The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-27
LOST AND FOUND
BY ANNE BRoApHURST,

"a good cry" Elinor went out as soon
as she had finished her dinner and
walked until the darkness drove heI
in. AS she neared her boarding house
| she saw at the edge of the curb a
mans leather bill purse, which she
picked up. AS she saw no one near
who could have dropped it, she took
it to her room.
Fifty dollars. Just what I hoped
| to win in that contest" Then Elinor
saw that the purse also contained
some cards. IF don't know whose
it Is ! can't return it; and il don't
look at these cards / won't know,
but
ITO man who carries a purse of
this quality and who uses engraved
cards fifty dollars probably means
very little,' she unused, but to me it
means winter suit and a months
board" Slowly she began to tear
the cards, but as the tough paste
board began to yield to her trembling
fingers she stopped abruptly.
"Horrors!" she gasped. 81 said l
must win. and this is losing even my
honor. Oh, I hate you" And she
| swept the money from her and looked
at the cards.
Mr.. Joseph Stanley Morton" she
read, but the name meant nothing to
her. She looked in the telephone book
and found the following: 81. Stanley
Morton, Broker, 515 City Bk. Bldg"
No residence number being given, she
could not notify him that night.
Elinor had no opportunity to tele-
/ phone during her busy morning, so
she went during her noon hour next
day to deliver the purse to it's owner.
AS she entered Elinor saw that the
only occupant Of the room was tall,
well-built man whose dark head was
bent over typewriter statement
lying on the table before which he
upon her kindly glance from pair
of dark gray eyes.
"Are you Mr.. Joseph Stanley Nor
tom" Elinor began.
Eyes" The deep voice had slight
ly rising infection.
"Here is something Of yours that I
happened to find last night" She
handed him the purse
"Why what a pleasant surprise to
, find the purse, and how kind of you
to bring it to me! thank you sim
cerely. Now, won't you sit down and
tell me all about 1t ?"
Elinor sat down and told him briefly
where and how she found the purse.
I'm going to confess to you" said
Morton, that this very day I've been
thinking that honesty is an unknown
, quantity these days, so, you see, you
have restored to me far more than
my lost money; you've restored my
lost faith in humanity" He was lean
ing toward her with the friendliest
look in his clear eyes. but the sudden
change which swept over Elinor puz-
| zled him.
Don't, please don't" she almost
walled. IF you knew how near
came to keeping it you'd hate me.
Oh. I must tell somebody" and
grasping the arms of her chair as II
to support herself. and looking into
her lap. she told him just what she
first thought of doing with his money
AS she talked her cheeks faded from
crimson to white. Then she rose to
leave. Stanley Morton had been sit
ting with his elbow on the table and
his right hand shielding his eyes, but
he rose quickly and stood between
her and the door. with his right hand
extended and sympathetic smile in
his eyes.
please let me say that under.
stand fully, and that l honor your
bravery as much as your honesty.
Many OF us are passively honest
when it's convenient. but you are &C.
lively honest even when it means
hard fight You've made the world
seem right again for me, and now
won't you promise me that IL I can
ever make things easier for you you
will let me serve you?" The mans
sincerity was unmstakable, and
Elinor extended her hand and smiled
up at him frankly.
You've already made things easier
by forgiving me. and you've under
stood, and that is what counts most.
you know" 1t was only after she had
gone that Stanley Morton realized that
she had not told him her name or
given him any clue aheut her work.
One morning. q month later, as
Elinor was at her work in the book
store she turned from the shelves with
half dozen books in her arms and a
near-sighted customer, intent upon
book he held. collided with her. scat
tering the books in all directions. A
gentleman who was approaching
picked up two of the books and was
about to pass on with a formal &C.
acknowledgement Of Elinor's thanks.
when their eyes CHANGED to meet. II
was Stanley Morton.
AT last I've found you, as I knew
should find you some day." His
words came deliberately. but his tone
made each word caress. But there
are always twofold discoveries about
you and I'm daring to believe that
I've found in your eyes evidence that
in your heart there is something of
the same love that has been growing
in mine ever since the day | found
you. This is nc place to say il, but |
love You and need you and want you"
Her eyes fell on the title of the book
he held in his hand. II was Para.
dico