The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-16
4 MATTER OF BUSINESS
BY OLIVE MAsiE.
1915. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate)

Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
The three girls looked at the law.
yer in frightened unbelief.
1t could not be possible that their
fathers fortune had been such a hoi-
low mockery. How had they lived all
these years in such quiet comfort?
1T was the nature of his business"
explained Mr.. Ames: "a broker never
really knows whether he is rich
mar or pauper Your father was
undertaking a big coup when his ILL
ness and death put finish to every
thing. He was on the wrong side OF
the market when he was stricken.
There will be nothing left for you ex-
cept the place in the country-your
mothers old home"
But that is only house and fur
niture. How can we earn our bread
and butter?" asked Kitty
I'VE might take summer boarders,'
suggested Dorothy gravely.
That isn't bad ideal" said Mr..
Ames. I'll send you all the people
can. Can any of you cook?"
II can said Dorothy proudly. Il
have taken prize at cooking school,
June found the Henderson girls set
tied in the old house In which they
had been born
Old village friends called upon
them, and, to Cousin Keziah's great
satisfaction, several young men were
Tom Bixby, Walter Mott and Paul
Clarkson had all been to the village
school with the Henderson girls
Lillian Henderson, the eldest sis
ter. was ambitious. She had deter
mined that her sisters, as well as
by good marriages. And with that
end in view she discouraged the atten-
lions of the village doctor and his two
friends, who were law partners.
Il thought you liked Doctor Mott"
observed kitty when Lillian delivcrca
her ultimatum
81 do dear, but we must think about
practical matters. We should marry
WELL" she returned decidedly
81 wouldn't mind working hard for
man liked" declared Kitty, stout
ly, and Dorothy added, 81 don't sup.
pose real man would mind our hands
If they were red and coarsened by
honest TOLL"
~ didn't mean that, dears." cried
Lillian sharply, but I am afraid you
will miss all the things we have been
accustomed to. You know, Derry,
dear, that since Harry Blake has fol-
lowed you hereof course it would
be perfectly fine If you could love him
well enough with all his money"
"My world" Knocked Kitty. Does
that mean that you are going to &C
cept old Mr.. Alison?"
Lillian whitened, but she nodded
From the lawn tennis courts came a
mans jolly laugh
Kitty looked embarrassed. She
knew that her sisters wondered II she
was going to accept Lester Marshall,
whose sister had been their first
guest.
Marshall was young and handsome
and rich, and he made no secret Of
his devotion to charming Kitty.
Il suppose would be foolish to let
such an opportunity pass" laughed
Kitty oddly. We'll, girls, we might
have a triple wedding in October and
announce to our friends that our busi-
ness had been very profitable ven
ture!" As she ran from the room her
sisters caught the flash Of tears in her
brave eyes.
There was a strained look in LII
lian's face as the days went by. Mr..
Alison was becoming more marked in
his DEVOTION any day, now, the old
financier might make q declaration Of
his love-
Doctor Mott and his friends tactful-
ly eliminated themselves from the
company Of the busy old house Per
haps they had heard Of the three city
men who were wooing the Henderson
girls.
| Summer waned and Labor day
passed, and with its passing went the
last summer guest For the first time
in three months the girls we're alone.
They sat in the great living room and
: regarded each other with furtive
! glances.
On the left hand of each sparkled
. ring. Lillian's was a solitaire dia-
mond. Dorothy's a great pearl and
Kitty's sapphire, like her own eyes.
WELL" began Kitty, with a nerv-
out laugh, Il suppose you are going
! to announce your engagement, Dor
othy? Harry Blake"
81 am not engaged to Harry Blake"
retorted Derry, blushing holly. ILL
liam may do as she pleases-but am
going to marry the man love-Paul
Clarkson!'
"Brave!" cried Kitty. Now hear
my little declaration Of independence!
! refused Mr. Marshall because pre-
fer Tom Bixby. Yes, he gave me this
pearl. II was his mothers engage
ment ring, and 1t is also NINE"
The two younger girls looked de-
family at Lillian. Her lovely face was
crimson with embarrassment as she
fingered the glittering diamond.
Doctor Northumberland that"
Lillian faltered
Doctor Mott? Lillian dear, didn't
Mr.. Alison give you that ring?"
shrieked Kitty.
Lillian shook her fair head.
81 couldn't. after all /" she confessed