The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-20

ioA VOhcO aha hot III OCetSA- 6oCco
that's what she did all right when she
married Albert Shaw. But the idea Of
letting them two paupers go strolling
down the lane together like that. It's
a scandal. 1t ought to be stopped.
And it would be il had my way"
"It's contemplate" said Cousin
Martha. Its immoral. It's a shame
to Piketown. 1 always said Uncle
Thomas was an old rascal. BY the
way. that place of his-the city estate
man took it back when Uncle Thomas
couldn't keep up the mortgage pay
ments. didn't he? I wonder who's
going to buy it?"
| II suppose some city folks will take
1t over" said her cousin. Its q nice
sort Of place. Lord, what fool Uncle
Thomas was. supposing Cousin Smith
would lend him the money to make
that payment. Uncle Thomas always
was CRATER. II he'd only die. so that
that we've got relative in the poor
: housed"
Anyway, something's got to be done
about Cousin Thomas walking out
with that Shaw woman" replied Cousin
Martha.
, 1t was about three weeks later that
the sign To Rent" was taken out Of
the windows of the old farmhouse. All
Piketown was agog to learn who was
the lessee. The estate agent lived ten
miles away; otherwise, no doubt, he
would have been forced to render up
the secret
II do hope they'll be neighborly
folks" said Cousin Sadie. mot too
humble and not too stuck-up. you
know; not the kind that mind other
peoples business, and yet not too
much of the sort that keeps to them.
selves"
They're coming Friday" said
Cousin Martha. 81 heard that there's
a lot Of swell furniture coming. The
station agent told me it was waiting
at Crowbury Junction"
It'll be nice to have somebody near
that one can respect instead of old
Uncle Thomas" replied her cousin.
Millie was heartbroken to think that
the old place was to have other occu.
pants. It was the last straw; 1t was
far worse even than Uncle Thomas
eviction to see the farmhouse in the
hands of strangers. She told Willis
SO.
"Why, my dear, I had talk with
Uncle Thomas at the poorhouse yester.
day. and he seemed pretty comfort.
able." he said. Il dop't think he has
very much concerned"
Mile looked at him reproachfully.
Uncle Thomas hides his feelings"
she answered. you don't understand
him. Oh, my dear, II only we could
have rented tho place. 1t was Just the
sort of little home we wanted.
"Well, the new people may be q de.
cent crowd" said Willis, smiling.
The day came-the great day. The
furniture had duly arrived and had
been installed by the new housekeeper
from the city. A housekeper. profess
sional one who refused to answer
strangers questions. was a new thing
in Piketown. Nevertheless, although
an atmosphere decidedly unfavorable
had been created, all the village a.
sembled, casually. II you like. but de.
termined to see the thing through
when the closed carriage from the
railroad station drew up before the
door.
1t opened and out stepped-Uncle
Thomas.
He was wearing new suit and his
new hat was det;idedly-well. natty ia
the only word. But the gasp that went
up was nothing to the amazement
when he handed out, all silk and satin
and lace, and with new lilac bonnet
Myrtle Shaw.
The old man turned and addressed
his neighbors.
"Friends," he said, come in. have
something to say tn you, by request Of
my wife. l didn't want to say 1t. but
she wants me to, and woman's word
is law. Come in. Hello, Cousin Smith!
Just run and fetch Mile. will you
Never mind That you. Willis? Car
, you get her? 1t amt far, and what
have to say will keep till she arrives
, In awed amazement the crowd fol
, lowed the old couple into the parlor
! and there. again, as they looked at the
, mahogany and tapestries, they were
, struck dumb with amazement.
"Now, neighbors." began Uncle
: Thomas. you will he glad to hear thai
my affairs have taken a turn for tht
better. I'm back again, and my wife
, wants me to say We'll be glad to see
= you all any time. as before, but espe
3 cially Sunday nights, when we're going
!, to have chicken suppers. That'll b
about all"
Outside the house the gaping GROVE
r, surrounded Mile and her lover.
!. "Well, it's about like this" admitted
!. Willis Carter. 1T seems that Uncle
4 Thomas was in love with Mrs. Shaw
for years, but she wouldn't have hin
|. had nothing to bring to him. So h
II pretended to have lost his and went t,
the poorhouse-and when he'd con
a vinced her he persuaded her to MARI,
r him. They went to the minister las
= Monday and then he let out that HI
|. had cool thirty thousand in hare
. cash. Yes. it's strange his taking suci
\ liking to Millie and me and wantin,
US to live there and be his heirs Why
!. what's the trouble?"
The trouble seemed to be the stimuli
A taneous fainting of two elderly ladies
!. and Cousin Smiths uncertainty az t.