The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-07
MOTHERS CHOICE
BY LOUISE ATLEE.


Ralph Fenton, who had q small
wooden factory and was twenty-three
years of age, was regarded as an I'M
usually promising young man. quite
good enough for any girl in Warren
county. Why shouldn't he be esteemed
highly?
In view Of all this, Lucy Reming-
toms mother was not at all perturbed
when, one evening in early summer,
Ralph Fenton brought her daughter
home from prayer meeting on his
arm. He supplemented this, day or
two later with q call. and was smil-
ingly received. Soon thereafter Grant.
vile folk began to talk in whispers.
A conspiracy also was Matched.
Several months earlier, In paying
. visit to . town few miles distant,
Lucy Remington had met the young
man with whom her immediate fu.
ture was not concerned. He was in
every way as desirable as Fenton.
whom she was afterward to meet. but
when he drove over to Granville TO
make . call and meet her mother. his
reception by the latter had been
polite to the verge of frigidity.
"You don't seem to like John Hud.
son." ventured the daughter. when
the young man had departed.
well, hope we shall see very little
Of Mr.. Hudson"
Fenton made frequent visits to the
Remington home and was welcomed
cordially both by the widow and her
daughter. The latter seemed to find
the young man agreeable company,
and the mother congratulated herself
that her efforts for the family welfare
were likely to have a successful out
come. Could she have overheard a
conversation which took place one
evening az the precious young disem
blers were returning from local fes-
tival she would have been shocked be
yond expression at the discovery that
her hopes We're certain to miscarry.
"Mr Fenton," laughed the girl, you
certainly are one of the incest fellows
I ever met"
Thanks, awfully." he returned
promptly.
Also am engaged"
Permit me to congratulate you"
"You see. | want to be frank with
you"
Il appreciate it, and will recipro.
cate. have been engaged to a cir,
over in Blissfield for the last three
months"
u am so glad."
And now how can | help your"
he asked with chuckle.
DO you know why mother should
be SO opposed to Mr.. Hudson?"
People become prejudiced without
a good cause. Yon haven't told me
yet how | can help you"
"By-by not dropping me-yet." shs
stammered. You see, mother has
has hopes that that
II see!" he came to the rescue.
yves"
We'll, from all | hear of Hudson,
he's mighty nice fellow, and I'm
glad to help him get such a jolly good
girl for wife. My marriage will not
take place for three months yet"
I'VE expect to be married abouI
that time
In this interesting little matrimonial
game there were three against one,
but Mrs. Remington was not an easy
gutter. When she discovered that
Lucy was meeting Hudson at the post
office. the library and other places,
she made 1t her strenuous duty to in
tercept them whenever it was pos
sible. She had frequent crying spells
and she went about her work with
tears in her eyes. Finally, she woke
to a realization that her plan had
failed miserably. Although Fenton
still maintained friendly relations with
them he showed no signs of asking
the maternal consent to make Lucy
his wife.
1t resolved itself into case of a
woman worrying herself i'll, yet with
nothing tangible to worry about.
When old Doctor Peters was called In
he felt of her pulse, looked at her
tongue and demanded bluntly.
What the dickens are you worrying
about?"
out-about-Lucy!" she sobbed.
She's in love with a man | do not
approve of. His name is Hudson"
Young Hudson, over at Upton"
"Yes."
Good for her! What's wrong with
limp"
His eyes are not very wide apart"
Neither are Elder Spooner's."
He has high cheek bones"
$50 had Abraham Lincoln"
"But-but-'
Listen, Mrs Remington" said the
Ioctor soothingly, Il was over at Tip
on yesterday, and | saw Mr.. Hudson
lie is building a fine new house. 1t
las room for his mother-in. law
he best in the house. She will have
brass bed, a mahogany bureau, a
Wilton carpet and long mirror. She
vii have patent rocking chair
nd
Mother, Mr.. Hudson Is here!" an
ounced Lucy from the doorway.
Good" chuckled the doctor as he
1ade his way out
little later the mother wiped
way her tears and got up and dressed
erself. She felt herself no longer
4 the valley of the shadow of death
When she appeared in the parlor Mr..
hudson rose up and began:
Mrs. Remington, | have come over
-"