The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-06
tom, DICK And HARRY
By LOUISE OLIVER.

contrariness Tor PITY to the extent
that she always stanchly stood up for
him.
They called him that because ne
was mystery. Not only was his lm-
maculate linen fringed and his one
suit and topcoat visibly mended' Dut
| he had presented a card bearing the
J 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 MS
feathered hat at the rest OF us TEL
| lows" leased Tom Perrine, and say,
Here, you little shrimps and tadpoles'
all of you must scoot now. I'm the
Knight of Ump-de-Ump, 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 well educated, and it's a
| shame to make fun of him because
| he is poor"
When Lily and Tom were alone the
subject was dropped.
Lily, | 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 cant stand it.
Lily puckered her brows. Il can't
tell you today, Tom. | must have a
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
i'll 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
1 eyes in the mirror.
The next day Lily crushed her hand
1t was all very terrible and she had
to have anesthetcs and doctors and
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
in the boxes.
One by one Lily read the letters
with puzzled frown. From what she
could gather Tom, Dick and Harry
were Withdrawing their proposals for
the present. They all had the contin-
ued-in-ourneXt tone.
Monsieur Beaucaire had sent flow
ers, too and Il note.
Dear Miss Lillian: Please accept
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. | 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
ing paper, which gave an exaggerated
account of her accident, adding that
amputation had been necessary.
Her face famed. Immediately she
understood the willing releases that
had been extended to her.
But instantly came softer flush
and the snap died out of her eyes. The
other! Here was real sympathy and
he had loved her music. Now that she
was facing bare facts, it came to her
that he must have loved her, loved
her for her music. Would he care for
her now?
The next day came more flowers
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 other
girls.
She was very much relieved.
Then one day she came downstairs
and received Stuart, her much ban.
daged arm ard hand in a sling.
1t was afternoon and he appeared
! perfectly at home in a frock coat and
gray trousers She thought instantly
of Toms remark of buckles and feath.
ers. 1t had come true.
Then he told her that he had given
up his struggle in the world of inven.
ton. My older brother died in Eng
land and ! must go to take his place"
he said, 1T is my duty. Will YOU
go with me as my wife, Lily? | love
you"
But my hand?"
1t breaks my heart for YOU. and
there will be no more music. But
why should it make a difference?
love you just the same"
Lily's eyes shone Yes. there will
be music some day The papers made
a dreadful mistake. There is nothing
the matter with my hand that cannot
be mended. And l."
You"
i love you too"