The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-09
TOM, DICK and HARRY
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

They called him that because he
was a mystery. Not only was his i'm
| maculate linen fringed and his one
| suit and topcoat visibly mended, but
he had presented card bearing the
| remarkable name OF Stuart-Rennark
| Dryton Sennly to the family the day
| he brought Lily home after fall on
| the ice.
Some day he'll come in gold
| buckles and ermine. and flap his
feathered hat at the rest of us fel'
lows" leased Tom Perrine. land say,
Here, you little shrimps and tadpoles.
all of you must scoot now. I'm the
Knight of Ump-de- imp, the Prince Of
$3.50, and also Lord Helpus. Git!
The fair Lillian is mine!'"
Lily's sister laughed. Il don't be-
lieve he would talk that much in
year. When he comes Lillian has to
get out all her overtures, etudes and
nocturnes and play for him all eve
ming. He just sits and eats her up
with his eyes"
Il think you are all hateful He is
smart and we'll educated, and it's
shame to make fun of him because
he is poor"
When Lily and Tom were alone the
subject was dropped
Lily, l want to talk to you seri-
ously." 1t had come. The corners OF
her mouth went up for an instant.
Then she lowered them hastily and
looked thoughtful.
Seriously"
Yes, Lily. It's time we had an un-
derstanding. Don't put me OFF any
longer. just can't stand it.
Lilly puckersd her brows. Il cant
tell you today, Tom. | must have
while to think"
That night much the same CONVEX
sation took place with Dick lngraham.
Dick promised to wait.
Then came Harry, who also agreed
to wait.
1t was really time she decided on
which one of the three it was to be.
She liked them all. Did she love one
of them enough to marry him? There
were times she was sure it was each
in turn. They were all dear boys.
, But there was something-she could
, not tell just what it was. In the last
few weeks it had seemed harder than
ever to make up her mind. 1t must
be either Tom, Dick, Harry, Or She
flushed and looked into her startled
eyes in the mirror.
The next day Lily crushed her hand.
1t was all very terrible and she had
, to have anesthetics and doctors and
a trained nurse. When she began to
, realize what had happened her room
: was full of flowers and the nurse pre-
= scented the envelopes that had come
a in the boxes.
n One by one Lily read the letters
a with puzzled frown. From what she
could gather, Tom, Dick and Harry
:, were Withdrawing their proposals fol-
;, the present. They all had the contin
= ued-in-our-next tone.
q Monsieur Beaucaire had sent flow
ers, too, and note.
Dear Miss Lillian: Please accept
4 this little token of my sympathy
!, There is something of the greatest I'M
portance that | would like to tell you
as soon as you can see me. l hope
that you will soon cease to suffer
Yours faithfully, Stuart Sennly.'
Lillian was astonished. The little
token was three dozen American Beau
ties with stems as tall as she was
Then the nurse handed her the morn
b ing paper, which gave an exaggerated
account of her accident adding that
Q amputation had been necessary.
I. Her face famed. Immediately she
u understood the willing releases that
% had been extended to her.
But instantly came softer flusf
- and the snap died out of her eyes. The
, other! Here was real sympathy. ant
he had loved her music. Now that sh'
O. was facing bare facts, it came to hel
70 that he must have loved her. LOVED
her for her music. Would he care fol
70 her now?
II The next day came more flower'
from Stuart, but none from the trio
!. Indeed, as Lily convalesced she saw
~ Tom, Dick and Harry from her win
dow enjoying the society of othe
% girls.
- She was very much relieved
= Then one day she came downstair
- and received Stuart, her much ban
:. ] daged arm and hand in a sling.
II was afternoon and he appeare'
~ :, perfectly at home in frock coat ant
- gray trousers She thought instantl
:, of Toms remark of buckles and featf
~ ers 1t had come true.
~ Then he told her that he had give
y up his struggle in the world of inver
ton. MY older brother died in Enc
A. land and must go to take his place,
s. he said 1T is my duty. Will 20
go with me as my wife, Lily? | low
ne you"
10 But my hand?"
De 1t breaks my heart for you, an
le. there will be no more music. Blu
ee why should it make a difference?
al love you just the same"
en- Lily's eyes shone Yes. there wi
'e- be music some day. The papers mad
nd a dreadful mistake. There is nothin
'p- the matter with my hand that cannc
I'D be mended And l."
he You"
We Il love you too"
on Copyright 1915. by the Mcclure Newsps
per Syndicate)