The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-10
:OLD MANS DARLING
By MARTHA M'cUllocH-WlL-
LIAMS.

| marty MIN. QUICK! mat ny
advice" Mrs. Berwick shot at Caro-
Ign. who gazed meditatively in the
fire.
She had just put the case to her
friend and social mentor-the case
| Of Reul Norris. Esq. widower. aged
almost seventy. long on wealth, short
on grammar, alone In the world ex-
cept his sundry grandchildren, who
| regarded him in the nature Of an in
| vestment.
He had fallen violently victim to
Carolyns charms-Carolyn. . daugh-
ter of the gods, divinely tall and fair;
also poorer than poverty from the
fact that with q bread-and-cheese in.
come she had a position demanding
trufiies and champagne; also. again,
conscious that her charms were at
apogee - henceforth change must
] mean their waning.
| That Is to say, she was on the edge
Of thirty. Many men had loved her
| half Of them we'll enough to propose.
But the suitors who had been in earn
est had not been the right sort. Well
enough, perhaps-if she had loved
them-but. lacking love, out Of the
question.
There had never been q question
with regard to Henry Alban. who had
said in the beginning, I'VE dare not
love. being paupers." The saying had
not hindered his hanging about Caro-
Ign until Mrs. Berwick was in despair.
Then suddenly Melva Lane, with q
million on hand and several others in
prospect, had been thrown in his way
with the result Of sudden secret
wooing, and an astounding runaway to
Paris, where still the pair abode.
Don't you want a wedding trip to
Parish" Mrs. Berwick went on, little
fearfully. She had never quite dared
to speak to Carolyn OF Alban. She
did 1t now with malice aforethought
and the best intentions.
Carolyn frowned the least bit. 81
was thinking of that" she said, sud.
denly sitting straighter. Il can 60
If l choose. l can have half the
world IL l choose"
Then say yes! Dol" Mrs. Dor.
wick entreated.
Carolyn smiled more family than
she had frowned. Il would-if l had
not . troubling sense of fairness, u
she answered. my captive, poor old
fellow. is as amazingly decent over
everything. almost apologize over
his wealth-it is very much greater
than anybody knows. Told me-but
not in the way of making q price
| Just let me know he could do right
by the grandchildren-that is his
very phase-yet leave me royalty
rich"
He doesn't talk thus early Of leav-
ing you!" Mrs. Berwick cried, as.
founded.
Carolyn nodded. He has lost his
head-not his reason" she said, smil-
ing bitterly. Ten years at the out.
side he measures my bondage. After
that. with millions and the world be.
fore me, l know he hopes, although
he does not say 1t. will find the
bondage to have been worth while. "
That's fine. I've no patience with
you-splitting hairs and haggling,"
Mrs. Berwick exploded.
Carolyn got up slowly. in such fash
ion that all the slender yet opulent
charm Of her was manifest. 81 am
his latest craze; he has come to re.
gard me as other men old and rich
regard their hobbies. He asks so
little Of me-only to endure him, let
him worship me and give me the set
ting he thinks | deserve. lit hurts
me-here-" putting a slim hand to
her long, white throat. IF l could
either love him or hate him. I'd take
him in minute"
You'd take him anyway If you had
! never known that wretched Henry
Alban." Mrs. Berwick flung back fret
fully. He Is one reason I'm SO wild
to have you make this match. Have
you heard that Melva's fortune was
all but wiped out in that railroad re-
organization"
mo! Poor thing! 1t must be dread
full to lose your charm for an adored
husband" Carolyn answered reflec.
lively. Then, as big dark blue car
buried up to the door, she shut her
teeth and said through them: "Elinor,
you may congratulate me before the
fact"
The wedding was like the social
1 event thA a
children came to it-bearing gifts like
the Greeks of old. They went away
appeased in sort, but unsatisfied.
Grandad had spoken out through his
lawyers. Each heir presumptive had
got a rich portion delivered in hand
/ All that remained was settled inalien.
ably and in fee upon the new wife,
Mrs. Carolyn Enderby Norris-this
after her husbands death; while he
lived she would have only a large in
dependent income.
| It was all like a dream come true
to Carolyn-she who had been forced
to count her pennies could. II 1t pleased
her. spend thousands. She had, fur
| Their. husband who delighted to
shower her with the richest gifts,
who was always listening intently to
find out the things she cared most
about and tossing them into her lap,
nguratively, Of course-one cannot
thus toss a country place, hunters,
carriages with pairs and coachmen,
pony cars completely equipped, town
houses. opera boxes and all that goes
with them. Carolyn seemed to be q
glorified Cinderella, and. being very
womanly human. was joyous in being
so.
Her husband, fresh colored. white-