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

has ever been on my yacht has pleas
/ ant memories of it, and anyone who
! has ever ridden in my car. I've taken
! out all sorts of people, from newsboys
to bishops.
! Il don't know of any special dam
! age I've ever done. Certainly, I've
never run over any one-not that !
: know of. I've done my best general
! ly. These are probably negative vir
tues, but they're the best have, all
but the biggest and the greatest OF
! them all, loving Cicely."
The relatives looked at each other
gingerly. The maiden aunt felt some.
what shocked. Mr.. Brownson felt the
responsiveness of the circle.
That is very WE'LL" he breathed
, heavily, but we are serious family,
and negative virtue is towel, too
negative-quite too much in the alb.
stract to satisfy"
Then. what I need is seriousness
,, Of purpose?'
"Exactlv"
Mr. Brownson Joined his finger-tips.
. Two of the relatives coughed Mrs.
Brownson gurgled. The girl looked at
! Wayne and smiled. The man instant.
ly forgot the others and quickly start.
ed to his feet. Cicely alone was there,
and she was smiling at him. She was
| his love and his hearts desire. She
was the most that the world might
give to him.
He loved her, and that was enough
for him to know. She loved him, and
| there was nothing else for him to
know. He started to the center of
the room The girl rose and met him.
Mr. Brownson shot up from his seat
in Amusement Mrs. Brownson pre-.
| pared for further tears. The relatives
leaned back and waited.
What does this mean?" Mr.. Brown.
sons voice hit the note of tragedy
DO you intend to steal her from
me- Indignation mingled with the
tragic. This is too much. We are a
| serious family. You are simply an
idle man of the world. We have moth
ing in common. The conference is
over"
Mrs. Brownson decided there were
! to be no tears. The relatives rose
with her.
THE conference is decidedly overt"
Mr. Brownson loftily repeated.
Father" The girl gave little
cry. Father"
| Mr. Rrownson paused at the agony
| In his child's cry Mrs. Brownson
again raised her handkerchief. The
others made way for a scene.
u don't see why you are all this
! way" The girl choked little. II
love him. and he is worthy of more
than | can give him. Yes, he is. He's
better than any Of us. He's always
doing something for people-poor peo-
pie. know. Jack, you know | love
you, and my father can never change
mel"
Mr.. Brownson couehed. From the
resultant sound it would seem that the
cough was unCalicd for
THAT viii do, Ciccly; that will do.
A last word. perhaps, may be neces.
sary, and would suggest that it be
made in private. Jennie. all of us.
We shall 60 up to the library. We
shall discuss Mr.. Waynes -philan-
thropy alone.
"Cicely, you will go to your room.
Mr.. Wayne, you may remain here. or
return in half an hour for our final
decision"
With this. the head of the clan
Brownson gathered his forces and left
the room.
Half an hour later he returned
again, leading the line. Wayne was
there awaiting them. Cicely was be-
side him. From all appearances,
they had never left the room. Mr..
Brownson looked at the girl ia some
establishment.
"Cicely, what does this mean?
thought | sent you to your room. Mr..
Wayne, have you taken undue advan-
tage?"
Wanye spoke very quickly.
1T means, Mr. Brownson, that am
serious man myself. | should say
perhaps I am. I rather thought my
love for Cicely was serious enough
She agrees with me in the matter.
won't apologize for nv thirty years,
even If ! haven't done anything spe-
cial for my country. | haven't built
bridges, nor have 7 opnratad street
railways But have done one big
thing in loving your daughter.
at has taken mp so much of my
time that couldn't reasonably do any
thing else. But"
He paused and went nearer to the
girl and took her hand Mr.. Brown
son shook rs if a spasm had sudden
ly seized him. Mrs. Brownson and
the others took their cue and imme.
diatcly entered upon n wild consterna-
ton
"Enough # this' Enough enough"
Mr.. Brnwnson WIS livid. You have
no purpose in life. no"
Serious Nrr !rIwnson? | am
fri4htfullv! 10 SHOW you how really
in earnest am-how much in earn
est have been, about Cicely, why.
when Won were gone, | took her out
and married her"
Just Complaint.
The feelings of the coal HEAVIER of
the following story, as given in Tit
Bits. had sufficient cause to be ruff
fled:
Liza" he expostulated, don't | al.
ways tell you | won't ave the kids
bringin' in the Goals from the shed
in my best 'at?"
"Oh, just ave sense replied his
u-ifa r.osla1 A.