The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-23

4 SERIOUS FAMILY
BY HENRY KIRK,

| 'aS He, is matter of the greatest
Importance. As you see. it concerns
my entire family. That is why we are
all here to discuss it,
Mr.. James Brownson made a sweep
ing gesture with his right arm. The
circle included a small group of men
and women arranged about the room
nall dozen people of varied ages and
descriptions. 1T is the greatest even,
In a womans life-hep marriage-so
You must not wonder at our delibera.
ton. You are thirty years of age,
believe?"
Wayne shifted in his chair.
Yes" he said quietly. He was
rather weary of the proceedings, al
though, for the sake of the girl, he
was willing to make certain conces.
slons to the claims and prejudices OF
her family. Yes, am thirty
Thirty! And what have you done
with YOURSELF" Mr. Brownson looked
at the young man squarely and aggres
sively.
Done Wayne laughed a little
why, think the principal thing
yes, the greatest thing-I have done
Is to love your daughter"
He looked at the girl as he said it
She was sitting very quietly next to
her mother.
Mr.. Brownson went on without not
ing the reply he had made. quite as il
1t were of too trivial a nature.
You are possessed of a large In
come. Fortunately, my daughter does
not require it; nor, at the same time
can We say you have Interior motives
in seeking her hand"
Wayne bowed
Mr.. Brownson raised a protesting
hand
You love my daughter-good! But
what have you done with your life
Thirty years of age. and what have
you accomplished?
Wayne looked up frankly.
i don't know of anything in par
ticular, he said, but l suppose shall
do something perhaps"
You have occupied your time prin
cipally with frivolities and idleness,'
Mr.. Brownson came out at last with
his suppressed sentiment He
looked about him. Il have asked my
J sisters and brothers. and also Mrs
Brownson's only living relatives, to
hear this matter discussed. We are
a serious family. Mr. Wayne-simple
serious people-and the marriage OF
my daughter"
Wayne looked sqrarely into the eyes
of his hoped-for fatherin.law.
"Mav I marry your daughter Mr.
Rrowrson' ."
Mr.. Rrownson fidgeted
"One moment please" he said mild
ly. This is a serious question: and
we are, as ! said before, serious peo
pie. You. as lake it, are not scri
Gus man. You spend your time upon
Your yacht, in travels of useless
nature, and in this country you race
! about in a somewhat criminal and
reckless manner in your automobile
DO you think it would be wise for a
parent to trust his child to YOU"
The relatives nodded their heads and
! looked at their folded hands. Mrs
! l'roWns0n raised her handkerchief to
! her eyes.
Wayne looked them all over, from
BrOwnson himself at the head, to the
little fussing individual, nervous
aunt, at the end He marveled that
Cicely could have come of such peo
PIE.
Certainly, she could not follow the
bent of her pompous old father, nor
yet that of her hysterical mother
who was Just now, he was certain, rev.
cling in the thought of her child
crushed under the wheel of his big
white car, or drowned somewhere i'm
the bottom of the sea. The others
were quite impossible.
Mrs. Brownson began to cry and
audibly.
Jennie" Mr.. Brownson raised his
hand Mrs. Brownson did not see the
hand; but she knew it was there, for
she instantly ceased "Cicely, what
/ have YOU to say"
The girl had been looking quietly
/ at the tips of her fingers Now, she
/ changed her line Of vision until II
reached the eyes of her father.
! Il love him"
She said il simply and without the
: II was something quite settled in her
mind, and all the family councils
3 could not possibly change her. Wayne
+ looked at her gratefully
"Cicely," Mrs. Ernwnson sobbed
( sharply. You wish to leave me-"
J Tho relatives raised their eyebrows
and thought Cicclv showed a certain
: lack of HieeHess IL her frank ayoWal.
Mother, you married fqther""
what 10 you mean?'
Every one mar ;cs. ard don't see
, why Jacks motor and his yacht
SHOULD - a'acee between u.s."
Mr. Er9~asou looked With rasping
as.onis,mctt ae his clill. 1t WAS the
first time she had ever assorted her
srls
"Ciraly. he rot ont. do you realize
what sou are saving2 Do you realize
thar sou are questioning me, your
parcrt2 -, y0u forgetting your filial
duty2 Ny dear Nr WAYNE, must
apnlogize for my daughter She can
not know her own mind, and upon
that score as well. | object to her
union with YOU No. no, it is quite i'm
possible: but what, as | asked you
before. what have you done with your
thirty years? Golden years; wonder
years. and yet where are they?'
Wayne said nothing. He was be-
ginning to be unbearably bored.