The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-18
At LuELLKs WEDDING
BY VIRGINIA CLARK.


ter, Il shan't make no wedding Tor
you-not if you marry Len Temple,
I Luellas lips compressed in a
straight line Il was explaining why
| preferred to marry Len Temple even
If he does earn only SIS week"
you wouldn't marry him without
a wedding?" asked the deacon quietly
What do you mean, father" Luel-
las voice was hard
81 mean this-of course If you mar
ry Len Temple against our wishes,
why, you can be married here in the
parlcr, but we won't invite any folks.
dare say your ma would make
cake, but ] shant invite all Of Bra
boro to witness my daughter marry
ing pauper!"
"Then, 1t is all settled?' asked
Luella in queer voice. You will
permit me to be married at home
without all the fuss, of course-even
if I do marry Len Temple?''
"Yes-we can't refuse that, mother"
said the deacon testify.
"Of course not" went Mrs Hink-
ley; though l shall be ashamed to
show my face in the village Luella
here. that we're so proud Of, to marry
clerk in her pas store"
Luella contributed one last retort
over her shoulder
Father worked for your father,
didn't he?" she asked. Are you sor-
~ you married him." She did not
wait for an answer.
!
Len Temnln had rented a small cot
tage near the deacons store and
Luella spe:t rany days there get
/ ting it in readiness for their occu-
pancy. She swept and cleaned it her,
! self, made the simple draperies and
helped Len choose SOM furniture
Len had soma old-fashioned pieces eff
mahogany which he had inherited
from his mother, and when every.
thing was in place it was a charming
and coy little home
troubles of his own that dwarfed the
Importance of his daughters wedding.
A large wholesale grocery house was
about to establish one of it's chain
of stores in Rraboro Every day was
bringing great van loads Of packing
cases. Len Temples brother. Dick.
had a job receiving the goods, and
he told about such innovations in the
grocery business that his tales oaly
added to the deacon's troubles
Len Temple, always busy, always
cheerful, showed no resentment to-
ward his future father-in-law.
. Never mind, grille" said Len to
Luella when she told him about the
simple wedding That suits us-eh?
We're not getting married to suit any
one but ourselves"
At last came the day OF the wedding
and, finally, the hour. There were
streams OF carriages and pedestrians
going toward the Hinkley house on
the hill, for the deacon had reiented
at the eleventh hour. and, unknown
to his wife and daughter, had reck-
lessly ordered flowers and music and
an elaborate wedding supper so that
the whole place was a bower Of
flowers and plants and the caterers
overran the kitchens and dining room
Deacon Hinkley was brave in his best
broadcloth and squeaky shoes, and
Mrs. Huxley had put on her gray silk
and looked very imposing indeed
And finally, when the deacon and
his wife had waited long enough, they
mounted the stairs to I.uella's room
The door was open, but Luella was
not there,
There was a note on the bureau
which the deacon and his wife read
with misty eyes.
Dear father and mother" wrote
Luella, forgive me for going awav to
be married in our own little home
The child" gasped Mrs Hinkley.
The deacon thought rapidly. His
heart was wrung with remorse at
his treatment of his only child. How
could he save the day for her-for
his wife?
The wedding guests were waiting
downstairs. The buzz Of their voices
drifted up to the second story.
Come. Caroline" said the deacon
to his wife, well all be late for
Luelly's wedding if we don't hurry"
Presently there was a bewildered
but animated crowd of gayly attired
wedding guests following Deacon
Hinkley and his wife down the road
to the foot of the hill to Len Ten.
pies cottage. The guests crowded
through the gate and into the tiny
house. They filed all the rooms and
many sat on the stairs and peeraa
through the parlor windows, where
the minister united Luella and Len
Then, headed by the bride and
groom. the whole party wended its
way back to the house on the hin
where the caterers served a never-to.
be.fcrgotten wedding supper.
When the four were alone together.
after it was all over. Len Temple
spoke to his father-in-law:
i ought to have told you before.
sir" he said honestly. that I'm TO
have charge Of the new grocery
store"
The deacon stared for a momer.
and then a twinkle caEe into his
eyes
TN take back what said ahou,
the Temples being shiftless." he said
heartily, and, Len, between us. Wen
keep all the grocery business in the
family, eh?'