The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-15


clair demanded.
"Oh," Felicia said, carelessly, 81
didn't think you'd notice. Don't you
think I look nice in my mink?"
Lovely" he FASTENED to say. But
why not the red foxes?"
IT, she began, then hesitated, and
stammered. ''I'm-I'm tired Of them"
He gaxed at her in amusement,
''Tired?"
Yes. Don't let's talk about it any
more"
After that she wore her old mink,
cheerfully.
Sinclair pondered over the mystery
Of the red fox furs. Was Felicia then
such q spendthrift that she could A.
ford to buy furs and not wear them?
He made himself unnecessarily mis-.
cradle over them. It seemed to him
that Felicia was more frivolous than
ever. He couldn't get in touch with
her.
He came home depressed and tired
after . i've o'clock call on her. His
mother was out. and he sat down in
front Of the fire.
When his mother came she found
him in the darkness.
Dear boy" she said. why 80
early?"
Il went to call on Felicia-and-"
"Oh, Felicia!" she broke in. II
have something 20 lovely to tell you
about her. I heard the story this
afternoon. Such lovely story. Wait
till ! turn up the lights and I'll tell
you"
"Sit here in the dark" he begged.
He drew low chair up for her and
threw himself on the rug with his
head in her lap. "Now tell me all
the lovely things you can about Fee
licia."
well. you know the dear child's
uncle gave her q check and she
bought some red fox furs."
Sinclair sat up. "Yes." he said
quickly. go on"
They were very expensive, and she
felt bit extravagant over them, she
told me. Well. suddenly she stopped
wearing them"
Il know"
And we all wondered what had
become Of Felicia's furs. But she
wouldn't tell u.s."
"Yes."
THE lady who told me bound me
to secrecy. She said she wanted me
to know because my son was to marry
Felicia, and she thought he ought to
hear"
In the darkness Sinclair was tense.
"Well?" he demanded.
This woman knows 4 young girl
who used to 60 to school with Felicia.
Her name is Mary. She is very poor.
and this winter she has had the shah.
best clothes. And one day she met
Felicia In a downtown shop and Fe.
licia insisted that they should have
hot chocolate together and over the
cups they talked. The girl had such
an awful cold, and now and then she
shivered. Felicia spoke of 1t several
times, and when at last they came out
OF the store, she said, "Oh, you're not
warm enough. take my muff-please,'
and she thrust 1t into her hands. She
insisted on putting little Mary on the
car, and just as she was bidding her
goodby, Felicia slipped of her beauti.
ful fur collar and laid 1t around Mary's
neck. Then she ran away laughing,
and little Mary had a note from her
the next morning. saying that she was
to keep the furs."
But why" Sinclair was on his feet,
why shouldn't she tell me?"
ASK her." said his mother prompt.
~. Just as soon as dinner is over
you must go to her."
THE DEAR" said Sinclair,
He said to his sweetheart that
night, Gould anyone but you have
done such a lovely thing, Felicia?"
"Oh," she hid her face in her hands.
Il was afraid to tell you."
"Afraid?"
Il thought you'd think me-silly."
He looked down at her gra uely.
why should you think that?"
Because l know you don't like to
have me extravagant-but-I
couldn't let little Mary go cold, Sin.
clair"
The tears were streaming down her
cheeks. and suddenly she was sobbing
In bis arms.
"Why. Felicia. darling" he said. 1T
was q beautiful thing to do-and
love you for it."