The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-03

husband. At the first boyish outbreal
OF Chester he would spoil his life b,
Gliding him. A nature like that O
Chester, CALLED by suppression ant
censure. would revolt. She had begged
OF Mr.. Storm to become his guardian
and gave him money to see that tn,
boy did notfeel like beggar.
My mother!" breathed Chester in
tensely. How / have misjudged hel
oh, where is she?"
She will soon come to see vou.'
pronounced the subtutor. my dear
boy. it has been labor of love to help
you am proud Of you!"
lie led the talk into other channels.
He spoke of Miss Erna Winsted. whom
Chester loved. and wondered how his
stern exacting father would take the
announcement of their engagement.
Miss Erna Winsted, dainty, petite
and lovely, trembled with suspense
/ and then thrilled with delight when
the graduation exercises began the
next day. She had selected a shad.
owed corner of the great auditorium,
to be alone and shielded from obser.
walton, so she could enjoy the rapture
OF seeing her brave lover receive the
first prize
Near to her was seated a lady well.
dressed and deeply yelled, She. too.
seemed to be intensely interested in
the main orator of the occasion. Erna
could not fail to observe evidences of
the deepest emotion.
The stranger breathed TREMENDOUSLY.
once she seemed to sob and weep.
Then some incoherent words, appar.
emily Of joy, left her lips.
And then, with a slight moan she
swayed to one side, and, her head sink.
ing directly into the lap of the aston.
ished Erna, she lay there insensible.
Miss Winsted did not wish to create
any commotion, for just then the pre-.
sentation of the oratorical prize was
Deing made. She tactfully brushed
aside the veil and pressed a phial of
smelling salts to the nostrils of the
unconscious lady.
Slowly the latter revived. She stared |
wonderingly at her gentle nurse. Just
then Chester Burridge, radiant with |
the excitement and triumph of the
occasion, sought out his fair fiancee.
HE was all smiles as he extended to
Inc girl he loved the jeweled recogni.
lion OF his ability. Then his eyes fell
upon the face of her companion. In
vast gasp the word left his lips:
"Mother!"
She lifted two pleading hands to.
wards him. They nestled In his Low.
ng, welcoming grasp Erna sat spell.
pound at the unusual scene.
am weak" murmured Mrs Bur.
'idge. Get me to my hotel | am
'orry disturbed you, young lady,"
your mother?" murmured Erna
oftly. Dear madam, become our care
Ill we see you comfortable"
Hayden Storm saw them as thew
vent away in an automobile. His Inns
uckered queerly. He forgot his dig.
lty sumciently to utter a low whistle
wonder and amazement.
What has transpired?" he reflected
Mother and son and fiancee-to.
ether! The direction given to the
hauneur was the hotel. Shall l act
n my own initiative? Yes!'
Half an hour later ne was closeted
18th Godfrey Burridge in his own
pom. He had a story to tell, and he
I'D II we'll.
1t made the stubborn.headed old
luie vince to learn that to the lost
life and her auxiliary, Storm. was
he the making of his son.
But perverse as he was, his heart
'cognized the true merits of the deyo.
on OF the wife he had misjudged. /
fou-you are a good man." he said
lmbly. Il admit my fault. As to
RS. Burridge-"
is she not worth reclaiming?"
'ntly intimated the subtutor
Ihen both went to the hotel Storm =
as first to present himself to the =,
lppy trio in the room Of Mrs. Bur. ~
ige. e
"A fortunate youth, truly, Chester Bur. =,
lge adJudged himself in that signal y
ur OF youths victory. He saw the =,
ranged reconciled, he knew that VI
me would dispute him his bride y,
w. Ill
ana Hayden Storm smiled, satisfied -.
premely Then, noble man that he .,
IS. ne went back to his lonely toll, =.
life sweetened by the good he had " y,
ne. VI
in