west"