The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-05

house and to the three bare but neat
rooms they occupied She aroused his
pride and interest in q function where
he belonged by right of his record and
past usefulness.
She hid from him the fact that the
hiring of dress suit took all her little
surplus cash. Poor child. she had
never told him how really small were
her brave earnings as attendant In q
suite Of physicians offices. She hid
from him the sparse larder. saving for
the grand occasion, and all the time
smiling and cheerful as though they
were living in palace.
II warmed the heart of the old judge.
that first hour at the banquet, where
cherished friends he had not seen for
years We'd with one another to show
him honor Then he listened to the
speaker In a dull, spiritless way. He
got to comparing his poverty with the
riches Of those about him. The thought
Of loyal, self-sacrificing Marcia tor
tured him. How long she had been de-
prived of the costly viands scattered
about here in profusion! He fingered
his napkin nervously, almost stealth
lily, under cover of a toast. When
the group had adjourned to the hotel
parlor, its proprietor approached him
as he stood in a secluded corner.
Judge Folsom" he spoke in q low
| undertone, you must forgive me, but
| n
ject. A set of nut picks, valued not
| for their intrinsic worth, but because
they are part of a famous Eliza
bethan set, are missing from the table
know your circumstances, sir; l am
your friend; will gladly assist YOU
but-please return the articles quietly
and nothing shall be said about It,"
Astounded, in amazement, then in
absolute horror, the old man drew uI
| to his fullest height. Into his noble
face rushed the suppressed emotions
of years. He sprang at the speaker.
you dare!" he choked out-"yor
dare to accuse me of theft"
my dear Folsom!" cried the aston
ished Governor Warner, arriving al
the scene, what in the world does
this mean?'
| The hotel keeper tried to explain
while the governor held the struggling
Judge He claimed that servant hac
seen the Judge secret something II
his bosom.
Down went the silvered head. Tht
| face of the Judge grew ashen. Con
fession, guilt seemed written in hi
| face Then he drew napkin from
his breast and handed it to his &C
cuser AS it opened. there showed
oh, the pity Of tia few dainties from
the festal board. At that moment ,
servant arrived to breathlessly inform
his employer that the missing articles
had been found.
"Oh. my friend" sobbed the grea
strong man beside the judge, mot un
til tonight did I know of your condi
ton. A noble theft! Heaven certain
~ brought this about. that SHOULD
learn how, out of my great store,
can share with you, who started me OF
my career-you, who have been
hero, a martyr!"
His eyes were streaming, his who'll
soul in his face, glorifled by friend
ship akin to the love Of a brother.
81 cannot-cannot accept charity,
faltered Judge Folsom.
And you shall not. Go, sleep 10
the last night under the humble roo
that is honored by your presence!"
It was Percival Ward who conveye'
to Judge Folsom the next morning
delicate loan and life appointment
az secretary of the great national laV
library.
It was Percival Ward who, on
week later, offered his love and fol
tune to the loyal daughter Of ma
to whom peace and happiness ha
come at last in full and overfowin
measure.
Copyright, 1918, by w. g. ChapmanJ
l