The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-18


"Then-then, who is our Helena"
demanded Uncle David fiercely.
IAN impostor!'
Absurd" almost shrieked the three
uncles in concert, and Mrs. Mu1et
was allowed to depart under suspend
ed sentence of dismissal until they
could investigate the case of the
niece whose relationship to them she
had SO boldly questioned.
What shall we do?" asked Uncle
Anthony, feebly, when they were alone.
Let us get the TRUTH" said Uncle |
Benjamin firmly.
So they went in a body into the |
garden on their distasteful Grand
They came upon her suddenly at |
the turn of a corner arbor. Jack Ly-
man was with her, and what the
would-he inquisitors saw made them
! forget their errand.
The young people did not see the
! three anxious old faces-they were
too deeply absorbed in the telling Of
wonderful story whose setting
should always be in rose garden.
! Guilty. the granduncles tiptoed
back to the house. Il will wire the
news to Isabel and ask their con.
sent" whispered Uncle Anthony.
At which his brothers blushed rosy
red, for they knew that meant a
speedy solution Of the problem. 1t
would soon be known to them whether
they had indeed been entertaining
their grandniece or an impostor. as
Mrs. Muffet had charged.
'She is dear child, anyway" de-
clared Uncle David gruffly, and the
others nodded assent.
Uncle Anthony scratched off tele-
gram, of which the others approved:
Helena is quite well and wants
your consent to her engagement to
Jack Lyman, our particular friend"
1--WE should receive a reply by din
ner time" said David as he prepared
to take the telegram to the station.
Helena did not make her appear
ance until half an hour before dinner.
She pleaded a headache, and she
looked quite pale and dropping when
; she came down stairs and joined the
, waiting trio on the veranda.
Mrs. Strang's telegram arrived al
most precisely at the same moment.
Uncle Anthony opened it with shak-
ing fingers and read:
Are you crazy? Helena is with
me and i'll with whooping cough, an
absurd ailment for girl of seven
teen. Will write Isabel"
Without word the distressed old
man passed the message to David
who read it in grim silence and ther
handed 1t to Benjamin.
| Helena stood before them, her eyes
looking like drowned blue violets IL
her pale face.
Il have something to tell you, all, ;
II she began with a catch in her voice
Il have told Mr.. Lyman-Jack-ant
he has forgiven me. l hope You will
too, for love you all SO dearly!"
What is it, my dear?" asked Uncl'
Anthony cOmpassicnately.
Helena slipped to her knees ant
hid her face in his lap.
II am not Helena Strang," she ccr
y fessed tearfully. II am quite ar
other Hclena-Helena Clifton.
have been Mrs. Strang's private secrt
tary for several years. am twenty
} four. l never had q home. wa
:. brought up in an orphan asylum an
y when l was old enough to 60 out int
the world found q place in a stor
~ and worked until ! could save none
IT. enough to take a business course
when I was competent Mrs. Stran
is employed me.
er when she decided to 60 to MOI
ls- trcal she gave me six months vac'
to tion-and l had nowhere to g
as There had been much talk Ct Hele
I'd coming dawn to her uncles and
as was all arranged, but at the last M
ts- ment she decided to 60 to Canad
he with her parents. Before she wen
he she proposed this scheme to me ar
he insisted that should impersonat
le, her as your grandniece.
1T was a great temptation to me
IN come dcwn here-and-so cam
ne You knew the rest-and II you wal
an to send for the police, you may! b.
10, you have been wonderfully kind
In me and l don't believe Helena Strar
ID could love Won more than | do! {
there"
re- She rose and faced them with tea
IA. full eyes and trembling lips.
ed Dear mel" ccughed Uncle A
'ut thony. locking pr perly distressed.
ed "Humph-ncnsonse!" grCwied Unc
he David "A man NAV have more tn;
ly, one grandniece, eh, boys? Well, HI
on. ena Clft;n III adopt you as my ME
a here and now! like you" He he
az out his arms and Helena promptly 6
cepted their protect. n.
DID Its my turn now" remind
An Uncle Benjamin, rather jealcusly.
an After Helena had cried little
per ca:.l kindly shoulder, and st
ary / IS ,irg d.vilely, and with pathei
OF quaver in her voice, she resumed:
I've have promised to marry Jack Lyma
pacles told him all about 1t and
lily, said 1t didn't matter in the least,
isk we are engaged provided, Of ccur.
ISIS you give your consent"
lgo The thr G old rlatchmakers lock
g very uncertain indeed, but VIII
as they were pretending to consid
the serious question, their frow
gave way to delighted grins, for ia
Gle Lyman himself came striding up
path.
ur- Here comes our prospect
nephew-in-law." announced Uncle
nts thony cheerfully.