The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-26
MOTHERS CHOICE
BY LOUISE ATLEE.

Ralph Fenton, who had q small |
wooden factory and was twenty-three
years of age. was regarded as an I'M |
usually promising young man, quite
good enough for any girl in Warren
county. why shouldn't he be esteemed
highly?
In view of all this, Lucy Reming-
toms mother was not at all perturbed
when, one evening in early summer,
Ralph Fenton brought her daughter
home from prayer meeting on his
arm. He supplemented this, day or
two later. with q call, and was smil-
fnRly received. Soon thereafter Grant
Vile folk began to talk in whispers.
A conspiracy also was Matched.
Several months earlier. In paying
. visit to . town Q few miles distant,
| Lacy Remington had met the youns
man with whom her immediate fu-
ture was not concerned. He was IN
every way a. desirable a. Fenton,
whom she was afterward to meet. but
when he drove over to Granville to
make q call and meet her mother. his
reception by the latter had been
polite to the verge Of frigidity.
"You don't seem to like John Hud-
son." ventured the daughter. when
the young man had departed.
"Well, l hope we shall see very little
i Of Mr.. Hudson"
| ,Fenton made frequent visits to the
| Remington home and was welcomed
| cordially both by the widow and her
daughter. The latter seemed to find
the young man agreeable company,
and the mother congratulated herself
that her efforts for the family welfare
I were likely to have successful out
come. Could she have overheard a
conversation which took place one
evening as the precious young disem-
blers were returning from local fes-
tival she would have been shocked be-
yond expression at the discovery that
her hopes were certain to miscarry.
"Mr. Fentcn." laughed the girl. you
certainly arc one of the incest fellows
ever met"
"Thanka. awfully," he returned
promptly.
"Also-l am engaged.
Permit me to congratulate you
you see, | want to be frank with
you"
Il appreciate it, and will recipro-
cate. have been engaged to girl
over in Blisstield for the last three
months"
I'll am SO glad."
"And now how can | help you?
he asked with a chuckle.
"Do you krOw why mother should
be so opposed to Mr.. Hudson?"
people become prejudiced without
good cause. You haven't told me
yet how l can help you"
"By--by not dropping me-yet." she
stammered. You see, mother has
has hopes that that"
, 81 see!" he came to the rescue.
Yves"
well, from all hear of Hudson
he's q mighty nice fellow, and In
: glad to help him get such jolly goot
. girl for wife. My marriage will moi
tdht DtuCc lOI tlItC Ihohtho ySt'
I'VE expect to be married abou
that time"
In this interesting little matrimonial
game there were three against one
but Mrs. Remington was not an cas-!
gutter. When she discovered tina
Lucy was meeting Hudson at the pos
, office, the library and other places
she made 1t her strenuous duty to in
! tercept them whenever 1t was pos
I sible. She had frequent crying SPELL
I and she went about her work will
: tears In her eyes. Finally, she wOk
. to a realization that her plan ha'
3 failed miserably. Although Fentol
t still maintained friendly relations will
4 them he showed no signs of askin
$ the maternal consent to make Luc
1 his wife.
a Il resolved itself into q case Of
Q woman worrying herself Ill. yet wit
+ nothing tangible to worry about
d When old Doctor Peters was called il
+ he felt Of her pulse, looked at he
t tongue and demanded bluntly.
I What the dickens are you worryin
9 about?"
l. "About-about-Luc she sobbet
"She's In love with a man do nc
> approve of. His name is Hudson"
Young Hudson, over at Tipton?"
y yes"
It Good for her! What's wrong wit
Il himT'
Ills eyes are not very wide apart
Neither are Elder Spooner's."
"He has high cheek bones"
u $50 had Abraham Lincoln"
!; "But-but--"
3, Listen, Mrs Remington" said tn
II doctor sOothingly. Il was over at Til
D. ton yesterday. and l saw Mr.. Hudson
r He Ia building a fine new house.
n has a room for his mother-in-law-
D. the best in the house. She will hay
ID brass bed, a mahogany bureau.
D. Wilton carpet and long mirror. Sh
ii will have q patent rocking cha
% and
!. Mother, Mr.. Hudson is here!" Al
u nounced Lucy from the doorway.
Good" ehuckled the doctor as
made his way out.
A little later the mother wipe
D. away her tears and got up and dresse
herself She felt herself no longs
In the valley OF the shadow of deaf
When she appeared in the parlor N
If Hudson rose up and began:
:! Mrs Remington, ] have come ova
to-"
IL She encouraged him with q pacif