The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-04

is that a cure?" asked Jack, be
/. wildered. .. -.
A certain cure" said the old lady
decisively. Never known to fail"
But you have got to marry them to
cure them, and if they refuse to be
married?"
That's the point" said the old lady
renectively. How are you going to
make them?"
And you think there's no chance
for me?'.
1 think said the old lady, that
May Durfree cares for you as much as
she is capable of caring for anybody.
But she doesn't love you. She couldn't
love-now. What in the world did you
90 to her, Jack, before you went
away? Broke her hearth"
If had thought that" he answered.
I would have married her, money or
no money"
| It's the safest way" said the old
lady.
In spite of the old lady's warning
Jack tried his luck again. He declared
+; his love. Little Miss Durfree stopped
him promptly.
Now, Mr.. McCallum, if we are to
remain friends she said, you must
realize that this cannot be. Won't YOU
try? You know, l am fond of you, as
friend"
Jack told her it was impossible. He
stayed away whole week. At the end
OF that period, meeting her in the
street, he fancied that she looked a
little worried.
i was expecting you to call last
night" she said and the pout made
little Miss Durfree look uncommonly
pretty. Jack McCallum was more
madly in love with her than ever.
i meant to come,'' he answered
penitently, but | had an engagement.
mad promised to call on the Du-
points,"
%, those girls!" SAID little Miss
Durfree acidly. Il hope you enjoyed |
your visit Mr.. McCallum."
win every nerve urging him to
shout that he hadn't. that he hated
them, Jack managed, by superhuman
effort, to maintain silence. He had
scored his point, he had pioued little
Miss Durfree.
You're clever" said the old lady,
pattlng him on the shoulder. But
you won't win out that way, my dear
boy. There's only one chance for you,
and even then it's a hundred to one
against. And if you lose you'll be the
ridicule of the town"
III take it," said Jack decisiyely.
i don't know said the old lady.
1 snail have to ask the minister what
he thinks Of it. II he agrees that it is
possible plan LII tell you"
Before the old lady told him Jack
had resumed his visits to Miss Dur
free. His infatuation was evident He
mad lost all that he had scored that
day in the street. Miss Durfree lived
IN terror of the proposal that came
again at last
May. If you'll be my wife you shall
i've ON in this house and III only come /.
on Sundays said Jack. You shall
sweep and cook and dust and sew
and"
~ dear!' sighed May Durfree
won't you ever be sensible and un- 9
ierstand, Mr.. MeCallum?" =
lie TOOK his hat and stamped out of
ne house. But on the next day the q
DID lady told him that the minister had .
ndorsed her scheme.
we must get her out of her house q
or the day. she said. How can it be a
lrranged?"
TEL her about the new COOKING D
demonstration downtown" said Jack O
utterly. =
The very thing said the old lady "
III get her to go with me and bring W
Ter here for lunch, and keen her tiIl
our IN the afternoon, If have to lock W
er in this room" II
ana she did it. II little Miss Dur
rec became vaguely uneasy about her la
ONE as the old lady chatted away. al
ne concealed it as long as possible la
ne old lady was so insistent She a,
moved her one thing after another W
ntil at length four o'clock came and ga
ne suspense was over. in
anu HoW, my dear, I've Kept YOU so
ing that | shall just walk over with
Oh In atonement," said the old lady eli
IL seemed queer sort of atone he
tent to little Miss Durfree. but she ac. da
opted the old lady's company. But at so
lie door the old lady showed no signs ne
gong away. and Miss Durfree had TIL
ask her in. The old lady walked in a
ith her-into transformed living ha
'om. fir,
FOR, where the piano had been. was We
lmprovised altar, at which the min. ga
Ter stood, and in front of HIM was an
OK, ana ON little Miss Durfree's other
ie was Jacks chum. Kenneth GRAY WI
no mad known all about the affair
u OF whom no mention has had TO wi
made before the
WIT thou have this woman for thv Tor
sdded Wife," the minister demanded. doi
1 will" said Jack. ne'
wilt thou have this man to he tby
sdded husband7' the minister do.
inded. six
Little Miss Durfree stared at him az ooa
she were nypnotized. Perhaps the qui
enc long dormant in her brain as a s"'
non unrealized, suddenly stirred her n son
Perhaps it was Jack AT her '.on
e. recalling her love of old How.
L