The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-15

! make my master all well again."
The news soon spread over the
town. All due sympathy was ex
pressed for Mrs. Newell and Marcia
for Mr.. Warner had some means and
they nothing. Mrs. Newell was bit
terly disappointed. Marcia said little
but she was saddened for her moth
er's sake at the struggle and poverty
that doomed ahead for them.
At noon that day a messenger from
the bank arrived at the Warner home
He knocked for admission at the well.
guarded door. A window was raised
overhead.
well, what is it," inquired q
cracked feeble voice. and looking up
the bank messenger recognized a ia.
miliar great shock of snowy white
hair and whiskers, pair of blue cog.
giles the green and white sweater that
Adam Warner always wore.
"Oh, it's you. Mr.. Warner" cried
the clerk. well. I've been sent by
the bank to officially notify you that,
as the last survivor of the Mutual
Tontine fund, it is at your order"
Wees, heard that Moss was dead.
Outlived him, Ell? and me nigh two
years older! Well. I'll come or send
for the money tomorrow or next day."
Two days passed by. The morning
Of the third saw David Mack rushing
out of the Warner home to shout out
distractedly to his neighbors that hi,
master had just died. The statement
was soon verified Scores viewed the
remains. By strange coincidence the
funerals of the two veterans happened
within the same week. 1t was an
nounced that the will Of Adam War
ner left everything to his grandson,
Cyril. who had been telegraphed to
and who arrived in time for the obse-
quies.
He was a well-looking, intelligent
young man and made no parade of his
wealth. He passed most of his time
in the house with old Mack, but one
day walking in the village quite eager
ly approached Mrs. Newell, who was a
little ahead of him with Marcia.
Madam" he spoke, lifting his cap
courteously, 81 wish to suggest"
But Mrs Newell, still bitter over her
great money loss. gave him an icy
stare that drove him back dismayed
My mother is not feeling herself,
sir" Marcia spoke, and in the accom-
panying glance of regret the embar-
raised young man traced a note Of
apology that drew him towards this
possessor of the fairest face he had
ever seen.
Village gossip now had it that the
Newells were going to remove to the
city, where mother and daughter might
find more profitable work. 1t was also
rumored that young Cyril Warner was
negotiating to buy his release from
naval service. preparatory to going in.
to business with the capital he had in.
herited
There was knock at the door of the
Newell home two evenings later. Mrs.
Newell glanced through the open win.
dow to make out the visitor.
THE ideal" she crimsoned, confront.
ing her daughter
Who is it, mammal" inquired Mar.
cha.
That audacious Warner! Don't an
swer."
But it may be matter Of business
Come, mamma. do not let an unreason.
able prejudice influence you against
this young man, whom people tell me
is a fair-minded person." and she pro.
ceeded to the door and quite pleasant
ly invited the caller into the parlor.
You will pardon my presumption in
calling Cyril Warner addressed Mrs.
Newell, his face very pale. his com.
pressed lips telling of a vast internal
,, struggle, but am compelled to come
Tho other day wished to suggest to
you that we divide the fund money. To-
day." and he placed black stout wal.
let on a table. ut is yours-all of it.
"Ours!" cried the astounded lady.
Yes. madam. by all the rights of JUS.
tice. Not one penny belongs to me.
Good day, madam. You will find sixty.
five thousand dollars in that wallet.
He was at the door down the steps.
striding away along the graveled path
Mrs. Newell was too overcome to Iol
low. Not so Marcia. She reached him
placed a OBTAINING hand upon his arm
you must tell us more" she said
decisively. "or we shall return the
money to you.
Cyril Warner hesitated. Then 1t
seemed as II he allowed Marcia to lead
him to rustic bench. With averted
eyes he told her that his grandfather
had died twenty-four hours before her
own. and David Mack, through mis-
taken fidelity to the family, had con-
cealed the fact and had impersonated
the dead man when the bank messen-
ger came.
The ready, practical mind of Marcia
devised a way Of keeping this secret
There must be division of the money
To this Cyril would not consent
But love united the knot, separated
the confused strands. only to bring
those two together In closer bonds, and
husband and wife alone knew the real
merits of the settlement of the Mutual
Tontine fund