The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-14

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lars. no name. no explanation. Tn
following week Alfred Richie REAP
peared in the village. Sarah refuse'
to see him. He wrote her letter
begging for an interview. Sarah wrot'
back to him. forbidding him to eve
cross her path again.
What could she think but the worst
She learned later that Alfred had ts
ken charge of a grazing farm one hun
dred miles distant; like herself, LEAD
ing a lonely. loveless life.
Sarah tidied up the place. as wa
her wont. and the little place was hos
pitable and neat looking when Lawyer
Jones arrived.
She had not seen him since her hus
band had so strangely gone away.
81 sent for you, Mr.. JONES'" she said
because the mortgage on the house
here is due. l cannot possibly pay
it, but I can keep up the interest i
you will renew the loan"
Il have a surprise for you" replied
the lawyer. Il hardly know how yo'
' Will ldhc UuS"IuO AAOA eo~oS 49,
been paid in full"
by whom?" exclaimed Sarah, II
startled wonder.
by your husband, Alfred Richie
"He Is not my" flashed out Sarah
and then. controlled the rising tide Of
resentment. "You tell me this!" she
added, her lips compressed. Under
| no circumstances will / receive help
pity or interest from the man who has
wrecked my life's happiness
There was spell OF silence. Sarah
sat with heaving bosom. suspicion OF
angry tears in her eyes. The attor.
ney seemed thinking how he had best
say what he had to disclose.
win you listen to story am at
last authorized to tell?" he asked.
Sarah nodded, but with her emotion
choked, her face not at all responsive
The girl who left the town the day
that your husband did. as you know,
was distant relative of your father.
Your husband had learned that she
had married a wretch who not only
would not support her, but Influenced
her to steal money from her en-
ployer. and send it to him Briefly,
Alfred went with her to hunt up the
wretch. He compelled him to care for
his wife. He borrowed five hundred
dollars from a relative to replace the
stolen money. He could not publicly
explain all this without getting the
girl In trouble, and you refused to
listen to his explanations. The girl
died a month ago, and now he has
just written me he Is free to have the
truth known. BY patient labor. al
ways loving you, he saved up the
money to pay of the mortgage on
your home"
"Oh, how cruel, how wicked l have
been!" cried the overwhelmed wife.
How shall I make amends? Oh. tell
me. I implore Of you!"
And Robert Jones, good lawyer and
true friend. told her, and almost at
daybreak next morning Sarah was on
her way to the herding farm where
her husband had been leading his her.
mitlike life.
Sarah found the bleak place with its
cottage in charge of boy. He told
her that Mr.. Richie had gone away
for few days on important business.
At once. with Joy that thrilled her
tired heart to mighty devotion and
love, she started in ito make things
II will stay here. oh. must stay
Il Alfred will only let mel" she told
herself. as she scrubbed and cleaned
and busted. Then she set to thinking
If the favorite dishes her husband
Used to like. She smiled as she re.
called his ardent praises for her pump
kin pies and doughnuts.
Trailing through the snow, Alfred
Richie approached his lonely home
wo nights later. He noticed that
here was light in the window. Then
! sniff of unusual cooking crossed his
lostrils. He pushed open the door.
Some one screamed-the startled
not until the astonished
husband had seen a kitchen table
oaded with pumpkin pies and dough-
luts. famous steak frying on the
comfortable looking stove, and the
tea kettle singing a merry
ong Of welcome and comfort.
Sarah" he cried, and his big, 10y
i heart, spoke its earnest delight as
le sheltered her in his strong, cher
shing arms.
"Oh, Alfred, it is like heaven, all :.
his." sobbed the penitent Sarah
title later, as they sat in the soft, !
oothing glow of the burning logs in
he great fireplace. II wish never to
cave this. A glad, true wife, will
My ask to care for you. and please
on. and love you"
And pumpkin pies and doughnuts
IL the year round" rallied Alfred
ayly.
Yes, all the time, dear, II you wish
)" replied Sarah, humbly and CRATE
lily.
Only in a little better home" said
fired. 81 have been away on &C
cunt of legacy left me by a rela.
We. 1t means less toll and finer sur.
We won't be too grand.
Rough. There must always be your IA
lous pumpkin pies and doughnuts on
,e bill Of fare!"
Copyright. 1918. by w. q. chapman)
Il