The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-05
MS FOLLY
BY GRACE kERRlcAN.

Copyright 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndicateJ
Dan going to get married." re-
peated Mrs. Archer in response to an
inquisitive neighbor. mo, indeed.
Mrs. Blake! Dams never kept COM
pany with a girl in his life-not but
what l want him to get married II
he can ind the right girl; but GER
tainly would know. II anyone did,"
"Of course you would" agreed Mrs.
Blake. but It seems 90 queer for him
to be building bungalow up there
on bis lot, spending every spare min
ute Of his time on It. and doing every
stitch Of work himself-unless he was
going to live In It. Perhaps he will
rent it." with happy inspiration.
Mrs. Archer shook her head. He
says not. II you'll promise not to
breathe word, Mrs. Blake"
"Of course WON'T" interrupted
Mrs. Blake excitedly.
"Well-he says he's goirg to have
the home ready, and when the right
girl comes along, then he'll get mar.
red! It's foolish thing to do, but
Dan is q good boy, and II he enjoys
building nest before he finds .
mate. why, I can't complaint" Mrs.
Archer laughed comfortably.
"No-indeed!" replied Mrs. Blake,
and then Fastening her departure
nho transmitted "a, oud ,,sA. A. a.
telligence Of Dan Archer's purpose
in building the little brown bungalow
on the hill west Of his fathers house.
And before another day had dawned
the good gossips Of Crystal Brook
were chuckling over Dan Archer's
folly" as they called his undertak.
ing.
So Archer's Folly became rather q
Joke in the illage, but Dan Archer
knew nothing Of it. Few would have
dared to hint the words to the steady
eyed young giant who went about his
nest building so earnestly without q
thought as to the absurdity Of his
endeavor.
There came a night when the wind
howled around the bungalow and the
snow beat against the walls until
they we're covered with a thick white
mantle.
There was a fireplace in Dams
study and great pile of hickory logs
as we'll as a comfortable couch, so
on certain nights when he had been
studying closely Dan would decide to
sleep there.
On this stormy night Dan turned
away from the window and replen-
ished the fire. Then he prepared for
bed leaving lighted lantern in the
window Of the living room.
It's q bad night outside" he muir
INJURED
While the little village slept under
the drifting mantle Of snow, q horse
and sleigh moved slowly through the
road that led from the next village.
Occasionally the horse stopped and
breathed heavily and once It almost
fell in its tracks.
Uncle Nathan. I'm afraid that Sor-
rel can't 90 much farther" quavered
. girls sweet voice.
Are you very near the doctors,
Folly?" The old mans voice sound.
cd mufiied from its thick wrappings
Of wooden comforter.
I'm afraid I don't know" and
this time the girls voice held a note
Of despair. 1--WE are on the main
road and I can't see a thing-ah.
there is a light! Let US turn toward
it-there must be house. II we
can reach 1t, perhaps we can send for
a doctor from there"
The wind tore her. words into frag.
ments, but the old man understood.
80 he crouched down among the fur
robes while Folly urged the horse to
greater efforts. At last Sorrel toiled
up steep hill and finally dropped
exhausted between the shafts with
the guiding light only a few feet dis
tant.
It's house on q hill" explained
Felicia, as she helped her uncle from
the sleigh.
The Daintrys lived In the adjoining
village of Upton Center and the only
physician in the village had been
called away on an urgent case, so
that when Uncle Nathan cut himself
with an Ak Felicia could only bind up
the wound as best she might and then,
bundling the old man into q sleigh,
strive to reach Crystal Brook. three
miles away.
BY daylight Uncle Nathan had been
made very comfortable. and the doc.
tor having taken his departure Mrs.